Cocktails that don’t just taste well but look great too are definitely among the hot favorites of drinking enthusiasts. If you’ve tried any such cocktails, you must’ve wanted to recreate them at home. As exciting as it sounds, it’s also a task that requires some creativity and basic bartending skills. We thought of sharing a few cocktail hacks with you to take your cocktail-making game to the next level. Here are some cocktail mixing hacks everyone should know about. With these hacks, you’ll find yourself making and savoring your favorite cocktail in no time!
8 Best Cocktail Mixing Hacks
- Golden Ratio For Making Cocktails
- Coat The Rim Of Your Glass
- Make Clear Ice Cubes At Home
- Make Crushed Ice And Garnishes At Home Using A Rolling Pin
- Freeze The Fruits For Garnishing Your Cocktail
- Sweeten Your Cocktails Using Different Ingredients At Home
- Serve Your Cocktail In A Mason Jar If You Don’t Have A Shaker
- Get A Smoky Flavored Cocktail By Flaming An Orange
1. Golden Ratio For Making Cocktails
If you’re going to make cocktails at home, you need to crack the golden ratio for making cocktails correctly. That’s the secret to making cocktails the right way, without messing up the ingredients. This golden ratio can not only help you make classic cocktails but also help you come up with cocktail recipes of your own!
Speaking of the golden ratio, the ideal formula is 2:1:1. This means your cocktail recipe will have 2 parts of alcohol (vodka, rum, gin, etc), 1 part sour like lemon juice, and 1 part sweet like simple syrup. All you have to do is remember this ratio and you’ll have endless variations of cocktails at your fingertips.
Also Read: 7 Easy Cocktails To Make At Home
2. Coat The Rim Of Your Cocktail Glass
So, you’ve got your cocktail recipe right, but what about its aromas? Have you ever taken a whiff of a cocktail and loved it instantly without tasting it? Well, that’s the magic of the aromatic agents in the cocktail that make it smell and taste better. You can add ingredients like herbs, namely thyme, rosemary, mint, citrus peels, etc to your cocktail. They add to the aromas and flavors of your drink.
Before you serve the cocktail, don’t forget to dip the lip of your glass in a herb mixture that complements your drink. Other than that, you can rub an orange peel around the rim of your cocktail glass to make it smell delicious. One of the most common flavor pairings to add to the aromas of a cocktail is mint and sugar. You can coat the rim of your glass with such flavor pairings and elevate your drinking experience.
Also Read: 7 Long Island Iced Tea Recipes And Variations
3. Make Clear Ice Cubes At Home
Have you ever wondered why the ice in a bar looks so clear while the ice cubes you take out from your freezer appear cloudy? We have a cocktail hack that can help you make clear ice cubes at home! Take already distilled water and boil it twice to get rid of the air bubbles from the water.
Do keep in mind that you’ll have to let the water cool after boiling it for the first time. Then boil the water again, after which you need to pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it. This is a great way to make clear ice cubes at home and surprise your guests.
4. Make Crushed Ice And Garnishes At Home Using A Rolling Pin
There’s no need for you to go out and buy crushed ice; you can easily make it at home using a rolling pin! It’s simple, all you have to do is take a bag, add some ice to it, and use a rolling pin to hit it until the ice gets crushed. You’ll be surprised to know that the rolling pin can be used for other purposes as well.
Most of your cocktail recipes will have herbs and fruits as essential ingredients. Another cocktail mixing hack you should know is using the handle of the rolling pin to gently press the herbs and elevate their flavors. Just be mindful of not pressing them too much as that will make them taste bitter.
Also Read: How To Use Cocktail Syrups?
5. Freeze The Fruits For Garnishing Your Cocktail
Of course, following the right ratio for your drink can help you make a delicious cocktail. But what about serving it right? There’s nothing better than fruits to present your cocktails to your guests. Just like most people prefer a chilled cocktail, fruits used for garnishing should also be chilled to make the cocktail taste better.
You can cut and freeze your fruits one day before you’re using them. They will become cold and can be the perfect toppings for your cocktail. You can use fruits like lime, orange, grapefruit, raspberries, etc for garnishing your cocktail.
6. Sweeten Your Cocktail Using Different Ingredients At Home
If you’re hosting a cocktail party at your home with too many guests, it’s possible that you won’t have much time for making cocktail syrups. And making sweeteners like simple syrup, cinnamon syrup, etc can be time-consuming. You’ll be surprised to know that you may already have different ingredients at home that can act as sweeteners for your cocktail.Â
One of the best substitutes for syrups in cocktails is jam. Whether you’re making a mojito or a margarita, a spoonful of jam can add the right amount of sweetness to it. You can also use other sweeteners like honey, brown sugar, and orange juice to sweeten your cocktails.
