Cocktail Mixing Techniques - Top 10 Tips For Mixing Fabulous Cocktails Every Time
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wheatley]Paul Wheatley
Professional bartenders would have you believe that mixing cocktails is a highly trained art and that mere mortals should never be allowed behind a bar. Using the right techniques may be essential for creating great cocktails, but a lifetime of training or magical mixology powers are certainly not required. These top 10 tips for mixing cocktails will ensure you get great results every time.
1) Use Small Glasses
By the time you finish a drink in a large glass it will have warmed up, especially if the drink is served "up" (without ice) in a Martini glass. An ideal Martini glass should comfortably hold about 4 shots (which is around 4 fl oz or 120 ml).
2) Chill Your Glasses
Chill your glasses in advance in a fridge or simply fill them with water and ice to chill while making your cocktail in the mixing tin. A chilled glass will keep your finished cocktail as cool as possible, ensuring it continues to taste fantastic from the first sip until the last.
3) Follow Recommended Recipes
Always use a cocktail recipe from a recommended source. A quality cocktail book, or cocktail website will provide good recipes to work with. For a beginner with a small or growing home bar, cocktails with basic ingredients are a great place to start.
4) Use the Best Ingredients Available
As with many things in life, what you get out depends very much on what you put in. Always use the best ingredients you can get your hands on. That means: quality branded spirits, branded mixers, fresh fruit and freshly squeezed juices. Fresh fruit and fresh juice will make an amazing difference to a mixed drink.
5) Measure Ingredients Carefully
Professional bartenders may be able to free pour their cocktail ingredients straight into the mixing tin. This approach is notoriously hard to get right. It may not look quite as cool, but by measuring your ingredients you'll get a far better result. Use a quality measuring jigger that allows you to pour half, quarter and eighth measures accurately.
6) Hold Bottles by the Neck When Pouring
When pouring your ingredients into the mixing tin, hold the spirit bottle by the neck. You'll find this gives you much greater control of the bottle, making it easier to quickly pour exactly the right measure.
7) Use Lots of Ice
Add lots of fresh ice to the mixing tin immediately before shaking. Putting the ice in at the start, before you add other ingredients, will only give the ice chance to melt and dilute your cocktail.
8) Shake Well
Shake until the mixing tin feels uncomfortably cold to the touch and condensation starts to form on it. As Harry Craddock put it in the Savoy Cocktail Book: "Shake the shaker as hard as you can... you are trying to wake it up, not send it to sleep!"
9) Taste Before Serving
Fresh fruits and juices can vary in sweetness so you may need to fine tune your cocktail with extra citrus juice or sugar syrup to achieve the right balance. Always taste your finished cocktail to check its ready to serve. You can do this quickly and hygienically by using a straw to siphon a little of the drink. Dip the straw in the cocktail, hold a finger over the dry end, move the straw to your mouth and then release a few drops of the cocktail to taste.
10) Garnish With Subtlety
Use fresh fruits and simple cocktail picks to garnish your cocktails. No garnish is far better than a forest of fruit, veg and umbrellas in the top of your drink! Keep it simple and the result will be stunning. Don't forget that some garnishes also add to the flavor of a cocktail, whether it's the wedge of lime in a Gin and Tonic or a flamed lemon zest in a Cosmopolitan.
For a complete guide to [http://www.mixshakeandpour.com/misc/startingredients.html]stocking your home bar and shot by shot guides to mixing the best cocktails, visit: [http://www.mixshakeandpour.com/index.html]http://www.MixShakeAndPour.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wheatley http://EzineArticles.com/?Cocktail-Mixing-Techniques---Top-10-Tips-For-Mixing-Fabulous-Cocktails-Every-Time&id=1937456
10 Top Tips on Making Cocktails
10 Top Tips on Making Cocktails
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers]Derek Rogers
Cocktails are not only savoury to sip but also look exciting and fun to drink; they are perfect for celebrations as they tend to elicit a pleasurable response among drinkers. Fortunately, cocktails can be made at home like a professional.
TIP 1: Be ready with glasses. Cocktails will not look like one if you do not use the appropriate glass. Besides, cocktails are meant to be consumed when they are cold, so using large glasses will take time to finish and you will end up not really enjoying the taste. It is recommended to invest in cocktail glasses such as martini, margarita, and highball glasses.
TIP 2: Keep a collection of cocktail tools and supplies. Jazz up your bar with the basic barware; it is essential that you have the right measuring equipments to create a well-balanced drink. Opting for a jigger or a shot glass is good for measuring the necessary ounces. Also get a durable blender that is safe to use in the dishwasher and do not forget those famous cocktail shakers.
TIP 3: Get equipped with some cocktail recipes. Check out those cocktail books that feature the classic Sidecar and Manhattan. You can also step into the modern world by adding pureed vegetables into the drink instead of pureed fruit, but do not put in too much experimentation though as you might end up with a nasty tasting mix.
