Best Craft Mixer (2020)

At Element Shrub, organic apple cider vinegar with the “mother” serves as a base for every shrub and sipping vinegar. Only organic cane sugar, whole fresh fruits, herbs and spices are added–nothing else. Options include cranberry hibiscus, blood orange saffron, chai pear, and honeydew jalapeño.
Photo courtesy of Element Shrub

Simple Times Mixers are made from real, fresh 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, Blueberry Cold-Brewed Tea and Blood Orange Margarita.
Photo courtesy of Simple Times Mixers

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 Fresh Victor

Nickel Dime Cocktail Syrups produces four varieties of fresh cocktail syrups in California. Caged Heat spices up cocktails with tamarind, chili and cardamom, while Fairy Dust adds herbaceous notes of fennel, anise and wormwood. Cherry Bomb features flavors of black cherry, roasted coffee and cacao, and Crimson Smoke has hints of smoked tea, cranberry and honey.
Photo courtesy of Nickel Dime Cocktail Syrups

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 Tobacco, Cayenne Ginger, Celery Horseradish and Rose Petal, along with the classic orange and aromatic.
Photo courtesy of iStock / MaximFesenko

The small batch bitters from Bitter Girl Bitters in Sonoma County are hand-crafted from both homegrown pears, hops, lavender, mint, prickly pears and pomegranates grown in their Petaluma garden, as well as locally sourced ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Bitter Girl Bitters

AVEC set out to make a guilt-free mixer made with real juice, low or no sugar and natural botanicals. The lineup of carbonated mixers includes flavors like Jalapeño & Blood Orange, Ginger, Hibiscus & Pomegranate, Grapefruit & Pomelo and Yuzu & Lime.
Photo courtesy of AVEC Drinks

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 1888 Dirtiest Martini Mix

Morris Kitchen makes their mixers with particular spirits in mind. Mix vodka with Grapefruit Honey, Ginger Spice or Tomato Beet; combine tequila with Citrus Agave, Grapefruit Honey or Pineapple Lime; or blend rum with Grapefruit Honey, Ginger Spice or Pineapple Lime.
Photo courtesy of Morris Kitchen

Regatta Craft Mixers are good enough to sip on their own, but each is designed for cocktail mixing. The lineup includes Ginger Beer (classic and light), Tonic, Ginger Ale and Club Soda.
Photo courtesy of Regatta Craft Mixers