How to Make a Great Drink

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

Rate: (17 Ratings)

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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

General guidelines

Step1
Start with immaculate glassware. Handwashing and drying with a clean, lint-free towel gives the most sparkling results.
Step2
Use the highest-quality liquor you can afford without going into premium brands that are best sipped alone.
Step3
Use fresh lemons, limes and other fruit for mixing and garnishes.
Step4
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.
Step5
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.
Step6
Chill glasses well, either by placing in the refrigerator until cold or by filling glasses with crushed ice while mixing the drink.
Step7
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

Step1
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker or mixer in this order: fruit juices, then liquor, then other ingredients.
Step2
Shake or stir the drink, then strain it into a cocktail glass to serve "straight up."
Step3
Add ice, then liquor, then mixer when using a blender. The alcohol melts the ice, making it easier to blend.
Step4
Shake 4 to 5 times when using crushed ice and 8 to 10 times when using cracked ice.

Garnish and Serve

Step1
Skewer half an orange slice with a maraschino cherry to make a flag.
Step2
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.
Step3
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.
Step4
Rub the twist over the rim of the before dropping it into the drink.
Step5
Pour drinks as soon as you make them.

Tips & Warnings

  • Add a little lemon juice to the water when washing glasses, to help keep spotting to a minimum.
  • Dry glasses as soon as you wash them.
  • Always use a jigger to measure liquor.
  • Avoid overshaking; it melts the ice too much and waters down your drinks.
  • Frozen drinks should be just thin enough to run out of the blender.
  • Add ice if a frozen drink is too thin or mixer if it's too thick.
  • Always put the ice into the glass first.
  • Stock more ice than you think you need - cracked or cubed for stirred or shaken drinks; crushed or shaved for frozen drinks.
  • 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.

Comments

| View All Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

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.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

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.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

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!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 When making a frozen drink, it
is easier to blend if you add
the liquor, then the mixer, and
finally the ice. The drink comes
out of the blender smoother than
if the ice was to be placed in
first.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Make a Great Drink

eHow Food & Drink Editor

eHow Food & Drink Editor

Category: Food & Drink

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Food & Drink

Bethenny
Meet Bethenny Frankel eHow’s Food & Drink Expert.