MIXOLOGY 101

Creating a great cocktail is a balancing act. Typically the spirits are billed as the hero, but the mixer tells the story. The supporting ingredients, the largest portion of the recipe, is where the magic happens. The wrong choice could overpower, dilute, or muck-up the flavor balance.

Polar mixers are crafted to brighten, temper, and delight and our philosophy is that anyone can build a great cocktail, or mocktail of course, by knowing to balance the key flavor components – Bitterness, Sweetness, Saltiness, or Sourness

Bitters

TONIC WATER
DIET TONIC WATER
TONIC WATER with Lime
DIET TONIC with Lime

Characteristics:

Made from natural quinine extracted from the bark of the Chinchona tree

Delivers a true “clean bitterness” that mixologists seek

Innovative Tonic with Lime is crafted with fresh lime essence

Sodium Free

Pair With:

Traditionally paired with clear spirits, such as gin and vodka.

Tonic Water with Lime is perfect with quality tequila over ice.

Combine with ice and orange juice for a sophisticated mocktail.

Did You Know?

Quinine, the ingredient that gives tonic its characteristic taste, was first used to prevent malaria, and hence the legend of the Gin & Tonic cocktail being invented in India by the British.

Tonic Water is also considered a homeopathic remedy for muscle cramps.

Sweet

GINGER ALE
DIET GINGER ALE
BOLD GINGER ALE
GREEN TEA GINGER ALE

Characteristics:

Fiery zip of fresh ginger flavor balanced with the right touch of sweetness; never cloying

More bold ginger taste

Less sugar than juice mixers

Sodium free

Preservative free

Pair With:

Traditional highball ingredient that pairs perfectly to aged, dark spirits, such as rye whiskey

Heightens light color liqueurs such as St Germaine or Canton

Beloved ingredient for anyone hosting large groups because it adds crisp refreshment to any punch bowl recipe, or mocktail

Did You Know?

Ginger ale was first marketed as a health elixir in pharmacies

Attributed as an Irish invention from the early 1850’s

Salty

CLUB SODA
CLUB SODA with Lime
CLUB SODA with Lemon
VICHY WATER

Characteristics:

Added mineral salts, such as potassium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, brighten the flavors of other ingredients in cocktails

Club soda is different than Polar Seltzer

Pair With:

Pair with aged spirits like Irish whiskey and bourbon

Rounds out the flavor of botanical liqueurs such as Campari

Use to enhance sweetness or temper bitterness of other cocktail ingredients

Did You Know?

Salts have traditionally been the secret ingredient bartenders used to maintain carbonation and enhance the flavor

Sodium bicarbonate works like an antacid to aid digestion

Slight ‘sour’ taste is created when carbonation (Co2) touches your tongue’s taste receptors

Sours

HALF & HALF
DIET HALF & HALF
LEMON SOUR
BITTER LEMON
TOM COLLINS

Characteristics:

Versatile assortment of sparkling mixers built on various citrus profiles

Crafted with natural citrus flavors

Pair With:

Pair with clear spirits such as vodka and gin

Adds carbonation and grown-up citrus sweetness

An easier way to build complex cocktails such as Whiskey Sours, Manhattans.

Did You Know?

The secret ingredient in Bitter Lemon? Tonic Water