Contents
Today, a little theory – let’s talk about how to make drinks. It will seem to you that this is purely theoretical information and does not carry any practical load. But this is an erroneous opinion. It just so happened that the methods of making cocktails were invented for a reason, and each of them has certain reasons. These methods have been formed for many years, starting from the time when the bar industry was ruled by those same legendary bartenders. It was their Talmuds that became the first sources of inspiration for young bartenders of all generations, including ours.
Classic cocktail recipes
Well, over the long history of mixlogy (the science of making cocktails), the following types of cocktail making have been formed in the bar theory:
- Build (Build);
- Stir;
- Shake;
- Blend (Blend).
Of course, these types of cocktail preparation cannot be called fundamental, since science mixology does not stand still. Bartenders constantly come up with new cocktails, as well as new types of their preparation. But these four species are the whales on which all bar science rests. Now I will try to explain to you in an accessible way what each of the above methods is, as well as why exactly one of the methods is chosen for making a particular cocktail.
How to prepare cocktails Build (Build)
You do not need to know English thoroughly to understand that we are talking about building. Build is a method of preparing a cocktail when the ingredients of a cocktail are combined directly in the serving bowl. In other words, the components of the cocktail are immediately poured from containers (bottles) into a glass from which you will drink a ready-made cocktail. This method is the most common when making Long Drinks and shots.
The main techniques of this method:
Building – construction. Most often, mix drinks are prepared in this way, the components of which do not require strong mixing (strong spirits, wines, water, juices).
The technique is very simple and indispensable in the work of an ordinary bartender: all the ingredients of a cocktail are poured into a glass with ice in turn, while the sequence is observed (most often, spirits are poured first, then fillers).
It is not advisable to prepare drinks with liqueurs in this way, since the latter mix very poorly due to their density. Mixed drinks are served with a swizzle stick (stirring stick), which many guests of establishments consider to be an ordinary decoration, and many bartenders do not really understand why they put it there. In fact, it is a practical tool with which the client must stir his drink. That’s it. Example: Bloody Mary cocktail, Screwdriver.
Лэйринг (Layering) – layering. This is how layered cocktails are prepared, including everyone’s favorite shots. Layered cocktails are called the French word Pousse-café (Pouss cafe). To prepare these cocktails, you need to have some knowledge of the density of drinks (you can find a density table here), which is expressed as a percentage of sugar. You need to know that Kalua is heavier than Sambuca, and Grenadine is heavier than Kalua, which is quite logical, because the syrup contains a lot of sugar. Trite, but many do not know this. Example: cocktail B-52.
Muddling – to press. There is such a thing – “Mudler”, which is a pusher or a pestle, as you like. With the help of the muddler, the well-known Mojito is prepared, as well as a lot of cocktails, where there are berries, fruits, spices and other solid ingredients. Juice or essential oils are squeezed out of these components, and then ice or crush (crushed ice) is poured, all the components of the cocktail are poured in and all the components are mixed with a bar spoon. Another example is the Caipirna cocktail.
How to make cocktails Stir
Cocktails in this way are prepared in a mixing glass. This method is most commonly used for cocktails that have more than 3 ingredients but don’t need to be mixed strongly (all spirits, wines and bitters). The method is extremely simple: ice is poured into a mixing glass, cocktail ingredients are poured (starting with a less strong one). Then, with a rotational movement, you need to mix the contents with a bar spoon, and then strain the drink with a strainer into a serving dish.
This cocktail making technology used for those cocktails that need to be served without ice, but chilled. The brightest cocktail prepared in this way is the Dry Martini, which is the most unshakable classic.
Shake cocktail recipe
Well, everyone knows this way. It is used in the preparation of cocktails from components that are difficult to mix (syrups, liqueurs, eggs, mashed potatoes, etc.). A shaker is used for mixing. There are two techniques here.
Shaking technique used to properly dilute the cocktail. What does it mean? And this means that diluting the cocktail is no less important than maintaining proportions. They threw a little ice into the shaker – it will quickly melt, and the cocktail will become watery, lose its strength. That is why the shaker should be filled to 2/3. Ingredients should be poured from less to stronger. You can shake the shaker for a maximum of 20 seconds, while shaking it so that the contents move from bottom to bottom, that is, ice should move along the entire length of the shaker. It is logical that you can’t shake soda in a shaker (because there will be grief =). You can still control the cooling by touch – condensate droplets appeared on the walls of the metal part of the shaker – the cocktail is ready – strain through a strainer into a serving glass. Whiskey Sour cocktail is prepared in this way.
Still sometimes a variation of the Shake method is used – Fine strain. This is not even a variety, just a cocktail is prepared in a shaker, but when straining, a fine sieve is added to the strainer to remove small fragments of ice or any components crushed by the muddler in the shaker. More examples: Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, Negroni cocktails.
How to prepare cocktails Blend (Blend)
Cocktails are prepared with a blender. This is necessary if the cocktail contains fruits, berries, ice cream and other viscous elements. Making cocktails this method is also required when preparing cocktails of the Frozen class (frozen). If you throw ice into the blender in certain proportions, then a snow mass with a certain taste is created – it looks spectacular, and the taste is unusual. How to cook using the blend method: pour ice into the blender, pour in the ingredients in any order (or pour them in), and then start mixing, while it is better to start from lower speeds to higher ones. Pina Colada cocktail can be prepared in this way.
In principle, these are the main methods of making cocktails. As you can see, some practical side is still present in this information. Now, before you make any cocktail, think about how best to do it. And what how to make cocktails do you know yet? I’ve heard that cocktail fire is considered a separate build technology, but to me, it’s just a way to put on a show and make serving a cocktail more exotic. I look forward to your comments!