Measure Like A Pro: 5 Ways To Use A Jigger Without Looking Like A Rookie
Of the different blending techniques used for building cocktails, one which ensures the creation of precise mixes is that of using the jigger, or the measuring tool. Pro mixologists or bartenders always use the jigger to measure out every ingredient – right from the spirit to the flavour accents to the mixers – using a jigger in order to arrive at precise proportions of the different elements used to put the blend together. With this, it becomes smoother to bring together the different citrus, bitter and fizzy notes in all kinds of cocktails in a fine balance of multiple flavours.
But using a jigger is more than just putting ingredients into it and then transferring them into a cocktail mixer or shaker. Using a jigger like a pro requires a little bit of skill and tact – it is as much about style as it is about technique and mixology know-how. So, if you are a novice mixologist keen to use the jigger to its optimum, there are a few techniques out there that might be useful when you are hosting a house party and want to look like a total pro.
Here are some of these tips that might come in handy when you attempt to use a jigger for mixing drinks without appearing like an utter rookie:
Know Jigger Sizes
One of the first steps involved in using a jigger properly is to familiarise yourself with different jigger sizes. Most traditional jiggers are double-sided which means they can measure about 30 ml on one side and about 15 ml on the other. Some jiggers offer exactly double this proportion and these are useful for adding mixers and juices to blends. When you are well-versed with the different quantities that the jigger in your home bar can measure, it will become that much smoother for you to blend drinks like an expert who knows their way around the bar.
Hold The Jigger At Eye Level
Yet another useful tip which adds just a little bit of style into your mixing technique is to measure ingredients while holding the jigger at eye level. The tool can be placed in between thumb and forefinger to be kept upright in front of the chest. With a steady hand, spirits and mixers can be poured into the jigger to prevent over pouring and ensure measuring consistency across different ingredients.
Pour-To-The-Brim Technique
One of the trickiest aspects of measuring drinks using a jigger is knowing how much liquid to add so the jigger becomes full. Some might stop even before approaching the brim, others might fill the jigger so much that a little liquid spills out. But pro bartenders generally pour drinks into the jigger right up to the brim without leaving too much room for spilling or under pouring. Such an exactly measured ingredient blend assures consistency and accuracy in taste across multiple servings.
Rinse Or Wipe Between Ingredients
What would make you look like a total mixology pro while blending cocktails at your home bar is having a bar towel in hand with which you wipe down your bar tools such as cocktail shakers and mixers. This trick can also be used with the jigger to in effect wipe this tool between measuring out two ingredients. With this, it is possible to add clean flavours into a drink especially while mixing elements like egg whites, cream or milk.
Measure Into The Jigger
And one of the cleanest and most logical techniques involved in measuring using a jigger is to add ingredients to this measuring tool, without dipping it in any bottle or jug. Not only can this become unsanitary and clumsy, but it will also make the jigger sticky and increase the risk of little spills which can in turn spoil the surface of the home bar. So, always measure ingredients into the jigger rather than drowning the jigger in juices and spirits, and add these to the cocktail shaker to avoid looking like a fumbling mixology rookie.
Also Read: Measured Magic: Why Every Great Drink Should Start With A Jigger
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
