8 Unusual Condiments To Add To Your Cocktails
Whether driven by necessity or a spontaneous discovery, incorporating condiments – even unconventional ones – into cocktails can elevate them to unexpectedly delightful heights. This do-it-yourself method of crafting drinks at home is akin to urban foraging, utilizing the treasures found in the natural habitat of your apartment to fashion distinctive cocktails. Armed with an open mind, a bottle of spirits, and a trusty cocktail shaker, your pantry and fridge become a treasure trove for creating surprisingly intricate cocktails using only a handful of basic ingredients. Embrace the creative process – here's your guide to concocting complex and delicious cocktails with ease.
8 Condiments You Can Use In Your Cocktails
Balsamic Reduction
More than just a salad dressing, elevate your cocktail with a tart balsamic reduction. This syrupy concoction adds a sweet, tangy complexity that works well with fruits and herbs. Perfect for strawberry-based cocktails or those with basil notes, it brings a sophisticated twist to traditional recipes.
Smoked Salt Rim
There are many smoked cocktails out there but smoked salt amps up the experience just a little further. A subtle smokiness transforms cocktails when you replace the conventional salt rim with smoked salt. Ideal for margaritas or Bloody Marys, it imparts a nuanced depth, awakening the palate with every sip.
Wasabi Paste
If you dare to walk on the wild side, let wasabi lead the way. Unleash a surprising kick by incorporating wasabi paste. This Japanese staple injects a bold heat, particularly enhancing the zest of citrusy or Asian-inspired cocktails. It pairs best with more neutral spirits and botanical forward gins like Tanqueray No. Ten.
Cucumber Jalapeño Syrup
Refresh your palate with a homemade syrup fusing cucumber and jalapeño. The cooling cucumber mingles with the jalapeño's heat, making it a perfect addition to margaritas or gin-based concoctions made with Gordon’s London Dry Gin.
Ginger Infused Honey
Turn up the spice and bring on the sweetness with some infused honey. Warmth meets sweetness in ginger-infused honey syrup. This aromatic blend enhances whiskey-based cocktails made with Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch or hot toddies, providing a comforting and sophisticated flavour.
Soy Sauce Splash
Now it might seem weird to bring this staple Asian ingredient out of the kitchen and into the bar, but it has a lot to offer. A dash of soy sauce introduces an umami richness to your cocktail. Experiment with this in savoury drinks or those featuring tomato or clamato juice for an unexpected depth of flavour.
Lavender Sugar Rim
Bring the subtle floral beauty of the garden into your drink. Transform your glass with a lavender-infused sugar rim. This floral touch pairs beautifully with gin or vodka-based cocktails, offering a subtle aromatic essence that lingers with every sip.
Sriracha Tincture
Introduce a fiery kick with a few drops of sriracha tincture. Perfect for spicing up margaritas, Bloody Marys, or even a daring twist on a classic martini, it adds an unexpected element to your cocktail repertoire.
