4 Classic Cocktails That Every Mixologist Must Know About
Whether one is a bartending beginner or a mixology expert, there are certain recipes for classic cocktails that they ought to know about to hone their blending craft. These are drinks which have been reimagined and reworked through decades to arrive at a well-balanced combination of sweet, savoury and tangy flavours that make the cocktails stand out.
Cocktails like the old fashioned or a classic margarita are such classic numbers which may seem simple to blend but are very complex in the flavour depth they deliver. It is for this reason that mixologists must pay keen attention to some classic cocktails that never seem to fall out of fashion.
As well, mixing these drinks provides important lessons in understanding tasting notes and building ingredient pairings that mixologists can absorb to create new and imaginative flavour combinations.
Here are some of the classic cocktails that have endured the test of time which every mixologist ought to know about and master for honing their bartending skills:
Old Fashioned
A classic mix of about 45 ml bourbon or rye whisky with bitters, a sugar cube and an orange twist make up the old fashioned which was a precursor to several whisky-based cocktails.
For mixologists, one of the key elements in an old fashioned cocktail is adjusting the proportion of the whisky to the bitters so as to render a drink which carries tartness and sweetness in a fine flavour balance.
This blend has been around since the 19th century and has remained popular through centuries precisely owing to its sophisticated mix of sweet and bitter tastes.
Martini Cocktail
Another drink that is popular among bartenders and mixologists, further made famous in pop culture is the martini cocktail. There are a couple of different methods to prepare this drink primarily made by mixing approximately 90 ml gin with 30 ml dry vermouth.
Traditionally, an olive is used to garnish the martini cocktail but modern recipes also make use of olive brine in the recipe for blending the drink. A martini cocktail involves an acute understanding of spirit-forward flavours, making it an essential drink to master for mixologists.
Negroni Cocktail
An aperitif that has rapidly gained global popularity, a negroni can be traced back to Italian and Spanish territories where it is often had as a pre-meal cocktail. A classic negroni is made by bringing together 30 ml gin with equal proportions of an Italian amaro or bitter liqueur as well as sweet red vermouth.
The drink has a deep orange, red hue and is often served on a bed of ice. A negroni cocktail is to be sipped on for long hours in the evening so getting the proportion of spirits right is important in order to prevent the cocktail from becoming diluted.
Bloody Mary Cocktail
With its deep vermilion hue and its savoury finish, the bloody mary has acquired a reputation for being a robustly flavoured cocktail that is often served with brunch.
The drink is made by bringing together 45 ml vodka with tomato juice, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and salt and pepper for seasoning.
Often, a celery stick is used to garnish the drink, lending it a crunchy texture. The bloody mary is a lesson in mixing savoury and bitter notes in cocktails, making it an essential drink to know about for mixology enthusiasts.
Drink responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
