5 Ways Garnishes Build Cocktail Flavours: A Bartender’s Guide
Making cocktails involves bringing spirits and mixers together in the perfect ratios so as to arrive at a well-balanced blend of flavours. However, what infuses an additional layer of taste into cocktails are garnishes. While this element which appears in the form of herb sprigs, cinnamon sticks, spice mixes and rimmed glasses helps to build the overall aesthetic appearance of a drink, it also plays a role in enhancing the flavours of different blends.
Undoubtedly, garnishes are used widely in cocktails to build complementing or contrasting flavours that also manage to build the overall complexity of drinks. It is no surprise then that bartenders and mixology experts pay a lot of attention to pairing garnishes with appropriate cocktail blends.
These adornments perform the function of beautifying drinks while imbuing additional flavours into the mixes.
Read on below for a glimpse into some of the ways in which garnishes lend cocktails interesting flavours along with aesthetic looks, building into their overall flavours:
Building Aromas
Herbs like mint, rosemary, lemongrass, basil and thyme when added to cocktails build on the existing tasting notes of the syrups and spirits to infuse an aromatic touch into blends.
Most times, these garnishes are muddled before adding to drinks so they release essential oils which are in fact crucial for bringing their distinct herby aroma into cocktails.
Garnishes like citrus peels and lavender sprigs and spices such as nutmeg powder and cinnamon powder also perform a similar function of building aromas into alcoholic mixes like hot toddies or negronis making them a sought after element in cocktail craft.
Adding Contrasting Flavours
Another important function of garnishes in cocktail craft is building contrasting flavours into the drink mix. Generally, sweet or sour-forward cocktails contain just one prominent tasting note brought in as a result of simple syrups, sweet juices or citrus mixers.
However, intelligent garnishes placed atop these drinks introduce a break in their uniform flavours to create a sharp contrast which in fact heightens the principle tasting notes of the cocktails. So, garnishes like chilli peppers can often be added to sweet drinks whereas an orange slice can be added to a creamy cocktail for pronouncing their flavours.
Building Complexity
Another crucial role that garnishes perform in finishing cocktails is introducing flavour complexity into blends.
Certain garnishes which reinforce some of the existing sweet or tangy notes in cocktails lend them an added layer of flavour which infuses drinks with more complexity and depth.
Complementary garnishes like a mint sprig in a mojito can go a long way in introducing a well-balanced flavour note in drinks. Contrasting flavours like a salt rim in a margarita cocktail glass enables in highlighting the varied tasting notes of the blend itself building into its overall complexity.
Setting The Theme
When crafting an alcoholic drink according to a theme like Halloween or country drinks or to suit a bridegroom’s personality at a cocktail party, garnishes function as telling indicators of the motifs of the gathering.
Seasonal adornments like cranberries on creamy pumpkin spiced cocktails or a citrus wedge atop a hot toddy spell autumnal themes whereas a tropical fruit like a pineapple or a mango chunk as a cocktail garnish denotes summertime blends.
Garnishes can then work towards highlighting the theme of an event while building an interesting tasting note into a blend.
Adding Texture
Along with beautifying the appearance of a cocktail, garnishes are also essential because they improve upon the textural layers of a drink.
An Irish coffee made by mixing 30 ml quality whisky with freshly brewed espresso and a dollop of whipped cream gets a textural twist when it is garnished with a crunchy biscuit.
The crispy number cuts through the creaminess and earthy texture of the whipped cream and coffee to build an additional mouthfeel into the cocktail blend.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
