12 - Mixing with Spirits

Question 1

What really separates a good cocktail from a great cocktail?

Answer 1

Balance

Question 2

What are the two sets of scales used to achieve balance?

Answer 2

Strong vs. weak
Bitter/sour vs sweet

Question 3

What is the strong element of a cocktail?

Answer 3

The base spirit

Question 4

What is generally the abv of a base spirit in a cocktail

Answer 4

40%+

Question 5

What is the simplest form of ‘weak’ when crafting a cocktail?

Answer 5

Dilution provided by ice through stirring or shaking

Question 6

Besides water/ice, what else might constitute a ‘weak’ element in a cocktail?

Answer 6

Juice
Dairy products
Sodas
Tonics

Question 7

It’s common for a cocktail to be sweetened and then seasoned with another ingredient, called a …

Answer 7

Modifier

Question 8

What is the purpose of a modifier in a cocktail?

Answer 8

To provide a bitter and/or sour counterpoint

Question 9

Name three ways in which sweetness may be added to a cocktail

Answer 9

Sugar
Simple syrups
Liqueurs

Question 10

How is sweetness usually balanced in a cocktail?

Answer 10

By sour or bitter ingredients

Question 11

What is most commonly used to add bitterness to a cocktail?

Answer 11

Cocktail bitters

Question 12

Bitterness and/or sourness can be added to a cocktail by a…ingredient

Answer 12

Single

Question 13

What is the key to balancing the key components of a cocktail successfully?

Answer 13

Balancing them so none of the components dominate at the expense of others

Question 14

Mixed drinks can be divided into what two categories?

Answer 14

Short drinks
Long drinks

Question 15

Briefly describe short drinks

Answer 15

They tend to have a limited number of ingredients
They tend to rely on dilution through shaking or stirring with ice

Question 16

List the two major sub-categories of short drinks

Answer 16

Spirit-forward cocktails
Short sour cocktails

Question 17

How do long drinks typically compare with short drinks?

Answer 17

They’re typically higher volume
The weak component is often provided through sodas, juices, dairy products or other non-alcoholic beverages

Question 18

List the two major sub-categories of long drinks

Answer 18

The highball
The long sour

Question 19

These cocktails are higher in alcohol than others…

Answer 19

Spirit-forward cocktails

Question 20

Describe spirit-forward cocktails in their simplest form

Answer 20

They can be a combination of a spirit with sugars and bitters or a combination of a spirit and liqueur

Question 21

How might more complex variations of spirit-forward cocktails be composed?

Answer 21

Using various combinations of sugar, aromatised wine and bitters

Question 22

How is ice generally used in spirit-forward cocktails?

Answer 22

For dilution AND chilling

Question 23

How are spirit-forward cocktails typically mixed?

Answer 23

They are generally built or stirred

Question 24

All spirit-forward cocktails celebrate…

Answer 24

Their core strong ingredient

Question 25

Name two whisky-forward cocktails featuring Angostura Bitters

Answer 25

Manhattan Old Fashioned

Question 26

What makes the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned distinct from one another?

Answer 26

The complexity of the sweet vermouth in the Manhattan

Question 27

How is an Alexander created?

Answer 27

By adding cream to a spirit-forward cocktail

Question 28

Name six of the most famous spirit-forward cocktails

Answer 28

Old Fashioned Sazerac Rusty Nail Manhattan Martini Negroni

Question 29

Name the three core ingredients of an Old Fashioned

Answer 29

Bourbon Angostura bitters Sugar cube

Question 30

Name the core ingredients of a Sazerac

Answer 30

Cognac or Rye Peychaud's Bitters and Absinthe Sugar

Question 31

Name the core ingredients of a Rusty Nail

Answer 31

Scotch Drambuie

Question 32

Name the core ingredients of a Manhattan

Answer 32

Rye or Bourbon Angostura bitters Sweet vermouth

Question 33

Name the core ingredients of a Martini

Answer 33

Gin Dry vermouth

Question 34

Name the core ingredients of a Negroni

Answer 34

Gin Campari Sweet vermouth

Question 35

What is the classic taste balance used to make a short sour?

