The Art and Science of Cocktail Mixing
Which liquor was invented in 17th Century Holland and was referred to as Dutch Courage and was used to cure stomach complaints, gout and gallstone?
According to legend jenever was invented by a Dutch doctor in the 17th century as a cure for stomach complaints gout and gallstones.
The liquor was originally called Dutch courage and was thought to be an effective medicine. Today jenever is still produced in the Netherlands and Belgium and is considered to be the national drink of both countries. It is typically made with juniper berries but other flavourings such as citrus herbs and spices can be added. Jenever is usually drunk straight or on the rocks but it can also be used in cocktails.
What is Mixology?
Mixology is the art and science of making cocktails and other mixed drinks. A mixologist is someone who studies and practices mixology. Mixologists use their knowledge of ingredients, flavors, and techniques to create unique and flavorful drinks. Many mixologists also develop their own original recipes
Can you be a mixologist from the comfort of your home?
Yes, it is possible to mix cocktails at home. You will need a few basic supplies, including a shaker, stirrer, jigger, and strainer. Some recipes also call for a blender. Once you have your supplies, you'll need to choose your ingredients. Be sure to have fresh fruit juices, liqueurs, and syrups on hand, as well as any other spirits or mixers you might want to use. It's also a good idea to have some fresh garnishes on hand, like citrus fruits or herbs. To make life easier, you can even buy pre-made mixes at the store.
What is the Science behind mixing drinks?
The science behind mixing drinks is interesting and complex. When you mix different drinks together, you are essentially changing their chemical composition. This can result in new and interesting flavors, but it can also be dangerous if not done correctly. There are three main ways to mix drinks: by blending, by layering, and by pouring one drink into another. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the type of drink you are making will dictate which method is best to use.
Who is a Bartender and who is a Mixologist?
The difference between a bartender and a mixologist is that a mixologist is trained in the science of mixing drinks, while a bartender is simply someone who serves drinks. A mixologist will often be able to make recommendations about what types of liquor to use in a drink, as well as how to mix them together to create the perfect flavor. They may also be able to create custom drinks for their guests.
A barkeep is someone who tends the bar, keeping it stocked and clean. A mixologist is someone who creates cocktails. Both may know a lot about alcohol, but the mixologist has more training in the science of creating drinks.
The term mixology is derived from the word mixture. In its broadest sense, mixology is the in-depth study of the interaction of spirits, liqueurs, bitters and fruits to create delicious and visually appealing drinks. It is both an art and a science, requiring a deep understanding of the ingredients and how they react with each other.
A mixologist is someone who studies and practices mixology. They are often employed by bars or restaurants to create unique and innovative drinks menus. Some mixologists even open their own bars, where they can showcase their creativity to the world.
The most important aspect of mixology is choosing the right ingredients and proportions to create a balanced drink that tastes good. A good mixologist also needs to be creative, as they often have to come up with new and innovative ways to make drinks.
If you're interested in becoming a mixologist, there are many resources available to help you get started. There are online courses, books and even professional Mixology Certification programs that can give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this exciting field.
You can be the amateur mixologist for your parties too, there are plenty of books and we have put up a list too. These books, each one of them is a treasure trove of knowledge on cocktails, their history and the whys and hows behind the creation of each.
The importance of Ice in Mixology
Ice is one of the most important ingredients in mixology and is often referred to as the 'fourth ingredient'. Ice acts as a stabilizer, temperature control and a slow mixing diluter. It is important to use the right type of ice for each cocktail and to have a good understanding of how ice interacts with other ingredients.
It not only helps to keep the drink cold, but also provides a way to control the dilution of the drink. There are many different types of ice that can be used in cocktails, from cubes to crushed ice. The type of ice you use will depend on the cocktail you are making. For example, a martini should be made with cracked ice so that it is evenly diluted, while a daiquiri should be made with crushed ice so that it is slightly thicker.
The key to using ice properly in a cocktail is to make sure that it is properly chilled before you start and that you do not over-dilute the drink. If you do not have enough ice, your drink will be too warm and if you have too much ice, your drink will be too diluted.
