12 - Mixing with Spirits Flashcards
What really separates a good cocktail from a great cocktail?
Balance
What are the two sets of scales used to achieve balance?
Strong vs. weak
Bitter/sour vs sweet
What is the strong element of a cocktail?
The base spirit
What is generally the abv of a base spirit in a cocktail
40%+
What is the simplest form of ‘weak’ when crafting a cocktail?
Dilution provided by ice through stirring or shaking
Besides water/ice, what else might constitute a ‘weak’ element in a cocktail?
Juice
Dairy products
Sodas
Tonics
It’s common for a cocktail to be sweetened and then seasoned with another ingredient, called a …
Modifier
What is the purpose of a modifier in a cocktail?
To provide a bitter and/or sour counterpoint
Name three ways in which sweetness may be added to a cocktail
Sugar
Simple syrups
Liqueurs
How is sweetness usually balanced in a cocktail?
By sour or bitter ingredients
What is most commonly used to add bitterness to a cocktail?
Cocktail bitters
Bitterness and/or sourness can be added to a cocktail by a…ingredient
Single
What is the key to balancing the key components of a cocktail successfully?
Balancing them so none of the components dominate at the expense of others
Mixed drinks can be divided into what two categories?
Short drinks
Long drinks
Briefly describe short drinks
They tend to have a limited number of ingredients
They tend to rely on dilution through shaking or stirring with ice
List the two major sub-categories of short drinks
Spirit-forward cocktails
Short sour cocktails
How do long drinks typically compare with short drinks?
They’re typically higher volume
The weak component is often provided through sodas, juices, dairy products or other non-alcoholic beverages
List the two major sub-categories of long drinks
The highball
The long sour
These cocktails are higher in alcohol than others…
Spirit-forward cocktails
Describe spirit-forward cocktails in their simplest form
They can be a combination of a spirit with sugars and bitters or a combination of a spirit and liqueur
How might more complex variations of spirit-forward cocktails be composed?
Using various combinations of sugar, aromatised wine and bitters
How is ice generally used in spirit-forward cocktails?
For dilution AND chilling
How are spirit-forward cocktails typically mixed?
They are generally built or stirred
All spirit-forward cocktails celebrate…
Their core strong ingredient
Name two whisky-forward cocktails featuring Angostura Bitters
Manhattan
Old Fashioned
What makes the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned distinct from one another?
The complexity of the sweet vermouth in the Manhattan
How is an Alexander created?
By adding cream to a spirit-forward cocktail
Name six of the most famous spirit-forward cocktails
Old Fashioned
Sazerac
Rusty Nail
Manhattan
Martini
Negroni
Name the three core ingredients of an Old Fashioned
Bourbon
Angostura bitters
Sugar cube
Name the core ingredients of a Sazerac
Cognac or Rye
Peychaud’s Bitters and Absinthe
Sugar
Name the core ingredients of a Rusty Nail
Scotch
Drambuie
Name the core ingredients of a Manhattan
Rye or Bourbon
Angostura bitters
Sweet vermouth
Name the core ingredients of a Martini
Gin
Dry vermouth
Name the core ingredients of a Negroni
Gin
Campari
Sweet vermouth
What is the classic taste balance used to make a short sour?
Strong
Sour
Sweet
How are ingredients mixed in creating a short sour?
Shaking
How are ingredients chilled in creating a short sour?
Shaking
Besides mixing and chilling, what else does shaking bring to the table? In which family of cocktails is this most important?
A light, airy texture
Dilution
Short sours
What ingredients are classically used in a short sour?
Spirit
Citrus juice
Unflavoured sweetener (e.g. syrup)
What extra ingredient can be used in a short sour?
Egg white
What can the inclusion of egg white bring to a cocktail?
A foamy head and a silky texture
In which short sour is egg white essential?
Pisco sour
Name a vegan alternative to egg white used in cocktails
Aquafaba (chickpea water)
How might a more complex short sour add to the basic formula?
By adding a flavoured sweetening ingredient and/or a different sour ingredient
Name three classic short sours
Pisco sour
Whisky sour
Daiquiri
Name the ingredients in a Pisco Sour
Pisco
Lime juice
Simple syrup
Egg white and a dash of bitters
Name the ingredients in a Whiskey Sour
Bourbon or Rye whiskey
Lemon juice
Simple syrup
Optional egg white and bitters
Name the ingredients in a Daiquiri
Rum
Lime Juice
Simple syrup
Name three short sours made by modifying the classic formula
Sidecar
Margarita
Clover Club
Name the ingredients in a Sidecar
Cognac
Lemon juice
Triple sec
Name the ingredients in a Margarita
Tequila
Lime juice
Triple sec
Salt rim (optional)
Name the ingredients in a Clover Club
Gin
Lemon juice
Raspberry syrup
Egg white and optional vermouth
…is the simplest of all mixed drinks/cocktails
The highball
Name three of the most obvious examples of a simple highball
Gin and tonic
Vodka and tonic
Whisky and soda
Give examples of three named highballs
Cuba Libre
Greyhound
Horse’s Neck
What is in a Cuba Libre?
Rum and coke with lime
What is in a Greyhound?
Vodka and grapefruit juice
What is in a Horse’s Neck?
Cognac, ginger ale and bitters
Name a highball that is composed slightly differently
Americano
How is the Americano different to other highballs? What does it contain?
It has a split base
Campari, sweet vermouth and club soda
This family of cocktails includes several sub-categories, including…
What is the family?
The Collins, the Sling and the Sparkling Sour
The long sour
What is a long sour in its simplest form? Give an example
A short sour that’s been turned into a long drink by adding club soda
Tom Collins
What is a Paloma?
Tequila
Lime Juice
Mexican grapefruit soda
(Alternatively mix with grapefruit juice and soda water)
What is a French 75?
Gin
Lemon juice
Simple syrup
Top with Champagne
Give two examples of long sours which are enhanced by extra ingredients (listing the extra ingredients too)
Mojito (mint)
Singapore Sling (liqueur)
What is a Tom Collins?
Gin
Lemon juice
Simple syrup
Club soda
What is in a Mojito?
Rum
Lime juice
Sugar/simple syrup
Mint leaves
