Learn to Make Cocktails

Whether you’re new to the world of cocktails or are looking to improve your skills as a bartender, there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn.

For example, there are online courses that are designed to teach you all of the tips and tricks of the trade. They can be great if you’re looking to improve your bartending skills or impress your friends on the weekend.

Techniques

Making a good cocktail requires a great recipe, high quality ingredients and proper bartending technique. While many bartenders have been doing this for years, learning the basics of making cocktails will help you to improve your skill set & serve more impressive drinks.

There are three main techniques used in bartending: shaking, stirring and straining. The method you choose depends on the drink you’re making & the equipment you have to use.

Shaking:

For cocktails that contain alcohol or heavily flavored ingredients like juices and egg white, you will likely shake them. This is the most common mixing method for these types of drinks.

Stirring:

For a more diluted and smoother drink, you will often stir your cocktails rather than shake them. This is a great option for those who don’t want to add ice and would prefer a slightly less intense drink.

You will often use this method when you have a cocktail that contains fruit juices, cream or egg whites, as it mixes these ingredients thoroughly without diluting them too much.

A bartender can also use this technique when they are trying to aerate their cocktail mix before adding ice, which helps to produce a thicker foam. A bar spoon can be used as a tool to help you stir and some bartenders will even throw the spring from their hawthorn strainer into the shaker to aid in aeration.

Straining:

A strainer can be used to remove ice from a shaken cocktail or broken leaves from a muddled one. This is a helpful and often necessary tool for bartenders, especially when they’re working with a large number of different cocktails.

There are several ways to strain your drinks, but the simplest is by using a three-piece shaker with a built-in strainer. This type of spout is easy to work with and can be used for all types of cocktail.

Building:

This is the simplest mixing method for making cocktails. It’s also a great way to make simple drinks with a few ingredients – the tequila sunrise and Negroni are examples of this.

Tools

As you learn to make cocktails, you’ll find that you need a variety of tools. These include a jigger, shaker, muddler, citrus squeezer, and more. These tools are essential to making the best cocktails at home and for a professional bartending career.

The first tool that you should have in your cocktail kit is a shaker. Shakers are an essential part of any serious mixologist’s bar and come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and materials. They’re also incredibly convenient for mixing cocktails and keeping them cold.

Another must-have in a cocktail kit is a shaker’s strainer. Some are built-in to the shaker, while others can be purchased separately. This is a simple tool that can make preparing a cocktail a lot easier, especially for beginners.

Having a good strainer can prevent ice from melting too quickly and helps keep your drink cool. They also help to ensure that your cocktail has the correct dilution.

A muddler is another must-have in every bartender’s toolkit, as it’s ideal for mixing and smashing fruit, herbs, and spices into your drinks. They’re generally six to eight inches long and can be made of plastic or stainless steel.

They’re used for many cocktails, from mojitos to old-fashioneds to bellinis. They’re easy to use and help to release the right amount of flavor in your cocktails.

You can also find muddlers in a variety of shapes and sizes, which is great if you’re interested in creating a signature drink. Some even have a handle that helps to hold the drink in place as you stir.

Some bars have their own special muddlers and many professional bartenders have them in their arsenal as well. Some are made of sealed wood, which can resist stains and keep bacteria from growing on them.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a muddler is that they should be able to fit into the bottom of any glassware you want to use them in. This way, they’ll be more comfortable to hold and easier to transport.

A bar spoon isn’t just any ordinary spoon — it’s an extra-long and spiral-handled one that’s perfect for stirring drinks. It’s also a great option for layering drinks, which can add to the appeal of any cocktail.

Ingredients

When it comes to making a great cocktail, ingredients play an important role. Some of the most important cocktail ingredients include alcohols, liqueurs, bitters, fruits, and garnishes.

Alcohols are the base of every cocktail, and they come in a variety of flavors. Gin, vodka, and rum are the most common spirits in cocktails. They’re available in a variety of strengths and are easy to mix.

Liqueurs are another key ingredient in cocktails, as they provide a wide range of flavors and textures. They’re often sweet, but they can also be sour or floral.

Fruits are the next important element of a good cocktail. They’re usually sweet and juicy, but they can also have a sour or bitter taste depending on their season.

Adding fresh fruit to your cocktail recipe will not only make your drink look better, but it will add flavor and texture as well. Try picking a variety of different fruits and using them in your drinks to get the most variety possible.

The most important thing when it comes to mixing your own cocktails is to measure the ingredients accurately. This is the best way to ensure that you’re mixing your cocktail in proportions that will taste great to you and your guests.

In order to do this, you’ll need a spirit measure (also known as a jigger). These are available in a wide range of sizes that make them the easiest and most accurate to use when measuring full quantities of ingredients.

You should also be sure to buy quality bitters, as they’re the one element that will truly distinguish your cocktail from everyone else’s. They’re made from a proprietary blend of spices and herbs that are infused in spirits and then aged.

Bitters are the first component of most classic cocktails, and they’re also essential for some less traditional drinks. They help to tame the harshness of most spirits and bring out their unique flavors.

While you’re experimenting with bitters, be sure to mix them with other ingredients to create different effects in your drinks. You can use spices, such as cinnamon or star anise, to give your drinks a unique taste and texture. You can also use herbs, such as basil or rosemary, to add more depth to your drinks.

Variations

There are a number of variations to a cocktail recipe. These vary depending on the ingredients and ratios used. They can also change the drink’s overall flavor profile.

There is no single rule for mixing a good cocktail but many bartenders follow a formula to create their signature drinks. This can be a great way to save time in the bar and ensure that your guests are happy.

One of the most common and recognizable cocktails is the Old Fashioned, which combines whiskey with a dash of bitters to form the base for this classic drink. The recipe can be changed to suit your own tastes by swapping in a different spirit or adding a dash of a sweetener.

Another popular variation is the Mojito, which combines white rum with lime juice and sugar. This drink has become a staple in many bars and is a refreshing option during summertime.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-make cocktail, the Gimlet is a simple mix of gin, lime and simple syrup. It’s a perfect start to any cocktail-making adventure, and works with vodka too.

The Pisco Punch is a tropical cocktail that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It combines pisco, pineapple, lemon, orange and cloves for a refreshing drink.

Aside from being fun to make, these variations can be a great way to experiment with ingredients and flavors. For instance, you can use tea-infused gin in a gin martini to give it an extra kick of flavor.

You can also use fruit syrups in place of simple syrup. There are a variety of ways to make delicious syrups, including simmering or macerating fruits.

These recipes can be a fun way to try new things and create a more unique drink experience for your guests. Just make sure to taste it first to get a feel for what you’re working with.

In addition to making it easier for your bartenders to prepare your menu, stocking a range of different cocktail mixes can help you provide guests with their favorite drinks. Whether you are making a margarita or a Manhattan, having a few different classic cocktail mixes on hand can speed up the process and reduce downtime for your staff.