If the thought of complex, intermingling flavours, be they soft and inconspicuous or bright and bold, dancing across your tongue with every sip of a drink makes you perk up with interest, then cocktails were made for you.
Most of the time, a cocktail will use strong spirits such as gin, vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum or cognac, mixed with other ingredients that will completely transform the taste of the drink. Liqueurs happen to be some of the most common methods of adding an unforgettable flavour to the cocktail.
The sheer variety of cocktails available can be staggering. Long and short, alcoholic or sober, thick, layered, iced, flaming, refreshing, warm, relaxing or intense. Whether you want to sit back in a soft couch with a glass and a good book or movie to keep you company, or cut loose and enjoy a night with friends to its fullest – it’s quite possible that there’s a perfect cocktail for every occasion to make your day just that much better.
This style of drink has long-since embedded itself within our society, so much so that those interested in crafting new and exciting sensations in a glass have recently finished celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the culture associated with it.
If you’re tempted to experience the culture and etiquette associated with cocktails, we will be happy to offer a small glimpse into this new world.
Cocktails can be classified into many different groups.
By time of consumption:
- Aperitif – Served before a meal to stimulate appetite. Despite using hard liquor such as gin of vermouth, they aren’t very strong, so as to prevent early inebriation.
- Digestif – Served after a hearty meal to improve digestion. Often, they are stronger and sweeter than Aperitifs in order to go together with the dessert.
- Any Time – As the name suggests, the serving times of these cocktails are not related to food in the slightest and can be mixed up whenever one likes. Nonetheless, all cocktails are considered evening drinks and, as such, are usually enjoyed during social gatherings.
By Strength and Volume:
- Shot drinks – Served in 40-60mL shots and “Slammed Back” by tipping the contents into your mouth and swallowing everything in one go. They can be visibly separated into different layers and vary in strength, or even set on fire for great visual effect. Short Drinks – Served in 60-160mL glasses. Strength varies from 17 to 45%.
- Long Drinks – Served in tall, 16-300mL glasses. These cocktails rarely exceed 17%.
- Hot Alcoholic Drinks – Heated drinks such as Grog or Mulled Wine don’t have a defined strength or serving size, but they rarely exceed 35% ABV.
By Method of Preparation:
- Shaken – All the ingredients are mixed in a shaker before being poured into a glass and garnished.
- Built – Each component is added into the serving glass, where it is mixed.
- Stirred – All the components are mixed in a separate glass before getting poured into a serving vessel.
- Muddled – Prior to mixing, mint, sugar or pieces of fruit are ground up against the bottom of the glass with a special pestle called a ‘Muddler’
- Blended – As the name suggests, all the components are mixed together in a blender until a homogenous mass is achieved. This is most often used when the cocktail calls for pieces of fresh fruit or other solid ingredients to be added.
- Layered – Rather than mixing, each component is carefully layered on top of the other, resulting in beautiful and distinct colours visibly separated from one another. Properly crafting a layered cocktail requires great skill and precision from the bartender.
These cocktails do not fall under any of the above classifications:
- Eggnog – A mix of alcohol, sugar, nutmeg, egg and creamy milk, straight from Scotland.
- Oyster – The opposite of an alcoholic cocktail comprised of egg yolk, salt, pepper and hot sauce that is often used as a hangover cure.
- Highball – Any strong spirit served in a tall, smooth-walled (highball) glass and containing a greater volume of mixer, resulting in a tasty drink that’s weaker than usual.
Now, you know all you need to start your journey into exploring the exciting world of cocktail mixing!
On the next page, we’ll cover the etiquette surrounding Aperitifs and Digestifs.