Who isn’t playing home mixologist these days? Many people are heading to the liquor store to make sure they have all the essentials on hand to blend classic cocktails and creative drinks for socially distant happy hours over Zoom or to toast to birthdays and other special events with loved ones at home.
Novice mixologists and even seasoned amateur barkeeps may benefit from a rundown of all the elements necessary to create cocktails from the comforts of home.
Prepare your inventory
A good base of glassware is essential for pouring tasty cocktails.
· Collins/highball glasses: Tall, chimney-shaped glasses good for vodka and club soda or gin and tonic.
· Coupe or martini glasses: These stemmed glasses are ideal for cocktails served shaken or stirred with ice and served chilled.
· Single rocks glasses: Stemless glasses for any spirit served neat or on the rocks. These hold between eight and 10 ounces.
· Shot glasses: These small glasses tend to be short and stubby.
In addition to these glasses, make sure you have stirrers, shakers, and strainers available for mixing drinks.
Drink ingredients
Once your glassware cabinet is full, it’s time to stock the bar with liquor and other essentials.
· Gin
· Rum
· Tequila
· Triple Sec
· Vermouth
· Vodka
· Whiskeys (including Bourbons and Scotches)
In addition, it’s best to have on hand some other drink essentials.
· Sour mix
· Simple syrup
· Green olives
· Maraschino cherries
· Grenadine syrup
· Muddled mint
· Citrus rinds
· Citrus juices
· Tonic water
· Club soda and other sodas
Learn the essentials
With accessories and inventory in place, practice mastering these three classic drinks.
Margarita
Makes 2 drinks
(courtesy of Serious Eats)
-1 lime wedge, plus 2 lime wheels for garnish
-1 tablespoon coarse salt, for glass rims
-4 ounces high-quality blanco tequila
-2 ounces Cointreau or another triple sec
-11/2 ounces fresh juice from 2 limes
1. Run lime wedge around the outer rims of two rocks glasses and dip rims in salt. Set aside.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds (the bottom of a metal shaker should frost over).
3. Fill glasses with fresh ice and strain margarita into both glasses. Garnish with lime wheels and serve.
Tom Collins
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of The Spruce: Eats)
-11/2 ounces gin
-1ounce lemon juice
-1/2 ounce simple syrup
-3 ounces club soda (or enough to fill)
-Maraschino cherry
-Lemon or orange slice
1. In a collins glass filled with ice cubes, pour the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Stir thoroughly and top with club soda.
3. Garnish with a cherry and an orange or lemon slice.
Whiskey Sour
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of Liquor.com)
-2 ounces bourbon
-3/4 ounces fresh lemon juice
-1/2 ounces simple syrup
-1/2 ounces egg white (optional)
-Angostura bitters, for garnish
1. Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake.
2. Strain into a coupe.
3. Garnish with three dashes of Angostura bitters.
