Of Tidy Bars And Clean Blends: Tools That Keep Your Bar Neat And Your Drinks Balanced
Cocktail blending is not only about bringing all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker to give them a good mix. It is so much more than this conventional shaking and stirring. When it comes to blending drinks, what is also essential is a fine flavour balance which comes when precise proportions of ingredients are added to blends along with just the right amount of ice to enable artful dilution.
And another element which plays a major role in ensuring that imaginative mixes and batch cocktails come together in a more organised fashion is a clean and neat home bar. Fine flavour balance and a clean bar then go hand in hand because without this neatness it becomes difficult to come up with crisp mixes and clean drinks defined by clear tasting notes.
Here is a note on some of the tools and instruments that can be used by a novice bartender for mixing drinks at the home bar to keep this space clean and to craft well-balanced drinks:
No Mess Hand Juicer
One of the most handy tools for a mixologist is a no mess hand juicer. Many times, fresh fruit juices are prepared right at the bar before they are strained and added to different cocktail blends. At such times, squeezing oranges, lemons and limes by hand can become quite a sticky mess, leading to an untidy bar. What can be used to avoid this is a simple hand juicer or citrus press that extracts pulp and juice from fruits without causing too much splatter. The hand juicer also takes away the seeds from the fruit to deliver a smooth citrusy pulp which can be added to cocktail blends.
Jigger For Clean Pouring
Yet another important bar tool useful in keeping the bar neat and clean by avoiding unwanted spills is a jigger. Generally, jiggers are used for measuring out the exact proportion of spirits, mixers and juices that ought to be added to a recipe. Not only does this become useful in avoiding excess addition of certain ingredients to cocktails, it also minimises messes because ingredients can be cleanly transferred from bottles or jars into jiggers for measuring, instead of directly adding them to cocktail shakers or mixing glasses as this can cause splatters and spills. As well, using jiggers for making cocktails ensures that the drinks are finely balanced, leading to the creation of very precise blends.
Ice Molds And Coasters
When chilled drinks are served at a bar, one of the messiest things can be little rings that form on the surface of the bar table due to the condensation that occurs on the sides of the cocktail glasses. Avoid this by placing coasters on the bar where the drinks are being served. Additionally, ice, be it round or crushed, plays a role in determining the speed of dilution. To arrive at balanced drinks, add ice in exactly the manner that the recipe mentions to craft blends with neat flavours. Use slow melting cubes to reduce watery messes.
Bar Spoons And Mixing Glass
No matter the drink being prepared, what is most essential is proper bartending equipment that will enable the creation of balanced blends. This comes in the form of bar spoons, shakers and mixing glasses that can be used to build all ingredients together in a neat and organised manner. Drinks can then be strained from these containers into appropriate cocktail glasses once they are blended.
Bar Mats And Microfiber Towels
And what comes in handy for a mixologist in taking care of those accidental spills that occur despite every precaution taken are good microfiber towels which quickly soak up liquids and juices. Placing bar mats on wooden and granite bar surfaces also goes a long way in giving these spaces an elegant look when the home bar itself is meant to be an artsy seating for guests.
Also Read: Mumbai Night Out? Best Bars For Great Bites And Drinks With Unforgettable Memories
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
