Making Cocktails
Whether you want to entertain guests or impress a date with some
after dinner drinks, making your own cocktails is a great way to enjoy
delicious drinks without the trouble or expense of a crowded bar. To get
started, though, you will need to learn a thing or two about making
cocktails. Additionally, you will want to make sure you have all the
necessary supplies for your own home bar.
To get started with making cocktails, you will want to buy the most
necessary ingredients; alcohol. Of course, the type of liquor you stock
your bar with depends on the drinks you hope to make. If you are not
familiar with many cocktail recipes yet, there are some staples most
bartenders would recommend. First, you will want to keep some unflavored
vodka on hand. You should also invest in a light rum and quality
whiskey. Finally, gin and tequila are two other bar staples involved in
many popular cocktails.
Once you have your alcohol, you will want to stock up on mixers.
Mixers are other liquids that you combine with alcohol to make a
cocktail. Every drink has its own unique combination of mixers. However,
some are used more commonly than others. For example, club soda is a
very popular mixer. Fruit juices are also widely used. Varieties like
lime and cranberry are most prominent in cocktail recipes, but orange,
pineapple, lemon and more are also used.
In addition to alcohol and mixers, you will need plenty of ice.
Cocktails are almost always served cold. So, it is a good idea to have a
bag of ice or ice maker available. You will also need to have some basic
tools in your supplies. Strainers, shakers, and jiggers are the most
heavily used instruments and can be easily purchased at home stores and
specialty shops. You may even find these in your local grocery store.
Also, make sure you have an accurate measuring cup that uses ounces.
With cocktails, proper measurement is essential. Not only can poor
measuring affect taste, it can also lead to unanticipated intoxication.
When it comes time to serve your cocktails, you will probably want to
use something more appealing than a paper cup. Shop around and find some
quality cocktail glasses. Depending on the drinks you want to make, you
may want to buy martini glasses, tumblers, or even some fun, abstract
barware.
Now that you have all your hard supplies, you will want to get some
great cocktail recipes. You can find many online, or you can purchase a
bartender’s guide. Of course, you can always experiment and make your
own as well. Remember, there are no hard rules when it comes to
cocktails. Just remember to emphasis attractive flavors and enjoy
responsibly. |
