Why 0.75 syrup and not 1?

History and lime: the Daiquiri's canonical 2:1:0.75 balances lime's extra acidity; lemon sours often run 0.5–0.75. Start at 0.75 and adjust down for lemon.

Simple syrup: 1:1 or rich 2:1?

Rich 2:1 syrup is the modern standard — use 0.5 oz where recipes say 0.75 of 1:1. The calculator assumes 1:1; halve the syrup field for rich.

My margarita tastes flat with the right ratio — why?

Salt missing. A pinch in the shaker or a 20% saline solution (2 drops) amplifies everything — the most common "broken recipe" fix in the sour family.

Does egg white change the ratio?

Texture only — the dry shake adds body and foam, no dilution change. The ratio stands; the experience transforms.

Sour Balance Calculator

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How the sour balance calculator works

One ratio, fifty cocktails

The sour family — Daiquiri, Margarita, Whiskey Sour, Gimlet, Tommy's — all live at 2 : 1 : 0.75 (spirit : citrus : syrup). Change the spirit and the garnish and it is a different drink; change the ratio and it is a different balance. The calculator reads yours against the skeleton and names its neighborhood.

The neighborhoods

Syrup : citrus under 0.5 — the modern dry style: sharp, bright, drinks like a chef wrote it.
0.75–0.9 — the balanced band where most classics live.
1.0–1.3 — mid-century sweet: nostalgic, crowd-friendly, easy to over-pour.
Above 1.3 — dessert territory; delicious once, second one is a commitment.

The fixes

Adjust in 0.25 oz steps, stir with ice, and taste with a straw after full dilution — undiluted tasting lies about sweetness. If the balance is right but the drink tastes flat: bitters (2 dashes), salt (a drop of 20% saline), or fresher citrus. If the balance is right but the drink tastes strong: that is the spirit ratio, not the sugar.