Guide To Mixing Drinks
Mixing drinks is not simply the act of throwing some tasty alcoholic liqueurs together and hoping it tastes good. Mixing drinks – or “Mixology” – is an art form. Those that design new drinks take their work very seriously, using their knowledge to create the next great alcoholic beverage.
For those that want to create their own drinks or mix well known drinks for others, you must know the terminology. For example, the following terminology is just some of the vital terms necessary for any future bartender or drink artist:
- Frosting – Dip the glass into water and freeze – this will keep the beverage cool.
- Mixing – Mixing is just putting ingredients together. It must be done carefully. For example, the ice in the shaker always goes first before you pour in the liquors.
- Muddling – Grinding herbs into the bottom of a glass.
- Neat – No ice, no mixing. The drink is poured into the glass it is going to be swallowed from. Reserved for drinks that don’t need to be mixed together.
- On the Rocks – serve with ice.
- Over – The liquor is poured directly over ice. This dilutes the alcohol with the ice as it causes the ice to melt, since it is not chilled first.
- Tonic Water – Most bars use lemon beverages like Sprite as tonic, but the correct method is to use simple sparkling water and possibly add lemon flavoring later.
- Up – Up refers to mixing drinks in a shaker, but pouring them into a glass without ice.
Another thing to know about mixed drinks is that while there is no “wrong” mixed drink, all ingredients should be chosen for a purpose. Do not simply add extra tequila just because you want the drink to contain more alcohol. Think of the flavor of the drink you are putting in and ask yourself if the new flavor is complementary, and how much is necessary to create the perfect combination.
Also remember to keep in mind contrasting drinks, like citrus and cream. Pour Baileys into orange juice and it will curdle and taste terrible. Though you may like Baileys and you may like Orange juice, these combinations simply do not go together.
Finally, remember to give your drink a clever name – most of these names are designed around shock value, so feel free and be as inappropriate as you want to be. Most popular drinks are named after body parts, sex and menstrual cycles, so it is unlikely the name of your mixed drink is going to offend anyone. But be sure it looks like the term you are using. Don’t simply call it a profanity when it looks nothing like that profanity. That, too, is an art.
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