Basic Bartending Techniques
The secret to a great cocktail lies not only in choosing the right ingredients, but understanding how to combine them correctly. Depending on how you mix a cocktail, the result – in terms of taste, consistency and appearance – can vary a lot. That’s why anyone with an interest in cocktails tends to start by learning these bartending basics. Reading these before experimenting with cocktail recipes will help you pick up the right techniques from the beginning.
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A good bar is often run just like a kitchen: planning and preparation are essential to ensuring you can consistently produce a great cocktail.
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Some cocktails require stirring the ingredients with ice and straining into a glass before serving, a less vigorous technique than shaking.
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Layering is a technique that involves adding layers of ingredients of different density within the cocktail, taking care not to mix them in the process.
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Many cocktails are decorated with garnishes, helping enhance the flavour and aroma of the drink, but also to improve its overall appearance.
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Shaking typically implies combining ingredients with ice cubes in a cocktail shaker, then shaking firmly for 15-20 seconds.
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When pouring a cocktail into its glass, most require an extra fine strain to achieve the right appearance and consistency.
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The technique of adding salt to the rim of a glass is well known in part thanks to the popularity of Margaritas. Other cocktails use a sugar rim.
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Adding a ‘zest twist’ to a cocktail involves squeezing a citrus zest to release its oils into the liquid, adding flavour and aroma in the process
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As opposed to shaking where we do not want to dilute the drink with ice, some cocktails require blending the ingredients and ice together.
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A popular technique for making cocktails like Caipirinha, muddling involves crushing fruits, herbs and spices together.
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Providing a spectacular finish to some cocktails, igniting the surface of the cocktail forms a core part of some recipes.
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Aside from mixing ingredients correctly, knowing your units and measures is essential to making your perfect cocktail.
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