TIP 4: Use only the finest ingredients. Don't worry too much about looking for what you need to put in. Use fruits and vegetables that are in season and liquor that will complement its flavour. Having tomatoes or peaches in summer make fantastic cocktail ingredients.
TIP 5: The chilling process. As soon as you are equipped and ready, start by chilling those cocktail glasses. It can be as simple as putting the glass in the freezer for some hours or pouring in water with ice. Take them out only when you are ready to pour the mixed drink, this way the drink is kept smooth and cool for a longer time after it has been served.
TIP 6: Measuring your spirits. Always hold spirit bottles by the neck when pouring. There is nothing really special to this; it is just that by doing so, you are making it easier on yourself to put in exactly the accurate measure.
TIP 7: Adding the ice. Now that you have poured in all the ingredients, add some ice before you start shaking them. This should be fresh ice though so if you need to buy them then do so. Firm ice will prevent it from melting too quickly and will make a crisp cocktail drink.
TIP 8: Shake it well and shake it some more This is probably the grooviest part in cocktail mixing. While you can practice all those impressive stunts, just make sure that you mix the drink well inside the shaker until the cold spreads throughout the shaker.
TIP 9: Dress up that cocktail. Cocktail drinks will kind of look empty without some little garnishing. Ripe limes make the cocktail presentation come alive as well as complementing your mix. They can be cut into wedges, slices, and half-moons for that attractive garnish.
TIP 10: Taste it before you serve it. Take a small sip and see if you have done well, this way you can make sure that your guests will enjoy it as much as you.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of recommended [http://www.ahadleigh-wine.com/cocktail-categories/]Cocktail Recipes, he recommends Alexander Hadleigh Wine Merchants & Importers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Top-Tips-on-Making-Cocktails&id=2151289
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers]Derek Rogers
Cocktails are not only savoury to sip but also look exciting and fun to drink; they are perfect for celebrations as they tend to elicit a pleasurable response among drinkers. Fortunately, cocktails can be made at home like a professional.
TIP 1: Be ready with glasses. Cocktails will not look like one if you do not use the appropriate glass. Besides, cocktails are meant to be consumed when they are cold, so using large glasses will take time to finish and you will end up not really enjoying the taste. It is recommended to invest in cocktail glasses such as martini, margarita, and highball glasses.
TIP 2: Keep a collection of cocktail tools and supplies. Jazz up your bar with the basic barware; it is essential that you have the right measuring equipments to create a well-balanced drink. Opting for a jigger or a shot glass is good for measuring the necessary ounces. Also get a durable blender that is safe to use in the dishwasher and do not forget those famous cocktail shakers.
TIP 3: Get equipped with some cocktail recipes. Check out those cocktail books that feature the classic Sidecar and Manhattan. You can also step into the modern world by adding pureed vegetables into the drink instead of pureed fruit, but do not put in too much experimentation though as you might end up with a nasty tasting mix.
TIP 4: Use only the finest ingredients. Don't worry too much about looking for what you need to put in. Use fruits and vegetables that are in season and liquor that will complement its flavour. Having tomatoes or peaches in summer make fantastic cocktail ingredients.
TIP 5: The chilling process. As soon as you are equipped and ready, start by chilling those cocktail glasses. It can be as simple as putting the glass in the freezer for some hours or pouring in water with ice. Take them out only when you are ready to pour the mixed drink, this way the drink is kept smooth and cool for a longer time after it has been served.
TIP 6: Measuring your spirits. Always hold spirit bottles by the neck when pouring. There is nothing really special to this; it is just that by doing so, you are making it easier on yourself to put in exactly the accurate measure.
TIP 7: Adding the ice. Now that you have poured in all the ingredients, add some ice before you start shaking them. This should be fresh ice though so if you need to buy them then do so. Firm ice will prevent it from melting too quickly and will make a crisp cocktail drink.
TIP 8: Shake it well and shake it some more This is probably the grooviest part in cocktail mixing. While you can practice all those impressive stunts, just make sure that you mix the drink well inside the shaker until the cold spreads throughout the shaker.
TIP 9: Dress up that cocktail. Cocktail drinks will kind of look empty without some little garnishing. Ripe limes make the cocktail presentation come alive as well as complementing your mix. They can be cut into wedges, slices, and half-moons for that attractive garnish.
TIP 10: Taste it before you serve it. Take a small sip and see if you have done well, this way you can make sure that your guests will enjoy it as much as you.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of recommended [http://www.ahadleigh-wine.com/cocktail-categories/]Cocktail Recipes, he recommends Alexander Hadleigh Wine Merchants & Importers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Top-Tips-on-Making-Cocktails&id=2151289
Delicious Cocktails To Please Your Guests
Delicious Cocktails To Please Your Guests
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan]Kadence Buchanan
When having a dinner party, a large aspect of its success is determined by the cocktails that you make available. You can really turn your party into a night to remember if you can expose your guests to some delicious drinks that they'll never forget. In this article, we'll relay some cocktail recipes that can surprise and impress your guests.
