In the same way as a memorable dinner in an elegant restaurant, the image of your favorite cocktail will be incomplete without the finishing touch - decorations.
Pick your recipe
Decorations come in all shapes and sizes, and are often used not only for display, but also to improve the taste of the drink. They can be placed on the surface of the cocktail, put in it or elegantly hoisted on the rim of the glass.
These are curls (usually from citrus fruits), fresh tropical fruits (do not forget about a cocktail umbrella), classic olive (served at the edge of the glass). More and more often, pickled vegetables are used as a "highlight" - for example, in the preparation of "Bloody Mary".
Experiment as your palette of taste tells you by mixing and combining a wide variety of ingredients. Nevertheless, there are several basic rules that should be followed when choosing jewelry:
• Citrus fruits are usually used in smoothies that do not contain milk or cream.
• Cocktail cherries, which are widely used in a wide variety of cocktails from Manhattan to Pina Colada, are not recommended for serving with classic drinks such as martinis.
• Vodka-based cocktails tend to blend well with lemon and lime.
• Tequila and lime mixture, as well as rum and mint are well combined with each other.
• Cinnamon sticks, coffee beans, and chocolate are great for dessert cocktails.
• Vegetables are suitable for drinks based on tomato juice.
In general, when choosing a decoration method, it is best to take into account the general theme of your drink, taking the main ingredient as a basis. For example, a pear slice is perfect for an Asian pear martini. Coffee beans are the perfect complement to Irish liquor and coffee based cocktails.
In addition to the right ingredients, it is also important to choose the right tools. Most jewelry can be made with a fruit knife, but it’s also useful to keep a decorator knife and grater handy. The grater is useful for rubbing dessert additives such as chocolate and nutmeg. For slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, larger knives come in handy.
A decorator knife with a v-shaped blade will help turn the peel of lemon, lime and orange into artistic curls. However, do not overdo it! When using a decorator knife, it is important to carefully remove only the top layer of the peel without grabbing the white inner layer. The curl, as a rule, floats in a cocktail, so the uncircumcised portion of the white layer can add bitterness to the drink, which cannot be compensated for by the bright glossy shine of the top layer of the peel.
Making jewelry can be spontaneous, but the best jewelry should be prepared in advance, even before you start mixing the drink. This way you can focus on form and style without worrying about the ice melting before you finish making the cocktail. Jewelry is added immediately after mixing the cocktail in a shaker, blender or directly in the glass.
And, of course, don't be afraid to experiment! Think cocktail cherries are too much? Instead, try adding homemade dried cherries to your Manhattan. Celery and olives do not give the right taste? Garnish your next Bloody Mary with pickled asparagus, green beans and an egg.