Coconut Syrups And Shavings: 5 Ways To Craft Sweeteners For The Home Bar
Infusing sweet flavours into drinks is an art which requires an understanding of the flavours of different ingredients that go into blending a particular drink. Not only do these ingredients infuse drinks with sweet flavours but also introduce their own distinct tastes into cocktails to lend them deeper and more complex tasting notes. So, apart from simple syrup, which is often incorporated in different mixes, a number of other sweeteners are also utilised to build sweet tastes in blends.
One such ingredient incorporated in mixology as a sweetener, particularly while blending tropical drinks is coconut. Coconut cream or coconut water contains a sweetness which seeps into a cocktail blend along with the taste of the fruit itself, building on these tropical, seaside themes. However, along with adding coconut milk or cream to cocktails, there are some other ways in which the fruit’s sweetness can be infused in mixes. For a home mixologist, these might be interesting alternatives to imbue the coconut’s sweet touch in various blends.
Read on below to know more about some of the ways in which coconut can be used to craft sweeteners for one’s home bar:
Simple Coconut Syrup
One of the more straightforward ways to introduce the sweetness and flavour of coconut into drinks is in the form of an infused simple syrup. Add coconut water to sugar or demerara sugar, for more richness, and heat until the sugar dissolves completely. This simple syrup can be used for making cocktails such as the daiquiri or the piña colada so that the coconut flavours become more prominent in the drink. Adding a smooth coconut syrup also ensures that the drink acquires a smooth texture complete with a subtle sweetness emanating from the coconut and sugar mix.
Coconut Cream Syrup
Another way to incorporate coconut syrup into cocktails is in the form of a coconut cream syrup. This is easy to prepare and store in one’s home bar and can be added to drinks such as a white russian prepared using 30 ml Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka or any other premium vodka of choice. To make the coconut cream syrup, simply mix coconut milk and sugar until they come together in a creamy blend. This syrup will build more density and creaminess into drinks, making it suitable for milkshake-like mixes with a thick consistency.
Coconut Shavings And Sugar Rim
An interesting method of utilising coconut in cocktail craft is blending sweet coconut shavings with a little bit of sugar. This mixture can then be used to rim glasses containing daiquiris or coconut margaritas to introduce a bit of sweetness into classic recipes. Use fine coconut shavings to prepare this garnish and moisten the rim of the serving glass with a bit of sticky simple syrup before dipping it into the sugar and coconut mixture. Coconut shavings will also give an interesting chewiness to cocktails, adding a textural layer into the drink.
Coconut Water And Honey
Bring together coconut water and a hint of honey to create a sweetener with a longer shelf life. This mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks so a home mixologist can bring it out during summer multiple times to prepare drinks infused with coconut flavours. Mild notes of the coconut seep into honey to craft an interesting sweetener which introduces this taste into drinks like the hot toddy or an espresso martini cocktail made using 30 ml Ketel One Premium Distilled Vodka or any other premium vodka of choice.
Coconut Milk And Jaggery
Another dense sweetener that can be added to tropical blends is a mixture of coconut milk and jaggery. Coconut is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in the making of different kinds of cocktails. Add 30 ml of premium Captain Morgan Rum or any other premium rum of choice to make blends such as a spiced coconut punch in which a mild sweetness is introduced through a mix of coconut milk and jaggery.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
