From Jiggers To Muddlers: What Does Cocktail Equipment Exactly Do?
When it comes to blending well-balanced drinks, what turns regular cocktail ingredients into polished and elegant mixes are bar tools or cocktail equipment that contributes to smoother mixing. As a home mixologist or novice bartender, it then becomes crucial to understand the functionalities of instruments like the jigger, muddler, shaker or strainer which experts keep handy in their mixology kit.
Along with building style and panache into cocktail making, these bar tools have some significant roles to play in blending which has led mixologists to separate them from the culinary world in order to carve a niche for them as equipment used in a distinct art form. Evidently, cocktail equipment and certain essential bar tools are used for different purposes and knowing more about them can be a useful way for a mixology novice to master some fundamental blending techniques.
Here’s a note on the different functionalities of bartending equipment and the varied uses for each of these bar tools within the realm of mixology:
Measuring And Flavour Balance: Jiggers
One of the most essential elements involved in bartending is measuring ingredients for arriving at precise recipes complete with an excellent flavour balance. A very useful bartending tool for accomplishing this purpose is the jigger. Generally jiggers measure 30 ml or 60 ml worth of ingredients on one side and exactly half of these on the other, respectively. With a jigger in hand, it becomes smoother for a mixologist to measure the exact amount of liquors, mixers and syrups which need to be added to a blend for crafting a well-flavoured and well-rounded cocktail.
Frothing And Mixing: Cocktail Shaker And Cocktail Mixer
Most often than not, all ingredients required for building drinks are assembled in a cocktail shaker and are given a thorough shake for 15-20 seconds with ice. This process not only integrates all the different elements in the drink but it also aerates the blend to lend it a frothy finish.
Cocktail mixers are also designed for bringing all ingredients together with ice for chilling them but they are used for mixing for stirred drinks like a martini cocktail. These are generally spirit-forward recipes that need to be chilled and diluted in a gentler manner.
Keeping Out The Residue: Strainers
When drinks like margaritas and mojitos are brought together, they are infused with lots of herbs like mint and basil and ingredients such as pulpy citrus juices which can lend the cocktail a very cloudy look once it is brought together. Strainers come in handy at such moments because blends can be passed through this instrument to take away all the residual ingredients and ice shards that interrupt the smooth feel of different blends. There are a number of different strainers out there for bartenders to put to use according to their specific needs ranging from a clearer finish to an aesthetic effect.
Extracting Oils And Juices: Muddlers
One of the more prominent tools in mixology that is used for extracting different pulps, oils and aromatic essences from ingredients is the muddler. Herbs such as lemongrass, mint and basil are often muddled into cocktails so they release their oils and fragrances to accentuate these blends. This function of pressing down on ingredients to release their flavours is performed by the muddler which can bring forth complex tasting notes without bruising herbs and fruits.
Chilling And Dilution: Ice Tongs, Crushers And Presses
Two key elements involved in bartending are chilling and dilution. Ice is used for cooling cocktails and is also key to diluting some of the more robust flavour notes in multiple spirits and mixers. Mint juleps dilute gradually and are therefore served on crushed ice but drinks like a whisky sour which are shaken before serving are mixed using round ice cubes for quick chilling and dilution. Tools such as ice tongs and crushers come in handy here because they perform the function of providing the right kind of ice for every cocktail according to its need.
Also Read: Cocktail Basics: Tips To Pour Accurately Without A Jigger In Simple Steps
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
