The days are going to start getting longer, the sun is going to start shining a little brighter, and we don’t know about you, but we’re going to be outside, making some delicious food, and with any luck, enjoying a delicious cocktail or two. (Or three!) And don’t get us wrong, we love an ice-cold six-pack of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, but we can collectively do better than that, right? Today we’re going to talk about tips for mastering mixology in the comfort of your own home.
First things first, buy the right tools. We recommend nabbing an affordable at-home bartender kit from Amazon if you’re just starting; you’ll find that yes you can improvise with basic kitchen tools, but it’s much easier to make a quality cocktail with the proper tools.
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Stock your bar with premium liquors. We aren’t saying you need to buy the most expensive bottles, but we don’t recommend just going straight for the cheap stuff either.
Use fresh fruit and fresh herbs. Buying fruit juices is an option, but fruit juices typically contain added sugar that will mess with the quality and flavor of your cocktail, so we highly recommend using fresh, natural fruit juice. As for herbs, it will be worth your time to purchase some homegrown herbs from your local farmer’s market or plant your own herb garden to keep your costs own. You’ll notice that fruit juice and fresh herbs will take your cocktail from “ehh” to “oh yeah!”
Chill your glasses ahead of time. Chilling your glasses by throwing them in the fridge before you make your drinks will ensure that your beverage stays cold the entire time you sip.
Never underestimate the power of the jigger. Creating a delicious cocktail is all about balance and consistency. You’ll want to make sure each drink tastes how it’s supposed to be making sure to use just the right amount of each component.
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Shake it up! Let’s take a second to talk about drinks that are shaken and not stirred. First of all, make sure you use plenty of ice, but make sure it’s added last so it doesn’t water down the drink. And when you go to shake it, shake it like you mean it. In fact, you’re going to shake your drink until you notice condensation on the jigger, this way you know you’ll be serving a crisp, cold cocktail.
Sample before serving. This probably goes without saying, but before you serve your cocktails, grab a straw and give it a taste.
Keep the buzz and dilute only as needed. When you’re using a sparkling additive such as club soda, make sure this is the last thing you add so it’s still buzzing when you servce it. Likewise, make sure you add the proper amount of ice (you’ll figure this out as you go, the more drink you make) to avoid over or under diluting. (https://driventheatre.com/)
(image via: istock)