The most important tool you will need to create a cocktail is a cocktail shaker.
It doesnt really matter what size or shape the cocktail shaker is, but it certainly helps if it has a built in strainer to stop ice from falling into the cocktail when you pour it. In most cases ice is added to cocktails in the mixing process, but should not be served with the drink, although this is not true in all cocktails.
Once the ingredients have been added to the cocktail shaker, it is important to shake vigorously with both hands, this really brings the cocktail to life.
Use fresh ice for each mixing, and avoid using smaller cubes as they melt quicker and dilute the drink. Some recipes require that the ingredients are to be stirred instead of shaken. This can be done is a tall glass jug using a long handled spoon, and the ice will need to be strained before serving.
Teaspoons and tablespoons will be required to measure sugar, cream and many other different ingredients.
Between each mix, it is a good idea to rinse the spoons and other utensils as any foreign ingredients from previously made drinks can easily ruin the flavour of a cocktail, even in small doses.
Some cocktail recipes call for the use of an electric blender. In this scenario, it is best to use crushed ice as larger pieces of ice can cause blades to quickly become blunted unless they are designed for that specific purpose. If need be you can easily crush ice cubes by wrapping them in a tea towel and hammering them with a mallet on a hard surface. If a cocktail recipe requires fruit juice, fresh juice is always to be preferred.
The cocktail connoisseur demands particular glasses for different drinks. Stocking up with all the various glasses can be very expensive and requires a lot of storage space. The recommended glasses are the v-shaped cocktail glass, the small tumbler glass, the wide champagne glass for some of the creamy cocktails and the standard round wine glass for punches. It is preferable to serve some cocktails in glasses that have been chilled for around half an hour in a freezer.
Decorations for cocktails range from the stuffed olive and cocktail cherry to slices of fresh fruits, mint sprigs and spices. Always spear cherries on a cocktail stick. Large slices of fruit such as pineapple or peach which will not sit well on the edge of a glass should also be speared on a stick. Never use canned fruit in syrup to decorate, or in the mixing of a cocktail, as the syrup will spoil the flavour.
Below are just a few samples of the thousands of cocktail recipes available, enjoy!
1 measure = 45ml
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a wine glass. Garnish with celery leaves.
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Pour the vodka and kahlua over ice cubes in a whiskey tumbler. To make a white Russian, top up with thick cream. For a longer drink, use a tumbler and top up with cola.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a twist of lemon.
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Pour the vodka over ice cubes in a tumbler and top up with orange juice. Stir well and decorate with orange slices.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with an orange slice.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Any orange liqueur may be substituted for Curacao.
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Shake ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a stuffed olive or a twist of lemon peel.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a stuffed olive or a twist of lemon peel.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Shake the ingredients together vigorously with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a small tumbler. Top up with soda water. Decorate with a slice of orange and a cocktail cherry.
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Place a lump of ice in a tumbler and add the whiskey. Top up with soda water. Decorate with a twist of lemon peel. Ginger ale can be used in place of soda water.
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Stir the tequila and orange juice with ice cubes in a shaker or jug and strain into a tall tumbler. Add ice cubes then slowly pour in the grenadine. Allow to settle, but stir once before drinking.
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Moisten the inner and outer edge of a cocktail glass with a slice of lemon or lime and dip in fine salt. Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into the glass.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a tall tumbler filled with crushed ice. Top up with lemonade and decorate with a slice of lemon or lime. Serve with a straw.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Place the ingredients in an electric blender. Add two cups of crushed ice and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Strain into a tall tumbler and serve with a straw.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a cocktail cherry.
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Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
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Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with orange and lemon slices.