The role that glassware plays on the senses
Glassware is important in cocktail mixology because the right glass can enhance the flavor and presentation of a drink. For example, a martini should be served in a chilled, stemmed glass to keep the drink cold and to prevent it from being diluted by melting ice. A Margarita, on the other hand, is traditionally served in a wide, salt-rimmed glass to highlight the flavors of the tequila and lime.
The rule of thumb is, tall, slender glasses are best for cocktails that are mostly liquor, like Martinis, while short, wide glasses are better for drinks that have more mixer than liquor, like a Margarita. For anything in between, a rocks glass is a good middle-of-the-road option.
Learn to distinguish between summer and winter cocktails.
While both summer and winter cocktails have their merits, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing which to drink or mix for your party. First, consider the weather. If it's hot outside, you'll probably want a refreshing cocktail that can cool you down, like a mojito or daiquiri. On the other hand, if it's cold outside, you might want something warm and comforting, like a hot toddy or Irish coffee. Second, think about what fruits and vegetables are in season. Summer is the perfect time for lighter fruit-based drinks, while winter is ideal for richer cocktails made with seasonal produce like cranberries and pears. Finally, don't forget your personal preferences! If you have a favorite spirit or flavor, be sure to choose a cocktail that highlights it. No matter what time of year it is, there's always a delicious cocktail to enjoy.
Lunch and dinner cocktails know the differences
A lunch cocktail is typically a lighter drink, served before or with a meal. A dinner cocktail is usually a bit heavier and sweeter, when served after a meal to act as a digestif, or a lighter and low alcohol cocktail to act as an aperitif when served ahead of a dinner.
Lunch cocktails are typically served during the midday meal. They are usually made with lighter spirits such as gin or vodka, and often include fruit juices or other mixers. Lunch cocktails are often served in tall glasses with lots of ice, and are garnished with fruit or herbs.
Dinner cocktails are typically served before the meal, and are often lighter and lower in alcohol content than drinks served later in the evening. They may be a simple aperitif, like a glass of sparkling wine or Champagne, or something more elaborate like a negroni or martini.
Cocktails served later in the evening, and after a dinner tends to be heavier and sweeter and act as a digestif.
Know your cocktail by the serving, On the Rocks, Up, Dirty and Neat
There are different ways to make a cocktail. On the rocks means that the drink is poured over ice in the glass. Up means that the drink is shaken with ice and then strained into a glass. Dirty means that the drink is made with extra olive juice. Neat means that the drink is served without ice.
Neat: Neat is the simplest of cocktail terms. This means that a spirit is poured straight into a glass without any ice or other additions. It's similar to a shot, but the glass makes a huge difference in the drinking experience. Neat drinks are about two ounces and are not chilled. There are no extra ingredients (even ice) and no, you cannot order an Irish Car Bomb neat. Brandy and whiskey are the most popular types of spirits to drink neat. High-quality spirits of any kind are commonly enjoyed neat as well.
Up: A Up drink is typically an alcoholic beverage that has been iced and shaken or stirred, and before it is served, it is strained of its ice. This allows the drink to be served in a cocktail glass without any ice. An example would be ordering a whiskey œup which means the whiskey will be served in some ice long enough to chill. The ice is then removed and you get a neat whiskey that is served below room temperature.
Straight Up: Sometimes people use the term œstraight interchangeably with œneat, so there is a confusion between an "Neat" and a "Straight Up". Classic examples of drinks served straight up are a martini, manhattans, sidecars, sazeracs, pisco sours, and grasshoppers. These are mixed drinks that are chilled with ice and then served without any additional ingredients. So essentially, a straight up is the "up" for cocktails, be sure to confirm with your barman that he understands a Straight Up and doesn't consider it a Neat drink.
Straight: This once again is a confusion, œstraight is often associated with Whiskey, a Bourbon is ordered straight while it should actually be ordered œneat, a chilled vodka in a stemmed glass is also often ordered œstraight while it actually should be ordered œUp ¦ a Straight drink thus is a confusion and should be confirmed, always.
