Techniques for the Mixologist
The following is an excerpt from my book, The Backyard Bartender, due to hit major retailer stores again this summer.
Frozen, on the rocks, or shaken, The Backyard Bartender offers an array of must-try concoctions that celebrate the season.
How to Chill a Glass
When making a cocktail, chill the glass before adding any liquids. Cool the glass in either the refrigerator or freezer for 30 minutes—or fill it with crushed ice and let it sit for a minute. Always discard the ice before making the cocktail.
How to Frost a Glass
Put glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to frost.
How to Create a Special “Rim”
Wipe the lip of the glass with a lemon or lime wedge to moisten. Press the glass into a saucer filled with a flavoring such as sugar, salt, crushed lemon drops, candied ginger, etc.
How to Use a Cocktail Shaker
Add liquid ingredients to the shaker and fill it with ice cubes. Don't use crushed or cracked ice. After securely attaching the top, hold it in place with one hand while holding the bottom with the other hand. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. The shaking motion should be fairly assertive to get the proper effect.
How to Make Lemon or Lime Peel Twists for Garnishes
Use a channel knife (often found as part of a zester) to remove the longest possible strip of peel. Start by pressing the channel into the skin at the top of the lemon and slowly cut around, making a long spiral. Twist into a pig's tail shape, cut into short sections or tie the peel into a knot.
How to Blend a Drink
Combine all the liquids in a blender and blend to a puree (if necessary). Add ice (preferably crushed) and blend to the desired consistency. Don't overload the blender with too many cocktails. Typically, only two or three are made in one batch.
How to Make Cracked Ice
Cracked or crushed ice is very useful when making blended drinks. Put ice cubes in a large freezer-weight plastic bag and wrap the bag in a tea towel. Bash the bag evenly with a mallet. If preferred, buy an ice crusher or “macho” blender to do this job.
How to Muddle
Put all ingredients to be muddled (often citrus, herbs, sugar or lime juice) into the bottom of a shaker or sturdy mixing glass. Use the large or rounded end of a muddler (a wooden mixing spoon works well, too) to crush the ingredients together until fragrant. This simple step will make all the difference in some classic favorites like Mojitos or Caipiriñhas because the flavors and aromas that are released in this way are essential.
If you are preparing a large batch of a particular drink that requires muddling, it's easier to do this step in a mortar and pestle.
How to Rinse
Many recipes call for a glass to be “rinsed” with a particular liquid. To do this, place a small amount of the liquid in a glass and swirl it around so that the inside of the glass is evenly coated. Pour any extra liquid out of the glass when done. Most often it's dry vermouth that's used to rinse the glass and then discarded to create a “dry” martini.