Cocktail Making Essentials

There’s a lot of equipment out there for cocktail making but if you watch a bartender, they tend to use a few essential items.

A jigger is one of those tools you need for precise measurements. It’s basically a double-sided measuring cup, with 1.5 ounces on the large side and 3/4 to 1 ounce on the small.

Mixers

Mixers are a critical part of a successful bar or mixology station. They help you make the perfect cocktails, and they also add a touch of sophistication to your drinks.

There are many different types of mixers, and each one can be used for a variety of purposes. Some mixers are used to create a homogeneous mixture of liquids or solids while others are used to mix immiscible substances.

In-line mixers are a type of mixer that utilizes a stream of water to mix different ingredients. They are especially useful in making emulsions and low-viscosity mixes, and they can be used with anything from milk to oil.

They can be made of plastic, metal, or glass and are available in sizes from small to large. They can be purchased at any home improvement store, and they are often cheaper than commercial models.

Stand mixers are another type of mixer that can be used for a variety of mixing applications. These are typically larger than countertop mixers and can be found in styles that range from 1 gallon to 25 gallons.

These mixers are great for creating a variety of different drinks, and they can be used in places like ice cream parlors or candy stores. They can also be used for mixing and blending a variety of ingredients together, including spices, herbs, and vegetables.

They can also be used to mix alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks. They can make drinks sweeter, sourer, or more salty, and they can change the flavor of a drink by adding new ingredients or mixing it with different flavors.

Some mixers are designed for mixing thick or pasty slurries, like wax compounds and putty. These can be difficult to blend, and they can cause buckling or damage in mixers.

This is why it is important to know the type of mixer you need before you purchase one. Depending on the product, you may need a high-shear mixer that can properly blend the powder without harming it.

The nTags were an important icebreaker at the cocktail party, and they were used to track the interactions between guests. They helped to show that friends accounted for a disproportionate amount of the interactions at the party, and that strangers had a lot more trouble making introductions.

Ice

Ice is an essential element in almost every cocktail. It does more than chill a drink; it dilutes it and releases water into the mix, binding ingredients and smoothing out flavor.

The right amount of ice makes or breaks a cocktail and should be an important consideration when planning your bar menu. The right type of ice also adds texture and interest to the finished drinks, helping them look and taste their best.

Bartenders are becoming increasingly creative with the ice they use. Some are even experimenting with different shapes of ice to heighten the visual appeal of their cocktails.

Among the many ice styles available are balls, pebbles, rods and dry ice, which is a solid form of ice that can be added to drinks and used to garnish them. These are all available in your local supermarket and can be very effective in keeping your cocktails cool.

Ice made from good quality water is essential to mixing and serving cocktails. Old or freezer burned ice and ice made from poor quality water can break your carefully crafted drinks.

The size and shape of the ice you choose will have a big impact on how quickly it chills and dilutes your cocktails. Larger cubes will melt more slowly than smaller ones and will help keep your drinks cold.

Another option for ice is to use a cocktail shaker. This will allow you to make larger ice cubes than you can in a glass, but be sure to use a cocktail shaker that has a good drainage. If your ice well doesn’t have a drain, you will need to use a fine mesh sieve to strain the ice before you mix it in your cocktails.

To make the best ice possible, start by freezing your water at the same temperature you would drink it. Avoid ice made from unfiltered tap water, which can cause unwanted flavors and coloration in your drinks.

After freezing, store your ice in trays or boxes and rotate them frequently to ensure that they are fresh. The best ice is made from distilled, purified, natural spring or bottled water.

Glassware

Glassware is an essential part of any cocktail bar and can really set the mood for your party. From fancy Martini glasses to simple mugs, the right set of tools can make all the difference between an average drink and a masterpiece.

The shape and size of your glassware can also influence how your cocktail tastes. For instance, wide wine glasses allow a red to breathe, while thick-walled coffee mugs keep brews chilled.

This is why you want to buy glasses that fit the type of drink you’re serving. If you’re a fan of gin and tonics, then invest in a tall glass with a rounded rim. Then, you can use this to enjoy your gin and tonic without worrying about it slipping out of your hand!

Another important piece of cocktailware is a shaker. This is especially useful if you have a lot of guests at your party and want to avoid splashing drinks on your friends’ heads. Once you’ve found the perfect shaker, fill it with about half a to three-quarters of an ice cube. Add your ingredients, and then shake vigorously back and forth for about 15 seconds.

Shaking a cocktail is pretty much the most basic part of any bartending lesson, but it can still be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re new to making cocktails, it can be helpful to practice shaking them with water first to get the hang of it. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll be able to make your favorite cocktails in no time.

Besides being an essential tool for mixing your cocktails, a proper bar spoon is also an essential item to have when it comes to stirring them. While you can technically use a regular bar spoon for this, a proper long-stemmed one will be a lot more effective!

Another essential ingredient in any home bar is a variety of garnishes. These can vary from simple citrus peels to flowers, but a good selection of these can really make your cocktail look as though it came straight out of a restaurant. This is an easy way to make your home bar stand out from the crowd.

Bar Spoons

Bar spoons are long-handled implements that serve many purposes. They primarily stir cocktails, but they also measure ingredients, muddle fruit and herbs or crack ice.

A cocktail spoon is essential for making mixed drinks because it helps mix them at an ideal temperature and dilution level without breaking down ice too quickly. It’s also an essential tool for making shots, because it enables you to layer different spirits without them mixing and creating a cloudy beverage.

It’s a must-have tool for all craft bartenders, but it’s especially useful for home mixologists. At-home mixologists use a bar spoon to mix ingredients that aren’t meant to be shaken, like coffee and liqueurs, at an ideal temperature.

Most bar spoons have a flat bowl and a twisted handle, which facilitates a laminar flow of liquid as you pour it. You can also use the twisted handle to gently layer your shot or cocktail—a technique that’s commonly used in tiki and tropical drinks.

When you’re looking for a good bar spoon, look for one that feels weighty in your hand and is made of stainless steel. You’ll want something that will last a long time and be easy to clean.

Another important thing to consider is the length of the spoon’s handle. A long-handled spoon with a counterweighted tip is ideal for stirring tall glassware, while shorter-handled bar spoons are great for mixing in small, shallow glasses.

Besides serving as an essential cocktail-making tool, bar spoons are also fun and interesting to have around the bar. They make for a great conversation piece and are often branded with a bartender’s name or a favorite drink.

The most common bar spoon design is the traditional American style that has a red plastic end and a twisted handle. However, there are many other types of spoons that serve different functions.

Some bar spoons have a disc on the opposite end, which is helpful for muddleing fruit or layering your shot. Others, such as the Japanese-style spoon, have a spiral handle that allows you to glide your fingers between them as you stir.