Barsmith Lemons

Barsmith Lemons is a lemon-based bar mixer from Esplanda, so its job in a drink is to supply citrus acidity and lemon aroma. No ingredient list, sweetness level or bottle size is given here, so check the label for those. Lemon mixers in this category usually land somewhere between a fresh-squeezed sour component and a lightly sweetened sour base. Taste it on its own first and set the sugar in the rest of the drink to match. Use it chilled and measured, since its acidity does most of the work in the glass. Shaking it with ice dilutes and chills it, which rounds the sharpness. The classic uses are sours built on whiskey, gin or vodka. Typical ratios start around 3/4 to 1 ounce of lemon to 2 ounces of spirit, with extra syrup only if the mixer itself isn't already sweetened. It also fits a Tom Collins, a Whiskey Sour, a Gin Fizz, a Vodka Lemonade, or a Long Island Iced Tea, where it replaces a sour mix. For a long drink, top it with soda water or tonic over ice and finish with a lemon wheel. Glassware depends on the format. Pour sours straight up into a chilled coupe or small cocktail glass, or serve them over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Build a Collins or a fizz in a tall highball or Collins glass over plenty of ice, because tall drinks hold their flavor longer when the ice is dense. A fizz should be drunk soon after it's made. For food, lemon-forward drinks suit fried fish, shellfish, grilled chicken, salty snacks and soft cheeses, where the acidity cuts through fat and salt. After opening, store it as the label directs, and shake or stir before using if it separates.