On the Rocks: The simplest option, probably after a œneat drink. An on the rocks drink is a cocktail that is served over ice. This can either mean that the drink is poured over a glass of ice, or that the ice is added to the drink itself. On the rocks drinks are typically served in old-fashioned glasses, highball glasses, or Collins glasses.
Dirty: A dirty cocktail is one that contains a cloudy or murky appearance due to the addition of mixer ingredients such as juices or cream. One example of a dirty cocktail is a martini that has been "dirtied" with the addition of olive juice. Other examples include the Dirty Harry, Dirty Mother, and Dirty Bastard.
Cocktail 101: The basic science and art behind a cocktail, to try at home
There is no one perfect way to make a cocktail. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you create a delicious and balanced drink. First, choose a core ingredient. This could be a spirit, like vodka or whiskey, or something non-alcoholic, like juice or soda. Next, add a balance to your drink. This could be another liquor, like vermouth or bitters, or something sweet, like sugar or honey. Finally, season your cocktail with fresh fruits, herbs, or spices. By following these simple tips, you can create endless possibilities for delicious and unique cocktails.
A Simple single core cocktail: Your first attempt at cocktail mixing
Start with simple single liquor cocktails, there are a few simple guidelines to create a delicious and balanced single liquor cocktail. First, choose the base spirit. This could be vodka, gin, rum, tequila, or whiskey. Next, add a sweetener. This could be sugar, honey, simple syrup, or fruit juice. Then, add a bit of acidity for balance. This could be lemon juice, lime juice, or bitters. Finally, add some freshness with a garnish like a slice of fruit or a sprig of herbs. Congratulations! You have mixed your first cocktail.
So, voila! You are now an expert in the basics of mixology and its tome for you to head for the kitchen and take stock of the bar and see what new cocktail you could invent tonight. If you are less adventurous, try the tried and tested ones and hone your skill first.
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Old Fashioned Glass
Old fashioned Glass, rocks glass or lowball glass, is a short tumbler used to server whisky, neat or on the rocks.
It is used to serve some cocktails like "Old Fashioned" , the cocktail from which it derives it name. A traditional and true Old Fashioned Glass is a cut glass classic design, but modern glasses usually are pressed glasses that are formed in a mold, but the essential English design is retained.
An Old Fashioned Glass with a plain wall is a lowball.
Old Fahioned Glasses contain 160-300 ml, while a Double Old Fashioned Glass contains 350-470 ml.Old-Fashioned Glass
Old fashioned Glass, rocks glass or lowball glass, is a short tumbler used to server whisky, neat or on the rocks.
It is used to serve some cocktails like "Old Fashioned" , the cocktail from which it derives it name. A traditional and true Old Fashioned Glass is a cut glass classic design, but modern glasses usually are pressed glasses that are formed in a mold, but the essential English design is retained.
An Old Fashioned Glass with a plain wall is a lowball.
Old Fahioned Glasses contain 160-300 ml, while a Double Old Fashioned Glass contains 350-470 ml.Collins Glass
A Collins Glass is a glass tumbler which typically will contain 10 to 14 fluid ounces (300 to 410 ml). It is used to serve mixed drinks, especially Tom Collins cocktails.
It is cylindrical in shape and narrower than a highball glass.
A Collins Glass is often referred to as a Tom Collins too
For a good explanation on which glass to use for which drink. Read this post from Bottleneck Management.Highball Glass
A highball glass is a glass tumbler that can contain between 240 ml and 350 ml ( 8 to 12 US fl oz ) it is used to server highball cocktails and other mixed drinks. A highball glass is taller than an Old Fashioned glass (lowball) and wider and shorter than a Collins Glass.
The highball name comes from the class of cocktail it is used to serve, a cocktail with a base spirit ( usually two to three ounces and a larger amount of non-alcoholic mixer.
