USA TODAY 10Best
Unleash your inner mixologist with the 10 best craft mixer brands
Best Craft Mixer Brand (2023)
A great cocktail calls for great ingredients, and that applies to more than just the booze. The craft distilling movement has buoyed a similar wave of companies handcrafting their own lines of cocktail bitters, tonics, mixers, syrups and sipping vinegars, all with an eye toward elevating the cocktail experience.
Here are the 10 best craft mixer brands of 2023.
Photo courtesy of Billy Cress
No. 10: 1888 Hand Pressed Olive Juice
1888 is a dirty martini mixer made from whole, pressed Spanish olives. A one-ton press extracts the juice, giving this mixer a real olive flavor without additives or fillers.
Photo courtesy of Capuski // Getty Images
No. 9: Q Mixers
Born in the founder's backyard on a quest for a good natural tonic, Q Mixers boasts a large lineup of quality premium mixers. Their Spectacular Tonic Water, which was the company's first product, is made with organic agave and real quinine, while their ginger beer uses only real ginger and no corn syrup.
Photo courtesy of Mary Lagier
No. 8: Yes Cocktail Co.
California’s Yes Cocktail Company believes the best cocktails start with the best ingredients, so they are committed to using only 100% all-natural herbs, spices, and fruits in their craft cocktail products. Their handcrafted cocktail mixers include a floral Lavender Honey, a tart Hibiscus Rose, a spicy Ginger Citrus, a cool Cucumber Jalapeno, and a fiery Blood Orange & Chili Pepper. Yes Cocktail makes their recipes from scratch and designs them to “enhance your spirit, not cover it up.”
Photo courtesy of Marc Fiorito
No. 7: Fresh Victor
Fresh Victor offers cold-pressed juices and herb blends made for mixing cocktails and mocktails. Options include Mexican Lime & Agave, Pineapple & Ginger Root, Cactus Pear & Pomegranate, Lemon Sour, Cucumber & Lime, Three Citrus & Mint Leaf and Jalapeño & Lime.
Photo courtesy of Maria Fehl
No. 6: Simple Times Mixers
Simple Times Mixers are made from real ingredients that can be mixed with your favorite spirit for a fresh cocktail taste. Options include Blueberry Basil Lemonade, Pineapple Mule, Cranberry Lemonade, Pomegranate Mule, Pear Rosemary Mule and Blood Orange Margarita.
Photo courtesy of FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co.
No. 5: FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co.
FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co. takes inspiration from “the forgotten cocktails of decades past” when handcrafting their organic bitters from ingredients sourced in the Sonoma County countryside. Options include citrus basil, wormwood, cherry vanilla, Bacon Faux-bacco, cayenne ginger, celery horseradish and rose petal, along with the classic orange and honey aromatic.
Photo courtesy of Filthy Mixers & Garnishes
No. 4: FILTHY Premium Cocktail Mixers & Garnishes
Miami's Filthy makes products for discerning cocktail aficionados. Tired of the usual brand name mixers that are heavy on preservatives and additives, the creative brothers behind the business have made a product line of real deal mixers, like their margarita mix made from 100% Florida lime juice and organic agave nectar from Jalisco. Their olive brine for martinis and Bloody Mary pouches are used by some of the best bars around the world.
Photo courtesy of Ferralli Studios
No. 3: Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails
After discovering there weren't very many craft non-alcoholic mixer companies in the country, Blind Tiger recognized a significant opportunity and began bottling and distributing a full line of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink cocktails. These drinks can be served alone or used as a mixer with your favorite spirit.
Photo courtesy of Erin Elizabeth Hines
No. 2: Bitter Girl Bitters
The small-batch bitters from Bitter Girl in Sonoma County are handcrafted from homegrown pears, hops, lavender, mint, prickly pears, pomegranates and more, as well as locally sourced ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Jason LaBella
No. 1: Strongwater
Inspired by the apothecaries of the 16th century, Strongwater adds a dash of botanical integrity to cocktails through their line of syrups, bitters and sparkling mixers.
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The Experts
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels... Read More
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Amber Love Bond
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food + beverage... Read More
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food + beverage and travel writer, who is always on the go and looking for her next adventure. After a decade-long career in corporate finance, she stumbled upon her passion for writing about the world around and hasn't looked back. Amber contributes to over a dozen print and digital publications including Travel & Leisure, Thrillist, Forbes, Eater, Southern Living, Miami New Times, HelloGiggles, Men’s Health, Fodor’s Travel Guide, and more. Typically you can find her at the opening of every restaurant, sipping cocktails at the coolest bars, or hanging out under a palm tree with her laptop (and a cocktail) in tow. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @amber__love.
