It’s always impressive watching mixologists at work behind the bar, but an awful lot of practice goes into the various tricks and techniques they showcase while making your favourite drinks.
The good news is that these bar techniques aren’t outside the realms of possibility for you to achieve and all you need to do is give it a go, then dedicate some time to honing your new skills. To help you get started, here are some of the techniques you’ll see on display in cocktail bars and beyond… as well as some of the best drinks to practise them with.
Muddling
Muddling requires a gentler touch than you might think so it’s certainly worth practising to make sure you’re not pounding your ingredients into oblivion.
The key is to push down and twist as you go, breaking the ingredients down gently to help them release their delicious flavours. It’s also wise to use a heavier glass or a metal shaker, so you don’t run the risk of any breakages.
One of the best drinks to practise your muddling on is the classic and much-loved mojito, a refreshing mix of white rum, lime and fresh mint. Perfect for the summer months!
Floating
This is a slightly trickier one to master but once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be doing it all the time. Floating is the art of layering the ingredients of your drink one on top of each other, which can help you make really interesting cocktails that take your customers on a journey as they imbibe.
The most common way to float your drinks is to pour your ingredients slowly into the glass over the back of the spoon, which disperses the liquid over a wider surface area so it doesn’t sink to the bottom. Give it a go with the New York sour, which features bourbon or rye whiskey, some lemon juice, sugar syrup and a float of dry red wine.
Rolling
Rolling is a very simple technique to pick up but it’s an essential one to know – particularly if you’re planning on making a round of Bloody Marys. You don’t want to shake this cocktail, as this will cause the tomato juice to froth up too much and you don’t want to stir it, as this won’t mix the ingredients properly.
Instead, all you need to do is pour your drink back and forth between two cocktail shakers, which serves to chill the ingredients sufficiently without diluting it too much. Give it a go the next time you’re called upon to mix up a Bloody Mary… you’ll find your customers are wowed by the delicious drinks you’re able to make.
Want any more hints and tips for taking your mixology techniques to the next level? Get in touch with The Art of Shaking today.