A commonly-used twist on a classic drink is known as the "Purple Haze". Based off of the Long Island Iced Tea recipe, the drink gets its name from the famous Jimi Hendrix song since it is purple in color. While the drink shares many of the same ingredients as a Long Island, it features a distinct taste that provides a good dose of alcohol while still tasting delicious. To make a Purple Haze, you're going to need the basic liquors that go into a Long Island - tequila, rum, vodka, and gin. In addition, you're going to need the secret ingredient that gives the Purple Haze it's color - Chambord, which is a raspberry-flavored cordial. You'll also need a lemon-lime flavored soda and sweet and sour mix.
To make a single Purple Haze, mix ½ oz of the four Long Island liquors with ½ oz of Chambord. Add in an ounce of sour mix, and top it off with a splash of lemon-lime soda for a little carbonation. That's all you have to do! The result is a drink that packs a punch while still being very delicious.
Are you looking for an adventurous cocktail that can really add some flair to the evening? The Flaming Dr. Pepper can be a great addition to an evening, especially for a Tiki-themed party. Be forewarned - the drink involves lighting a liquor on fire. The end result will shock you and your guests, however - it tastes almost exactly like Dr. Pepper!
To make a Flaming Dr. Pepper, you're going to need a bottle of 151 proof rum as well as a bottle of amaretto and plenty of light beer. The preparation of the drink can be easily ruined, so take heed for the following directions:
Take a shot glass and fill it ¾ full with amaretto. Top the shot with 151 - it should end up layered on top. Fill a pint glass halfway full with light beer. Now comes the showmanship part - using a lighter, carefully light the top of the shot on fire. The 151 will burn off the top of the shot, and once it's lit, you need to drop it into the pint glass. The concoction will fizz up, and you need to down it as soon as you can. By some act of God, the drink actually tastes amazingly like Dr. Pepper - shocking, considering there isn't a single non-alcoholic ingredient in the mix!
These two drinks can add a delicious and exciting aspect to your next get together. Exercise caution when making the Flaming Dr. Peppers, and be sure to take the keys of anyone who has been drinking too much. Enjoy!
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including [http://wonderfulworldoffood.com/]Food, [http://iwomensinterests.com/]Women, and [http://theoutdoorslifestyle.com/]Outdoors
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan http://EzineArticles.com/?Delicious-Cocktails-To-Please-Your-Guests&id=326832
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan]Kadence Buchanan
When having a dinner party, a large aspect of its success is determined by the cocktails that you make available. You can really turn your party into a night to remember if you can expose your guests to some delicious drinks that they'll never forget. In this article, we'll relay some cocktail recipes that can surprise and impress your guests.
A commonly-used twist on a classic drink is known as the "Purple Haze". Based off of the Long Island Iced Tea recipe, the drink gets its name from the famous Jimi Hendrix song since it is purple in color. While the drink shares many of the same ingredients as a Long Island, it features a distinct taste that provides a good dose of alcohol while still tasting delicious. To make a Purple Haze, you're going to need the basic liquors that go into a Long Island - tequila, rum, vodka, and gin. In addition, you're going to need the secret ingredient that gives the Purple Haze it's color - Chambord, which is a raspberry-flavored cordial. You'll also need a lemon-lime flavored soda and sweet and sour mix.
To make a single Purple Haze, mix ½ oz of the four Long Island liquors with ½ oz of Chambord. Add in an ounce of sour mix, and top it off with a splash of lemon-lime soda for a little carbonation. That's all you have to do! The result is a drink that packs a punch while still being very delicious.
Are you looking for an adventurous cocktail that can really add some flair to the evening? The Flaming Dr. Pepper can be a great addition to an evening, especially for a Tiki-themed party. Be forewarned - the drink involves lighting a liquor on fire. The end result will shock you and your guests, however - it tastes almost exactly like Dr. Pepper!
To make a Flaming Dr. Pepper, you're going to need a bottle of 151 proof rum as well as a bottle of amaretto and plenty of light beer. The preparation of the drink can be easily ruined, so take heed for the following directions:
Take a shot glass and fill it ¾ full with amaretto. Top the shot with 151 - it should end up layered on top. Fill a pint glass halfway full with light beer. Now comes the showmanship part - using a lighter, carefully light the top of the shot on fire. The 151 will burn off the top of the shot, and once it's lit, you need to drop it into the pint glass. The concoction will fizz up, and you need to down it as soon as you can. By some act of God, the drink actually tastes amazingly like Dr. Pepper - shocking, considering there isn't a single non-alcoholic ingredient in the mix!
These two drinks can add a delicious and exciting aspect to your next get together. Exercise caution when making the Flaming Dr. Peppers, and be sure to take the keys of anyone who has been drinking too much. Enjoy!
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including [http://wonderfulworldoffood.com/]Food, [http://iwomensinterests.com/]Women, and [http://theoutdoorslifestyle.com/]Outdoors
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan http://EzineArticles.com/?Delicious-Cocktails-To-Please-Your-Guests&id=326832
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