Mind Boggling World of Cocktails

Author: Uday Patel

No celebration is complete without cocktails and if the participants are teetotalers than add mocktail to the menu. The later if mix of all things fruity minus spirits. For upscale parties and celebration elaborate preparations are made and cocktails are indispensable.

For bartenders and master blenders mixing is more of a holistic science along with artisan skills. Familiarity with ingredients being used and the mixing technique makes an expert innovative bartender who can create magic on the spot. Creating fantastic stuff is not the limit, the accessories and ambiance is important as well. This calls for deep understanding of the event and mood that has to be set. Most important is the cutlery especially the crafted, adequately shaped or simple glass makes a major difference. Most of the combinations are dependent upon layers and drinking temperature often controlled by addition of ice cubes for delivering the ultimate taste and aroma.

The color and consistency plays a major role, for the appearance should be appealing and set the mood into motion. Fiery red or cool blue, incandescent or plain, that is how these alcoholic drinks are created for the consumers. For many socialites and hosts they are the heart and soul of their get together and events. The cocktail culture is rising in the present times this is not so among the traditional society the young adults are also attracted towards the combinations.

Cocktails comprise of hard liquor, mixers, fruit juices, syrups, cream, sugar, soda, tonics, spices, essential oils and what not. There is no limited to creation of this drink. Mixing drinks and all other composites of cocktail requires skill, experience and an innovative ability. The latest additions are the non alcoholic spirits that add to the flavors and aroma tremendously. They are being recently produced by craft distilleries and are also served as beverage.

Blending different styles of liquor with ingredients in a cocktail recipe is not a simple art the complexity of the mix is mind bogging with some having no standard or predecessor to compare and rate. But some legendary cocktails have become indispensable because of their popularity and they set standards of excellence. Usually the base is that of a spirit in form of a craft gin distilled to perfection or vodka. But there are mixes in which all types of hard liquors are added. These form a potentially lethal combination and have to be consumed in limitation.

Like blenders in case of craft distilleries the bartender is in to create exciting taste experiences. An added skill required in this case is making the fill appealing as well. The ingredients could be things lying in your pantry or by purchasing exotic mixes. For hosts and enthusiasts with no bar tending skills there are thousands of books and recipes available online and at book shops to further the skills. Recipes are also available on YouTube and other video platforms.

Creative recipes add to the warmth and presentation and set the event in motion. Most of the classical cocktails have few ingredients. This is applicable to popular ones as well, but as mentioned earlier, there is no limit. A mix could have a large number of ingredients besides the base liquor. As long the looks, taste and aroma is grand the number of ingredients do not matter.