Amber Love Bond
Amber Love Bond is a Miami-based food + beverage and travel writer, who is always on the go and looking for her next adventure. After a decade-long career in corporate finance, she stumbled upon her passion for writing about the world around and hasn't looked back. Amber contributes to over a dozen print and digital publications including Travel & Leisure, Thrillist, Forbes, Eater, Southern Living, Miami New Times, HelloGiggles, Men’s Health, Fodor’s Travel Guide, and more. Typically you can find her at the opening of every restaurant, sipping cocktails at the coolest bars, or hanging out under a palm tree with her laptop (and a cocktail) in tow. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @amber__love.
Carrie Honaker
Carrie Honaker is a Florida-based food and travel... Read More
Carrie Honaker is a Florida-based food and travel writer who is not sure where she will land next, but it will involve messy eating, a spicy Tempranillo, and finding the local farmers market. She has hauled oyster cages off the Forgotten Coast of Florida, harvested indigenous crops with the Abenaki Tribe in Vermont, learned to make beef patties from a Jamaican auntie, made Guavaberry Liqueur with a 7th generation distiller on St. Maarten, and stomped cacao pods in Grenada. She writes about food, drink, travel, and culture for Bon Appetit, Conde Nast Traveler, Wine Enthusiast, Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and many more. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Carrie Honaker
Carrie Honaker is a Florida-based food and travel writer who is not sure where she will land next, but it will involve messy eating, a spicy Tempranillo, and finding the local farmers market. She has hauled oyster cages off the Forgotten Coast of Florida, harvested indigenous crops with the Abenaki Tribe in Vermont, learned to make beef patties from a Jamaican auntie, made Guavaberry Liqueur with a 7th generation distiller on St. Maarten, and stomped cacao pods in Grenada. She writes about food, drink, travel, and culture for Bon Appetit, Conde Nast Traveler, Wine Enthusiast, Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and many more. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Dave Stamboulis
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer... Read More
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in Athens, Greece and growing up in the U.S., Dave first discovered Bangkok while on a 45,000-kilometer bicycle trip and moved there for good in 2005. Dave's photos have appeared in publications around the world. He's the author of Odysseus' Last Stand, which received the Silver Medal for Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers. In addition to working for Fodor's Guidebook to Thailand, he is the author of 500 Hidden Secrets to Bangkok, and his travel stories and photography appear in publications around the globe.
Dave Stamboulis
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in Athens, Greece and growing up in the U.S., Dave first discovered Bangkok while on a 45,000-kilometer bicycle trip and moved there for good in 2005. Dave's photos have appeared in publications around the world. He's the author of Odysseus' Last Stand, which received the Silver Medal for Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers. In addition to working for Fodor's Guidebook to Thailand, he is the author of 500 Hidden Secrets to Bangkok, and his travel stories and photography appear in publications around the globe.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home... Read More
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).
In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).
In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"
Jillian Dara
Jillian is a travel and culture journalist whose... Read More
Jillian is a travel and culture journalist whose passion for wandering began at 8-years-old. Growing up in Bermuda, Jillian quickly became comfortable on planes and intrigued by the concept of the unfamiliar. This led Jillian to pursue travel journalism; from living in Boston, London and Santiago, to exploring Nicaragua, southern China and the new middle east, she appreciates the ability to share stories about destinations and to connect them to a deeper cultural perspective. Outside of 10Best, Jillian’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Forbes, DuJour, Elite Traveler, Hemispheres and Wine Enthusiast.
Jillian Dara
Jillian is a travel and culture journalist whose passion for wandering began at 8-years-old. Growing up in Bermuda, Jillian quickly became comfortable on planes and intrigued by the concept of the unfamiliar. This led Jillian to pursue travel journalism; from living in Boston, London and Santiago, to exploring Nicaragua, southern China and the new middle east, she appreciates the ability to share stories about destinations and to connect them to a deeper cultural perspective. Outside of 10Best, Jillian’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Forbes, DuJour, Elite Traveler, Hemispheres and Wine Enthusiast.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.