Cocktail making is no easy task, especially if all you have is some basic skills, tools and the will to practice. But there are tricks that can make your foray into the mixed drinks much easier and even adventurous. Try these out and let us know!
Jams as sweeteners: If making simple syrup seems too tedious to you, just add in your preferred jam or preserve in the cocktail shaker to give it a fruit flavour and sweeten it all at the same time!
Add vodka for longer lasting simple syrup: Simple syrup tends to start growing mold after a week or two in storage and none of us want that in the fridge. The simplest solution is to add a splash of vodka to equal parts sugar and water. Trust us, it’ll last a whole lot longer.
Flame orange before adding to cocktail: If your cocktail happens to have an orange peel garnish, all you need to do is to hold it in front of a flame and squeeze the oils through it. This will slightly caramelize the oils and add oodles of flavour to your drink.
Rim your glass with herbs:Â Gone are the days of rimming your glass with just salt or sugar. Now, adding finely chopped herbs to the salt or sugar is the only thing that’ll cut it! It looks adorable and complements the flavours of your cocktail.
Make your own grenadine:Â This is my favourite hack. Although grenadine is an integral part of quite a few cocktails, finding it in India might be a pain. That’s why being able to whip it up at home is a blessing! Here’s the recipe –
- Mix 4 parts pomegranate juice and 1 part sugar in a low skillet
- Heat it on medium heat and stir till sugar dissolves
- Boil the mixture for 5 minutes and then take it off the heat to cool
- According to your taste, you can also add in lemon juice, orange juice, hibiscus or rose water during the cooling stage
- Store in a sealable glass bottle for up to a month
