Things You'll Need:
- Tabasco Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauces
- Coarse Margarita Salt
- Cocktail Onions
- Fresh Lemons
- Fresh Limes
- Fresh Mint Leaves
- Fresh Oranges
- Granulated Sugars
- Green Olives Olives
- Grenadines
- Maraschino Cherries
- Powdered Sugar
- Saucers
- Angostura Bitters
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Step 1
Remember that making a great mixed drink is a lot like making any recipe: the best results come from the best ingredients. Some quality ingredients can be bought ahead and kept with your other cocktail supplies, but fresh ones should be bought just before serving.
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Step 2
Fill a bowl with fresh lemons, limes and oranges just before a party, so you'll have them on hand for mixes and garnishes.
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Step 3
Buy fresh mint sprigs as needed to mix in drinks and use as garnish - better yet, plant a pot of mint so you always have it on hand (see Tips).
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Step 4
Keep on hand an 8-oz. jar of maraschino cherries in maraschino liqueur.
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Step 5
Buy 10-oz. jards of cocktail olives and onions - an onion on a cocktail pick turns a martini into a Gibson.
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Step 6
Keep boxes of coarse salt and superfine sugar on hand - when hosting a party, put them in saucers to make dipping the rims of glasses easier.
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Step 7
Remember that for drinks that need to be sweetened by sugar, a simple syrup works best. You make it by combining 1 part sugar and 1 part boiling water, and stirring until the sugar dissolves (see Tips).
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Step 8
Stock Tabasco® (in 2- or 5-ounce bottle) and Worcestershire sauce (in a 10-oz. bottle).
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Step 9
Keep a 4-oz. bottle of Angostura bitters on hand to flavor aperitifs and longer drinks.
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Step 10
Use grenadine - a sweet, red syrup based on pomegranate juice, commonly found in a 12-oz. bottles - for coloring.
