How to Make a Great Drink

Mixing drinks is an art form that can be mastered if you pay attention to a few important details. Remember to always use fresh, cold ingredients and chilled glasses.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh Fruit And Juice
• Liquor
• Maraschino Cherries
• Plenty Of Ice
• Salt
• Sugars
• Salt
• Blenders
• Cocktail Shaker
• Cocktail Strainer
• Mixers
• Stemware
• Salt
• Salt
• Mixers

General guidelines

1. Start with immaculate glassware. Handwashing and drying with a clean, lint-free towel gives the most sparkling results.

2. Use the highest-quality liquor you can afford without going into premium brands that are best sipped alone.

3. Use fresh lemons, limes and other fruit for mixing and garnishes.

4. Use bottled water for mixing and making ice if your tap water doesn't taste good. Or buy ice from a source that uses better water.

5. Choose the correct size and shape glass for each drink. We all know a martini or a cosmopolitan goes in a stemmed cocktail glass - but there's also the tall, 8- to 10-oz. highball glass for drinks such as whiskey-and-soda; the squat, stemless 8- to 10-oz. old-fashioned glass for drinks such as the old-fashioned and the 2-oz. shot glass for sipping premium liquors.

6. Chill glasses well, either by placing in the refrigerator until cold or by filling glasses with crushed ice while mixing the drink.

7. Don't splash more alcohol into a drink than the formula calls for - it may throw off the taste, you'll run out of liquor sooner and your guests' well-being won't benefit by it.

Blend, Shake, Layer or Stir

8. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker or mixer in this order: fruit juices, then liquor, then other ingredients.

9. Shake or stir the drink, then strain it into a cocktail glass to serve "straight up."

10. Add ice, then liquor, then mixer when using a blender. The alcohol melts the ice, making it easier to blend.

11. Shake 4 to 5 times when using crushed ice and 8 to 10 times when using cracked ice.

Garnish and Serve

12. Skewer half an orange slice with a maraschino cherry to make a flag.

13. Cut fruit slices about 1/4-inch thick with a slit cut toward the center so the slice can rest on the rim of the glass.

14. Make a twist by slicing only the colored part of the rind of a lemon, lime or orange. There's a special zester available from cookware and bar suppliers that makes this cut easily.

15. Rub the twist over the rim of the before dropping it into the drink.

16. Pour drinks as soon as you make them.

Tips & Warnings

• Use fresh fruit and juices in fruit drinks whenever possible.
• Keep fruit and juices in the refrigerator.
• When consuming alcohol, always use moderation.
• Never drink and drive.

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[BenFry]

on 11/7/2008 Ice first, liquor next, then mixer. Always. If you follow this rule you will always have the best drink. Almost always fill the glass you are making the drink in full of ice. Watch any bartender, thats how it is done best.

[HotrodGirl289]

on 9/21/2008 I just bought the Magic Bullet. It's really cool because it comes with 4 mixing cups that actually have handles and it blends quickly. Once the drink is blended you removed the blade lid and screw on the comfort lid and it becomes a serving glass (plastic). It's not intended for service during fancier get togethers (although you can use them and then pour the mixture into a more appropriate glass). But it is perfect for more familiar get togethers. It enables you to make different drinks for different people. It's a little pricey (I actually got 2 for the price of 1 @ $99.99) but it has a million other uses. It also comes with a recipe book.

on 12/23/2005 We have a smoothie maker(about $20-$30)that has a pour spout on the front. I have used blenders only to have chunks of ice in the drinks. The smoothie maker is amazing! No clumps of ice and a smooth texture. Use for smoothies, milkshakes, Margaritas, the list goes on and on.

on 11/22/2005 If you and your guests aren't connoisseurs, mix drinks the best you can and serve them proudly. Your guests won't know the difference. If you've a guest who knows his drinks, ask him to mix his own (and others) and show you how. He'll be glad to.

on 11/22/2005 Add ice first - then add any liquid ingredients until the ice begins to get covered or starts to float. This works with any frozen drink. Make sure you fill the blender no more than 3/4 and hold the lid on to avoid wearing the drink!