Answer 35

Strong Sour Sweet

Question 36

How are ingredients mixed in creating a short sour?

Answer 36

Shaking

Question 37

How are ingredients chilled in creating a short sour?

Answer 37

Shaking

Question 38

Besides mixing and chilling, what else does shaking bring to the table? In which family of cocktails is this most important?

Answer 38

A light, airy texture Dilution Short sours

Question 39

What ingredients are classically used in a short sour?

Answer 39

Spirit Citrus juice Unflavoured sweetener (e.g. syrup)

Question 40

What extra ingredient can be used in a short sour?

Answer 40

Egg white

Question 41

What can the inclusion of egg white bring to a cocktail?

Answer 41

A foamy head and a silky texture

Question 42

In which short sour is egg white essential?

Answer 42

Pisco sour

Question 43

Name a vegan alternative to egg white used in cocktails

Answer 43

Aquafaba (chickpea water)

Question 44

How might a more complex short sour add to the basic formula?

Answer 44

By adding a flavoured sweetening ingredient and/or a different sour ingredient

Question 45

Name three classic short sours

Answer 45

Pisco sour Whisky sour Daiquiri

Question 46

Name the ingredients in a Pisco Sour

Answer 46

Pisco Lime juice Simple syrup Egg white and a dash of bitters

Question 47

Name the ingredients in a Whiskey Sour

Answer 47

Bourbon or Rye whiskey Lemon juice Simple syrup Optional egg white and bitters

Question 48

Name the ingredients in a Daiquiri

Answer 48

Rum Lime Juice Simple syrup

Question 49

Name three short sours made by modifying the classic formula

Answer 49

Sidecar Margarita Clover Club

Question 50

Name the ingredients in a Sidecar

Answer 50

Cognac Lemon juice Triple sec

Question 51

Name the ingredients in a Margarita

Answer 51

Tequila Lime juice Triple sec Salt rim (optional)

Question 52

Name the ingredients in a Clover Club

Answer 52

Gin Lemon juice Raspberry syrup Egg white and optional vermouth

Question 53

...is the simplest of all mixed drinks/cocktails

Answer 53

The highball

Question 54

Name three of the most obvious examples of a simple highball

Answer 54

Gin and tonic Vodka and tonic Whisky and soda

Question 55

Give examples of three named highballs

Answer 55

Cuba Libre Greyhound Horse's Neck

Question 56

What is in a Cuba Libre?

Answer 56

Rum and coke with lime

Question 57

What is in a Greyhound?

Answer 57

Vodka and grapefruit juice

Question 58

What is in a Horse's Neck?

Answer 58

Cognac, ginger ale and bitters

Question 59

Name a highball that is composed slightly differently

Answer 59

Americano

Question 60

How is the Americano different to other highballs? What does it contain?

Answer 60

It has a split base Campari, sweet vermouth and club soda

Question 61

This family of cocktails includes several sub-categories, including... What is the family?

Answer 61

The Collins, the Sling and the Sparkling Sour The long sour

Question 62

What is a long sour in its simplest form? Give an example

Answer 62

A short sour that's been turned into a long drink by adding club soda Tom Collins

Question 63

What is a Paloma?

Answer 63

Tequila Lime Juice Mexican grapefruit soda (Alternatively mix with grapefruit juice and soda water)

Question 64

What is a French 75?

Answer 64

Gin Lemon juice Simple syrup Top with Champagne

Question 65

Give two examples of long sours which are enhanced by extra ingredients (listing the extra ingredients too)

Answer 65

Mojito (mint) Singapore Sling (liqueur)

Question 66

What is a Tom Collins?

Answer 66

Gin Lemon juice Simple syrup Club soda

Question 67

What is in a Mojito?

Answer 67

Rum Lime juice Sugar/simple syrup Mint leaves