Contents
A cocktail is a drink obtained by mixing several ingredients. In the alcoholic version, one or more types of alcohol are necessarily present. These drinks are prepared in different ways and drunk at different times of the day. Strength and volume may also vary. Accordingly, the categories of alcoholic cocktails are different.
Main groups
Time of use
Strength and volume
Method of preparation
Main ingredient (aka base)
Features of taste and serving
Classification by time of admission
Aperitifs
Numerous group of cocktails that are served before meals and are designed to whet the appetite.
They usually contain strong alcohol, but the drinks themselves have a low degree so as not to cause premature intoxication.
Within the category, 2 subspecies are distinguished: classic and Mediterranean aperitifs.
The former usually includes gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, the latter are often prepared on the basis of vermouth or beater.
Traditional cocktails in this category: Dry Martini, Manhattan, Negroni, Kir.
Digestives
Drink during or after meals, often combined with desserts and coffee.
Drinks are usually sour or sweet and are meant to improve digestion.
The most popular: White Russian and Black Russian, Rusty Nail, Sazerac, B-52, Alexander, various punches.
Any time
Literally “at any time” or “all day”.
It is consumed regardless of the time of day and food intake, although for the most part cocktails are considered evening.
Usually they are not drunk in the morning or alone, but are served in nightclubs and at public events.
The most famous party drinks: Long Island Iced Tea, Tequila Sunrise, Cosmopolitan, Gin Fizz, Margarita, Screwdriver, Bloody Mary, etc.
The division into such groups is very conditional and some cocktails can be attributed to several categories at once, especially when it comes to the last two.
Composition classification
Everything is simple here. Usually cocktails are divided according to the main alcoholic component.
These can be drinks based on:
Gina, whiskey, rum
Vodka/tequila
brandy/cognac
Wine (still/sparkling)
liquor
Vermouth
beer/ale
The first three groups are classic, the rest are less common.
As additional ingredients for creating cocktails, they use: a variety of juices and sauces, cream, milk, honey, spices, herbs, eggs, etc.
Moreover, each bartender can prepare the same drink in different ways, changing the recipe and the number of components at his discretion.
Classification by strength and volume
Long Drinks (“long”)
Serve in tall glasses with a volume of 160-300 ml. Fortress – up to 17 °.
Short Drinks (“short”)
The volume varies from 60 to 160 ml. Fortress within 17-45 °.
Shot Drinks (“shots” or “shooting drinks”)
They drink in one gulp, some set fire to it before serving. Dosage: 40-60 ml. The strength may vary.
Hot Drinks (“hot” or warming)
Volume: not less than 60 ml. Any fortress, not lower than 12 °, not higher than 35 °. These include: grogs, punches, toddy cocktails, hot coffee, etc.
Classification by manufacturing method
Shake
The ingredients are mixed with a shaker, transferred to a glass and decorated.
Build
The components are placed in turn in a glass and mixed. Separately, there is a “build with ice”.
Stir
The ingredients are mixed in a separate glass, and then poured into a serving glass.
Layer (лейер)
Components are laid in layers. A very effective method that requires special skill.
The result is bright compositions of multi-colored parts that do not mix with each other.
Muddle (маддл)
It is not a separate cooking method and is combined with others.
Some components are kneaded with a wooden pestle (madler) at the bottom of the glass and the remaining components are added.
Most often mint leaves, pieces of fruit, sugar are crushed.
Blend
It involves whipping the ingredients with a blender for uniformity. Compatible with other methods.
“Strain” (strain)
It consists in filtering (filtering) the drink through a strainer (sieve) in order to separate large particles (ice, fruits, berries).
Used for the manufacture of cocktails “Aviation”, “Gin-Fiz”.
In complex drinks, different variations and combinations of methods can occur: double strain, dry shake, hurricane, etc.
Classification according to taste characteristics and method of serving
There are many varieties here. Let’s take a look at the brightest:
Daisy
One type of strong alcohol is combined with syrup, lemon juice, sugar, mineral water.
Often red. 40-degree drinks (vodka, brandy, gin) are usually served in this way.
Julep
Refreshing cocktail based on hard liquor, diluted with water, supplemented with mint and ice.
Cardinal
In equal proportions it includes liquor and a strong alcohol base.
Collins
Refers to long drinks, is a composition of one high-strength unsweetened alcoholic ingredient, lemon juice, soda and sugar.
Kobbler
It is a combination of wine (sherry) with citrus juice, sugar, crushed ice and fruit.
It happens strawberry, coffee, pineapple, egg.
Cooler
A cocktail from the category of low-alcohol, refreshing.
The base is wine or strong liquor, supplemented with fruit juice (sometimes ginger ale).
Can be apple, mango, berry, mint, etc.
Sangari
A drink sprinkled with crushed nutmeg.
Sower
A sour cocktail that is a mix of alcohol, lemon (lime) juice and a sweet ingredient (liquor/fruit juice).
Sling
In addition to juice and alcohol, the composition of the drink includes “minuralka” or plain water.
Smash
A cocktail that contains fresh mint, but is stronger than a julep because there is no water in the recipe.
Suizl (svizl)
Bitter based drink.
Fizz
An effervescent mix “with bubbles”, which, in addition to strong alcohol, includes champagne or “soda”, sometimes lemon juice and syrup.
Fix
Long drink from several types of alcohol, not diluted with anything.
As an additional ingredient, only crushed ice and a slice of lemon are present, sometimes lemon juice and syrup.
Flip
The composition must contain an egg.
frappe
Chilled drink with crushed ice, cream, ice cream, fruit syrup.
Can be cranberry, pineapple, etc.
Egg-legs
An unusual Scottish find that belongs to the category of Christmas drinks.
The composition, in addition to alcohol, includes eggs, sugar (honey), nutmeg, cream (milk).
Oyster (Oyster)
Anti-hangover, tonic cocktail with egg yolk, salt and spicy ingredients.
Separately, the anti-hangover category “Corpse Revivers” is distinguished based on high-calorie fruits, broths, juices.
Highball
Any long drink of low strength, which is served in a special elongated glass (highball).
Tiki
An exotic cocktail dedicated to tropical deities.
Often served in the original dish with the image of Polynesian totems – tiki-mage.
The main ingredient is rum. In addition to it, the composition includes fresh citrus juices, various liqueurs and syrups, Japanese vodka, ginger beer, crushed ice.
The drink can be decorated with a rose flower, mint leaves, cherries, fruits.
To a separate category can be attributed to the classification of the International Association of Bartenders, which divides cocktails into three groups: “Unforgettable”, “Modern Classics”, “Drinks of a new era”.
Relevance: 22.12.2018
Tags: Encyclopedia