In order to become a cocktail expert at home, you need the right tools and ingredients. A stocked bar is essential, as are quality cocktail-making tools but you also need to educate yourself on the basics of mixing drinks. We will discuss the six basic cocktails that every home bartender should know how to make, as well as some tips on how to be creative with your cocktails and even make your own simple syrups. So stock up on alcohol and get ready to become a master mixologist!
You don’t need to buy everything all at once – start with the basic ingredients and tools, and then add more variety as you become more confident in your cocktail-making skills. A good way to start is by picking one spirit and becoming familiar with all the different cocktails you can make with it. That way, when you have friends over, you can impress them with your knowledge and mixology skills! Or you can learn some basic cocktails and stock your bar with the liquors, liqueurs, tools, and garnishes required. This will ensure you are prepared for most drink requests. Six basic cocktails to know are:
– The Long Island Iced Tea
– The Martini
– The Manhattan
– The Margarita
– The Negroni
– The Old Fashioned
Each of these cocktails use different ingredients and techniques, so it’s important to learn what goes into each of these basics before moving on to mixing more complex drinks. Once you have the basics down, you can start experimenting with different techniques, flavors, and ingredients to create your own unique cocktails.
One way to add your own personal touch to cocktails is by making your own simple syrups. Simple syrups are easy to make and can be used in a variety of different drinks. All you need is sugar and water as a base, and you can flavor your syrup with anything from fruit to vegetables to herbs. This is a great way to add some extra flavor to your cocktails without having to buy a bunch of different spirits or mixes, and will put your unique stamp on the flavors of your drinks.
Another way to make your cocktails more interesting is by using fresh fruit and herbs to garnish them. This not only looks impressive, but it also adds another layer of optional flavor to your drink. People can decide if they want to squeeze in a little citrus or not and, so, the drink can be customized to fit their needs based on their choices.
The next step is purchasing the right tools. A good set of cocktail shakers, jiggers, strainers, and muddlers are a must-have for any home bar. Cocktail shakers are used to mix together liquids and ingredients for drinks, such as fruit juices, water, alcohols and other liquors. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes but should be made from durable materials, most commonly stainless steel, that can withstand being dropped on the floor or banged against the edge of a countertop.
Shot glasses, or jiggers, are used to measure out the perfect amount of liquor for each drink. They have a small cup on one end and a larger cup on the other, and usually come with options to measure 0.25 oz/0.75 oz or 0.50 oz/l oz.
Strainers are used to pour mixed drinks into glasses while straining out any ice cubes or other large pieces that might be flavoring the drink such as mint or cinnamon.
Muddlers are used to crush fruits, herbs, and spices in order to release their flavors into a drink. They may also be known as mortars and pestles and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes but should come with a long handled piece so that you can easily reach into a tall glass to further break down garnishes or remove debris, if necessary.
These are just a few tips on how you can become a cocktail expert at home. With the right tools and ingredients, as well as a little bit of practice, you’ll be whipping up delicious drinks in no time. So learn the basics, get creative, and have fun! Cheers!
