Yash Lakhan
May 13, 2025
Garnishes play a silent but central role in how cocktails are perceived, shifting drinks from simple to sophisticated with a single decorative detail, as these finishing touches take on new meaning. As the line between minimalism and maximalism grows more defined, hosts often navigate both styles, using contrast to mimic the tone of an event or offering a wide range of visual options.
A dehydrated citrus wheel adds aroma and texture to drinks since it indicates the direction of flavour, retains its shape in the long term and prevents dilution, enabling the beverage to retain balance.
A timeless garnish which doubles as a snack between sips; biting into a brined olive allows the salty component to resonate with the drink without necessarily changing its body.
When a sprig of the herb is ignited prior to serving, the smoke alters the aroma swirling on top of the drink, forming a pungent contrast between fragrance and flavour.
Rimmed salt distributes spice, sweetness and sourness in each sip so the individual does not depend on the cocktail to provide full textural impact, particularly on uneven glass tilts.
The wind that the cucumber ribbon forms inside the glass enhances aroma during surface contact of the lift, although it usually does not blend with the actual structure.
Embedding a logo on ice, not for flavour or scent, but to identify the origin of the drink transforms the garnish into a personalised detail instead of just an ingredient. *Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.