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A little theory today. Let’s talk about cocktails, or rather, about their types. I think everyone knows what cocktails are – drinks obtained by mixing several liquids. Also, I think everyone knows that cocktails can be alcoholic and non-alcoholic. But not everything is so simple – the alcohol group is classified by many categories, which will be discussed further.
Of course, to understand which of the groups this or that belongs to cocktail very difficult. In fact, there can be as many of these categories as there are cocktails themselves, but still there is some underlying reason here. Let’s try to understand in more detail. Next will be the types of cocktails in terms of different categorization.
Classification of cocktails in terms of time of use
Aperitifs
This is a very large group of cocktails, the role of which is to excite the appetite and, as a result, improve digestion. They are served before meals and, as a rule, they include spirits. Depending on the culture of food, aperitifs exist in two versions:
- Classic aperitifs. Here you can highlight this kind of cocktails: Dry Martini (Dry martini), Manhattan (Manhattan), as well as Kir (Kir).
- Aperitifs of Mediterranean Europe. These cocktails most often use vermouth and beaters. I already wrote about one such aperitif – Negroni (Negroni), Americano (Americano) can also be attributed here.
Digestives
This group of cocktails is served after a meal (After Dinner Cocktails), as a rule, they have a very high sugar content, including coffee. Bright representatives of this group are White Russian (White Russian) and Alexander (Alexander) cocktails.
Anytime
The International Bar Organization calls these cocktails Any Time Drinks, which means they can be served at any time, regardless of the food being served. This includes short drinks (Gimlet (Gimlet), Rusty Nail (Rusty Nail) or Margarita (Margarita)), as well as long drinks (Gin Fizz (Gin Fizz), Screwdriver (Screwdriver), Long Island Ice Tea (Long Island Iced Tea) or Tequila Sunrise (Tequila Sunrise)), you guessed it, this is one of the most popular groups that is very popular in nightclubs and other public events.
Classification of cocktails by strength and size
To be honest, what I am writing now, I hear for the first time =) even a little ashamed. In general, cocktails are also classified by total strength and serving volume:
- Hot Drinks – hot drinks or warming. Volume (from 60 ml) and strength (from 12 to 35% vol.) can be different.
- Long Drinks – long drinks. From 160 to 300 ml with a strength of 7 to 17% vol.
- Short Drinks – short drinks. From 60 to 160 ml with a strength of 17 to 45% vol.
- Shot Drinks – sent accounts. They are also called “throats” or shooters (shooters): from 40 to 60 ml with different strengths. They drink in one gulp, and some are set on fire for beauty.
Classification of cocktails by taste (sweet and sour)
Very fine classification, so it is rarely seen anywhere. I use the first type of classification most often on the blog, but it’s still useful to know the following:
- Дэйзи (Daisy) – short drink, which consists of one alcoholic drink, lemon juice, sugar and grenadine syrup. As a rule, it is served in an old-fashioned glass, garnished with an orange circle and a cherry.
- Collins – prepared in the famous collins glass, which is one of the varieties of highballs (highball) – I am still working on the glassware, so you will soon be able to see all its varieties. The composition of such cocktails includes one alcoholic drink, lemon juice, sugar, soda and ice. They are also classic long drinks, and suffice it to cite the famous Collins cocktail (John Collins) as an example.
- Cobblers and Coolers – almost Collins, only sugar, or lemon juice, or both are not added to the composition. Coolers are a spirit drink served with soda and ice (Gin and Tonic or Concrete), or with ginger ale. But Koblers are also served with crushed ice (crash), as well as fruits;
- Сауэры (Sour) – sour cocktails I already wrote about them when I described the Whiskey Sour cocktail (Whiskey Sour).
- Slings – a high content of lemon juice in combination with an alcoholic drink, soda and a spoonful of sugar. A bright representative is Singapore Sling, but instead of sugar, cherry brandy comes here.
- sweezles – These are long drinks, which include beaters.
- Fizzy – the composition of cocktails includes highly carbonated water (to fizz from English – “sizzle”). And lemon juice, sugar and liquor whipped in a shaker are poured with a “pop”. Served in highball. A prominent representative is Gene Fizz.
- Fixes – undiluted cocktails, which include strong alcoholic drinks, liqueurs, syrups or wines. It cooks them very quickly: 2/3 is filled with crushed ice collins and all the ingredients are poured in – decorated with a slice of lemon.
Well, there is no point in delving further, at least in terms of types of classification. I’ll just roll out more varieties of cocktails, and you can decide who is who =).
- layered cocktails – a bar spoon and went to layer one ingredient after another. I already wrote about them in cooking methods, so look there =).
- Sangeri – a timeless classic. Sangeris are prepared on the basis of strong elite drinks, diluted with soda, with the addition of Tawny port and nutmeg powder.
- Corpse Revivers – this is how the eminent bartender Charles Schuman calls this group, which is interpreted as “a return to the life of a dead man.” As you guessed, these are anti-hangover cocktails, which are prepared on the basis of high-calorie fruits, a large amount of juice or broth. The brightest of the tonic cocktails are Bullshot (Blow of a bull) and Bloody Mary (Bloody Mary).
- Punches – warming drinks based on alcohol, juices, sugar and spices.
- Grog – warming drinks based on rum, lemon juice, sugar, water or tea, spices.
- Toddy – warming alcoholic drinks, based on alcohol, honey or sugar, juice or water.
- Hot coffee – warming drinks, based on alcohol, sugar, coffee, sometimes cream.
- Juleps – mint leaves are crushed with sugar in the muddler right in the serving dish. All this goodness is covered with stabbed people, and alcohol is poured from above. Representative – Mint Julep. Mojito, by the way, is considered a long drink, not a julep.
- Smashes is a more similar form to a mojito, as less alcohol and soda are added to the julep. Smashes are served in old fashion or tumbler.
- Kir – a mixture of liqueur and champagne. An example is Kir Royal (Kir Royal).
- Egg-legs – a long drink prepared in a shaker with the addition of an egg. Ground nutmeg, sugar or sugar syrup, milk or cream and, of course, alcohol are also added to the eggnog.
I have to say, it’s an impressive list. This is probably the most informative article for me personally so far, in general, I am proud of it =). The listed types describe far from all cocktails, but the basics from the basics are still taken into account. Well, cook, fantasize, experiment, and I will rest. Till!