Also Read: 10 Best Martini Recipes
7. Serve Your Cocktail In A Mason Jar If You Don’t Have A Shaker
Don’t have a cocktail shaker at home to serve chilled cocktails? Then a mason jar can also be a great substitute for a cocktail shaker. You can measure your cocktail ingredients into the jar and make sure that you seal its lid properly. After that, you just need to shake the ingredients vigorously for 15-30 seconds. That will help chill and dilute your cocktail until it’s just right. So the next time you invite your friends over for some drinks, you can serve them cocktails in mason jars. You’re sure to woo your guests with your stylish way of serving cocktails!
Also Read: How To Make Classic Irish Coffee
8. Get A Smoky Flavored Cocktail By Flaming An Orange
Here’s a bartender’s trick to add subtle smoky flavors to your cocktail – just flame an orange peel on the edge of your glass. This magic trick will definitely leave your guests impressed! Now, when you’re choosing an orange, make sure that you go for a fresh one as it’ll give your cocktail a good flavor.Â
The process of flaming an orange is quite simple. Take a matchstick, light it and hold it a few inches over your cocktail. Next, take your orange peel and hold it above your match. You need to make sure that you’re holding the colored side of the peel above the match. Also, don’t hold it too close as it’ll leave a black mark on your peel.
After that, you need to wave the peel around so that the oil gets heated. When you notice that the peel has warmed up, you can twist and squeeze it over the match so that the oil can come out faster. Lastly, rub the peel along the edge of your glass. Go ahead and drop the peel in your cocktail if you want to make it more flavorful.
Also Read: Beer Cocktails That You Can Enjoy At Home
Summing Up
These were some of the best cocktail mixing hacks everyone should know. If you’re passionate about cocktails, you’re going to have a lot of fun with these hacks for your upcoming party. Now that you know about these cocktail hacks, you’ll surely impress everyone with the drinks you create. It’s time you ring up your buddies and host a party to show off your mixology tricks!
FAQs
What Is The Easiest Method Of Mixing Cocktails?
The easiest way for mixing cocktails is to stir them properly. The first thing you need to do is combine all your ingredients in a glass. After that, you need to add some ice to it, at least halfway through the shaker. Then you can take a bar spoon and stir the cocktail properly. After you’ve stirred it well, you can strain the cocktail in a cocktail glass and then garnish it before serving.
What Are The 6 Basic Methods Of Bartending?
The 6 basic methods of bartending are – building, stirring, shaking, muddling, blending, and layering.
How Do You Mix A Perfect Cocktail?
You need to follow the golden ratio to mix a perfect cocktail. This ratio has a formula wherein you take 2 parts of the spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour. First, take your mixing glass with ice and add your spirit (vodka, gin, or rum). Then add your sour (lemon juice or sour mix) to it. After that, add your sweetener, like simple syrup to the mixture. Lastly, stir the mixture well using a bar spoon and then strain the cocktail into a cocktail glass.
What Should A Beginner Bartender Know?
A beginner bartender should know the following things:
- The 6 basic liquors
- Difference between liquor and liqueur
- The golden ratio for making cocktails
- Different kinds of cocktail mixers
- Knowledge of basic bar tools (cocktail shaker, bar spoon, jigger, strainer, muddler)
- How to shake, blend, and serve cocktails
- How to garnish cocktails
How Can I Improve My Bartending Skills?
Here are a few things that can help improve your bartending skills:
- Memorize the golden ratio for making cocktails
- Research different cocktail recipes
- Read different blogs and websites about bartending skills
- Learn mixology hacks from a professional bartender
- Use different ingredients to garnish a cocktail
- Find out about the different types of glasses to serve drinks
- Experiment, improvise, and practice
How Do I Become A Good Bartender?
You can become a good bartender by doing the following things:
- Read about bartending skills and listen to podcasts
- Observe professional bartenders at a bar or a party you visit
- Learn a new cocktail recipe every day
- Read books about recipes and serving drinks the right way
- Practice making drinks at home and serving others
- Experiment and come up with your own recipes
What Do Bartenders Use To Mix Drinks?
Bartenders use a bar spoon that has a long handle. It can be used for mixing as well as layering different types of cocktails.
What Are The 10 Most Popular Cocktails?
Here’s a list of the 10 most popular cocktails:
- Margarita
- Old Fashioned
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Bloody Mary
- Moscow Mule
- Screwdriver
- Manhattan
- Daiquiri
- Classic Martini
- Mimosa
