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.
Serving Cocktails
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
Vodka Cocktails
Bloody Mary
Ingredients:
- 1 measure of vodka
- 2 measures of tomato juice
- 1/3 measure of lemon juice
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a wine glass. Garnish with celery leaves.
Black Russian
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of vodka
- 1 measure of kahlua
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.
Vodka Martini
Ingredients:
- 1 measure of vodka
- 1 measure of dry vermouth
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a twist of lemon.
Screwdriver
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of vodka
- Orange juice to top up
Pour the vodka over ice cubes in a tumbler and top up with orange juice. Stir well and decorate with orange slices.
Gin Cocktails
Appetizer
Ingredients:
- 1 measure of gin
- 1 measure of Dubonnet
- Juice of 1/2 an orange
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with an orange slice.
Hawaiian
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of gin
- 1 measure of orange juice
- 1/2 measure of Curacao
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Any orange liqueur may be substituted for Curacao.
Martini
Ingredients:
- 1 measure of gin
- 1 measure of dry vermouth
Shake ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a stuffed olive or a twist of lemon peel.
Martini Dry
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of gin
- 1 measure of vermouth
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a stuffed olive or a twist of lemon peel.
Martini Sweet
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of gin
- 1 measure of sweet vermouth
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Whiskey Cocktails
Cowboy
Ingredients:
- 2 measure of whiskey
- 1 measure of thick cream
Shake the ingredients together vigorously with crushed ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Manhattan
Ingredients:
- 1 dash of angostura bitters
- 2 measures of Canadian whiskey
- 1 measure of sweet vermouth
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1.5 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 measures of whiskey
- Soda water to top up
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.
Whiskey Highball
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of whiskey
- Soda water to top up
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.
Tequila Cocktails
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 measures of tequila
- 3.5 measures of orange juice
- Half a shot of grenadine
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.
Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1.5 measures of tequila
- 1.5 measures of Cointreau
- 1 measure of lemon or lime juice
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.
Corcovado
Ingredients:
- 1 measure of blue Curacao
- 1 measure of tequila
- 1 measure of Drambuie
- Lemonade to top up
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.
Rum Cocktails
Rum special
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of grenadine
- 1 measure of gin
- 2 measures of white rum
- Juice of half a lime
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Pina Colada
Ingredients:
- 2 measures of dark rum
- 3 tablespoons of coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons of crushed pineapple.
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.
Daiquiri
Ingredients:
- Juice of 1/4 lemon or 1/2 a lime
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 2 measures of dark or white rum
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with a cocktail cherry.
Brandy Cocktails
Stinger
Ingredients:
- 1/4 measure of white creme de menthe
- 3/4 measure of brandy
Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Corpse Reviver
Ingredients:
- 1/2 measure of sweet vermouth
- 1/2 measure of Calvados
- 1 measure of brandy
Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Paradise
Ingredients:
- 1 dash of lemon juice
- 1/2 measure of orange juice
- 1 measure of gin
- 1/2 measure of apricot brandy
Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with orange and lemon slices.
