| COCKTAILS – How to Make and Enjoy them! By Barry Lear |
Prohibition in the United States, as well as providing the foundation
of some families’ fortunes, is responsible for the development and
popularity of mixed drinks like cocktails. Bartenders mixed their
alcohol with other substances to hide it from law enforcement
officers and wowsers as well as to improve the taste of their
customers’ illegal, cheaply produced drinks.
of some families’ fortunes, is responsible for the development and
popularity of mixed drinks like cocktails. Bartenders mixed their
alcohol with other substances to hide it from law enforcement
officers and wowsers as well as to improve the taste of their
customers’ illegal, cheaply produced drinks.
Preparing cocktails is not rocket science though some of the spirit used then could
probably have fueled one. For most cocktails, you just put some spirit like vodka or
whisky in a glass, then add something to provide the “body” of your creation – that
might be fruit juice, cream or whatever your imagination suggests.
Then, with many recipes, you color it with a liqueur and top it off with decorative
touches like those little umbrellas or slices of fruit for eye appeal and so people can
feel they are drinking something healthy respectively. Their real purpose may be to
add flavor(s) and nourishment or just bubbles and eye appeal.
Essential Equipment
Many items you need for producing tasty cocktails can be found in the average
kitchen but, if your budget allows, you can buy plastic or chromed steel implements
which do the same task but look a bit more classy. You could use a rolling pin instead
of a mortar and pestle, a glass jar with a lid as an emergency Cocktail shaker and
even egg cups for measuring cups.
Start with:
A bottle opener, corkscrew and can opener (have a spare one of each out of sight
for when they go missing). You can get waiter’s tools which have combinations of
these implements. Go for quality –you and your tools need to be strong enough to
handle the demands of the job.
A cocktail shaker for cocktails and another for shaking one cocktail at a time. There
are 2 distinct styles, the European has one container with a fitted top and a strainer
inside that. The American style has two identical containers which fit together and
have no strainer.
An ice Bucket for storing ice in the refrigerator and ice tongs for dropping the ice
into the individual drinks.
Jigger – measuring glass for quantities up to 11/2 fluid ounces.
Mixing glasses for cocktails
A pitcher large enough to mix several drinks in at the same time.
Essential Supplies
Ice in cubes and also as crushed slurry. Making the crushed version is much easier
if you break up the cubes before you put them in the blender.
Mixers including soda water, juices and cola.
Spirits including rum and whisky as well as red and white wine.
There are many desirable but not essential accessories such as a gas-powered cork
remover and ice crusher etc.
No bar is complete without supplies of nuts, crisps and/or pretzels. If you supply
any nuts, make sure they are well separated from the other snacks because, these
days, many people are exhibiting an intolerance to even slight traces of certain
varieties of nuts.
Tips for Bartending
This guide is no substitute for the professional Bartending courses but you need
some tips (not the monetary kind) which will help you to increase your friends
enjoyment of your event and possibly enhance their impression of you. A bartender
must be very good at mixing drinks and mixing with people.
You’ll need to be able to remember drink orders for a group (you’ll soon develop
respect for the unsung skills of the bar and waiting staff you encounter). Also, try
to organize a mental schedule for the people at your bar, what they’re drinking
and when they may be wanting refills.
That’s just the most obvious part of bartending. You’ve also got to keep an eye on
the level of all your supplies; clean glasses, ice and the ingredients. Don’t worry
about learning to juggle bottles in imitation of the professionals – your guests will just
be looking to get good measures and quick refills.
Need more on How to Make Cocktails and Enjoy Them?
probably have fueled one. For most cocktails, you just put some spirit like vodka or
whisky in a glass, then add something to provide the “body” of your creation – that
might be fruit juice, cream or whatever your imagination suggests.
Then, with many recipes, you color it with a liqueur and top it off with decorative
touches like those little umbrellas or slices of fruit for eye appeal and so people can
feel they are drinking something healthy respectively. Their real purpose may be to
add flavor(s) and nourishment or just bubbles and eye appeal.
Essential Equipment
Many items you need for producing tasty cocktails can be found in the average
kitchen but, if your budget allows, you can buy plastic or chromed steel implements
which do the same task but look a bit more classy. You could use a rolling pin instead
of a mortar and pestle, a glass jar with a lid as an emergency Cocktail shaker and
even egg cups for measuring cups.
Start with:
A bottle opener, corkscrew and can opener (have a spare one of each out of sight
for when they go missing). You can get waiter’s tools which have combinations of
these implements. Go for quality –you and your tools need to be strong enough to
handle the demands of the job.
A cocktail shaker for cocktails and another for shaking one cocktail at a time. There
are 2 distinct styles, the European has one container with a fitted top and a strainer
inside that. The American style has two identical containers which fit together and
have no strainer.
An ice Bucket for storing ice in the refrigerator and ice tongs for dropping the ice
into the individual drinks.
Jigger – measuring glass for quantities up to 11/2 fluid ounces.
Mixing glasses for cocktails
A pitcher large enough to mix several drinks in at the same time.
Essential Supplies
Ice in cubes and also as crushed slurry. Making the crushed version is much easier
if you break up the cubes before you put them in the blender.
Mixers including soda water, juices and cola.
Spirits including rum and whisky as well as red and white wine.
There are many desirable but not essential accessories such as a gas-powered cork
remover and ice crusher etc.
No bar is complete without supplies of nuts, crisps and/or pretzels. If you supply
any nuts, make sure they are well separated from the other snacks because, these
days, many people are exhibiting an intolerance to even slight traces of certain
varieties of nuts.
Tips for Bartending
This guide is no substitute for the professional Bartending courses but you need
some tips (not the monetary kind) which will help you to increase your friends
enjoyment of your event and possibly enhance their impression of you. A bartender
must be very good at mixing drinks and mixing with people.
You’ll need to be able to remember drink orders for a group (you’ll soon develop
respect for the unsung skills of the bar and waiting staff you encounter). Also, try
to organize a mental schedule for the people at your bar, what they’re drinking
and when they may be wanting refills.
That’s just the most obvious part of bartending. You’ve also got to keep an eye on
the level of all your supplies; clean glasses, ice and the ingredients. Don’t worry
about learning to juggle bottles in imitation of the professionals – your guests will just
be looking to get good measures and quick refills.
Need more on How to Make Cocktails and Enjoy Them?
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