For a good explanation on which glass to use for which drink. Read this post from Bottleneck Management.Cocktail Glass
A Cocktail Glass is a stemmed glass with an inverted cone bowl used to serve straight up cocktails. Altough the term Cocktail Glass is used interchangeably with Martini Glass, they differ slightly. a Martini Glass is purely conical while a Cocktail Glass is more rounded in shape and the Martini Glass is wider at the mouth and has a taller stem.
The martini glass has somewhat fallen out of favour in modern times due to its tendency to spill drinks, and the champagne coupe is sometimes used instead.Tall Glass
A highball glass or a Tall Cocktail Glass is a glass tumbler that can contain between 240 ml and 350 ml ( 8 to 12 US fl oz ) it is used to server highball cocktails and other mixed drinks. A highball glass is taller than an Old Fashioned glass (lowball) and wider and shorter than a Collins Glass.
The highball name comes from the class of cocktail it is used to serve, a cocktail with a base spirit ( usually two to three ounces and a larger amount of non-alcoholic mixer.Simple Guide to Cocktail Glassware
When there is no specific glass suggested for a cocktail, it's up to you to chose a glass.
Either you just go ahead and serve using any glass available to you following these simple rules
A. Go for Tall or Collins Glasses, Highball Glasses or even Hurricane Glasses for cocktails with loads of non-alcoholic mixes, and those that require crushed or cubed ices,
B. But if your cocktail is aromatic and liqueur based, and has a complex character that must reach the nose use a wide mouthed Cocktail Glass.
C. Red Wine Glasses for cocktails that have a Red Wine as the base spirit. Red Wine Glasses have a wider mouth and a long stem, so that the wine can be swirled an aerated to release the aroma while the long stem keeps the fingers away and avoid quick warming of the wine.
D. White Wine Glasses for cocktails with a White Wine base, since White Wines must not be aerated as much as a Red Wines, since they oxidise fast when in contact with air, White Wine glassware, in contrast to the wide mouthed bowl of a Red Wine Glassware, is narrow with a narrow mouth. A White Wine has much lighter and delicate notes and the narrow mouth and less surface area in contact with air helps retain the aroma.
E. If your cocktail is based on a Sparkling Wine like Champagne then a Flute Glass is more suitable since a Sparkling Wine is a White Wine with a secondary fermentation that produces the bubbles, and the narrow mouth flute prevents the bubbles from escaping.
F. If it's winter and you are in the mood for some hot cocktails like the Irish Coffee or Hot Toddy, go for the Irish Coffee Glass, it has a heat resistant glass and a handle.
G. Martini Glasses for Martinis or "Tinis" in general, but since these glasses have fallen off of favour these days, a Cocktail Glass will be good too.
H. IF you are serving Margaritas, don't look for Margarita Glass if you don't have one at home, Double Old Fashioned Glass or other glasses are more common these days, for serving Margaritas.
I. If you are the adventurous one, and are serving shots or shooters, of course the Shot Glass is your choice of glass,
J. Finally, if you are going all out and serving depth charges and car bomb shots, all you need is a Double Old Fashioned Glass or a Beer Mug for the beer and a shot glass to drop the bomb in.
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About Us
Neel B and Mani, we are a team of two, originally from India and the United States. We are professional software engineers and passionate cocktail enthusiasts. We built this app because we saw a need for a more comprehensive and user-friendly way to find cocktails and bartending recipes. We hope you enjoy using our app as much as we enjoyed making it!We decided to use our technology skills to help others who were in the same position as us and wanted to experiment with making cocktails at home but didn\u2019t know where to start. We have been working together for more than two years and has managed to collect an extensive library of recipes as well as tips and tricks for making the perfect cocktail.
Neel B is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer and martial arts and fitness enthusiast. He is an avid reader, compulsive doodler, and painter. His love for cocktails arises from the art in it and the history that traces the ups and downs of modern civilisation over centuries.
Mani is an ERP and SaaS developer and architect by day and a cocktail enthusiast in her leisure. She holds a Masters in Computer Application and Programming. In addition to writing stories on the history of cocktails and alcohol, she has a special interest in cocktails in literature. She believes that the perfect cocktail can make any moment special.