We all love a good cocktail, and what better than an exciting garnish to add some flair to it? But did you know that garnishing a drink does more than just making it look appealing? Yes, you read that right. The kind of garnish you add to your cocktail enhances its aroma, flavor, provides a contrast, and makes for a delicious complex drink. If you want to know what kind of garnishes you can use to add to any of your cocktails, we have listed below the best cocktail garnish ideas that will help.
8 Best Cocktail Garnish Ideas
- Skewers
- Citrus Twists
- Fresh Herbs And Leaves
- Fruit Wedges And Wheels
- Dehydrated Fruits
- Glass Rim
- Cocktail Cherries
- Whipped Cream
Skewers
First on the list we have skewered garnishes that you can add to all kinds of drinks. One example that you must’ve thought of is skewered olives in a Martini. There are plenty of variations when it comes to skewered garnishes.
Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and olives are commonly used as skewered garnish toppings along with some herbs. The idea is to dip the skewered items in the drink so that the flavors mingle and your cocktail’s taste enhances. So, when you next try making a fruity cocktail, you can try using a skewered garnish.
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Citrus Twists
A citrus twist is probably the classic and most commonly used garnish. The idea behind using a citrus peel to garnish your drink is that the oil from the citrus peel gets assimilated into the cocktail. It’s a subtle way of adding flavor while cutting through the sweetness of syrups or strong flavors of liqueurs.
Lemon, lime and orange peels are commonly used citrus twist garnishes in most cocktails. They’re not only easy to make, but also add great depth to your cocktail. If you want your cocktail to look a lot more fancy, you can try different cuts and carvings around the edges of the peel.
Also read: Beginner’s Guide To Different Types Of Wine Glasses
Fresh Herbs And Leaves
Typically, fresh herbs and leaves are used to garnish fruity and refreshing cocktails. By adding some greenery, the cocktail appears more fresh, presentable, and tropical. There’s a wide range of herbs and leaves that you can use to garnish your drink.
While some herbs like rosemary, mint, thyme, or lavender add flavor and aroma, some other garnishes like the pineapple frond are only used as decorative items for your cocktail. One trick to remember is slapping the herbs or leaves on your palms before using them in your drink. This allows the oils, aroma, and flavors to disperse into the drink.
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Fruit Wedges And Wheels
One of the best cocktail garnish ideas that you can use in your cocktails are fruit wedges and wheels. Most times, limes, oranges, passion fruit or other kinds of citrus fruits are a popular choice. Pineapple, melon, and watermelon are some other options that are commonly added to tropical cocktails.
These fruits are cut into wedges and wheels to use as garnish and make your classic cocktail look and taste better. They are used to garnish vodka cocktails or bitter alcoholic drinks. These wedges and wheels are to be squeezed into the cocktail so that the juices blend with the alcohol and add some sweetness.
Also Read: 7 Best Sparkling Wine Cocktail Recipes
Dehydrated Fruits
Using dehydrated fruits as a garnish to your cocktail is an interesting idea that you can implement the next time you make some drinks for yourself at home. This is one of the best cocktail garnish ideas as you can prep a large batch of drinks in one go. Dehydrated fruit is available in the market and shortens your cocktail preparation time significantly. Plus, they can be used in all kinds of cocktails you make at home.
Worried about storing these fruits once your cocktails are made? No worries there; since dehydrated fruits can be stored for months, you land up with less wastage on your hands. These fruits have their aroma and flavors intact which means that there is no compromise on the taste or quality of your cocktail, and they add a sophisticated touch.
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Glass Rim
If you’re in a hurry but also want to add flair to your home-made cocktail, all you have to do is rim the cocktail glass. It’s one of the simplest and best cocktail garnish ideas that works wonders. You can rim your cocktail glass with sugar, salt, chocolate, spices, or any other ingredient that you wish.
Usually, salted rim is used for bitter cocktails, sugar rim for tropical and sweet cocktails, chocolate rim for dessert cocktails, and a spice rim works best for basic or simple cocktails. Most times, these add a complex flavor to your cocktail everytime you sip on it. So the next time you don’t know how to garnish your cocktail, try this trick and you’ll be sorted.
Also Read: 8 Best Brunch Cocktails
Cocktail Cherries
Cocktail cherries come in a wide variety of options that you can choose from. Some are soaked in alcohol, some are sweetened with syrup or sugar, while some are spiked with liquor, juices, and other ingredients. Depending on the cocktail you’re serving, the kind of cocktail cherries you use will differ. Luxardo cherries, for example, are one of the first cocktail cherries to be used as garnishes. They were first produced in 1905 and are used in cocktails made with just 3 to 4 ingredients.
Maraschino cherries, on the other hand, are dark cherries that are used in cocktails like, Manhattan. Other than these two, there are ample more cocktail cherries that you can buy from the store or make at home. In any case, cocktail cherries are a great addition to your cocktail.
Also Read: 7 Best Classic Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
Whipped Cream
You can never go wrong with whipped cream as a garnish for your dessert cocktails. This one is an underrated garnish that deserves more attention and appreciation. It’s not just best with your dessert cocktails, but also pairs well with frozen beverages that use liqueur as a base spirit. The Spiked Cocoa, Pink Squirrel, Irish Coffee, and the Grasshopper are just some of the many cocktails that just taste 10 times better with whipped cream on top.
Ideally, you’re supposed to stir the whipped cream in the cocktail until it blends well. It mellows the strong flavors by adding a smooth and sweet texture. If you haven’t tried whipped cream in your cocktail yet, it’s about time you do.
Also Read: 8 Best Daiquiri Cocktail Recipes
Summing Up
This is a list of just some of the best cocktail garnish ideas that you can choose from. You get to use them in any creative direction you like and make your cocktail taste and look tempting and delicious. We hope that this list of cocktail garnish ideas inspires you to make some creative cocktails for yourself at home.
FAQs
What Are Good Garnishes For Cocktails?
If you like to dress up your cocktails, garnishing them is a good way of going about it. Some of the good garnishes for cocktails are edible flowers, citrus twists, fruit wedges and wheels, cocktail onions, etc.
How Do You Jazz Up A Cocktail?
Who doesn’t like a cocktail that looks fancy and tastes great? A simple way to jazz up a cocktail is by adding herbs or citrus peels. They make the cocktail look excellent and also add flavors to make it delicious.
How Do You Make A Cocktail Stand Out?
When you’ve made a cocktail at home but it doesn’t look as fancy, you can simply rim the cocktail glass with sugar or salt and make the cocktail stand out.
What Garnish Goes With Gin And Tonic?
If you want to garnish your classic Gin And Tonic cocktail, you can use a lime, lemon, or grapefruit peel or wheel to garnish it. These citrus fruits complement the flavors of Gin And Tonic really well.
What Flowers Can You Put In Cocktails?
Hibiscus, peonies, roses, violas, lavender, and pansies are some of the many flowers that you can use to garnish your cocktails.
What Do You Garnish A Margarita With?
You can garnish the Classic Margarita a few ways. One simple thing to do is top it off with a lime wedge, or you could also rim it with salt and then add the lime wedge or wheel.
