| TIPS FROM THE PROS |
Gorgeous Garnishes
Cocktail pros and enthusiasts know that the right garnish can add to a drink ’ s aesthetics , aroma and flavor profile . It ’ s just one of the things that make enjoying a cocktail at a bar so fun .
BY MELISSA DOWLING
In addition to the expected citrus fruit , cherries and olives , many bartenders use berries and herbs , grilled vegetables and fruits and edible flowers as drink adornments . More unusual accompaniments may include smoke , dry ice and foam .
You can spiff up cocktails made at home with interesting and appealing garnishes . Here are some tips for going beyond the lime wedge or orange slice .
CITRUS APPEAL
Unlike lemon or lime wedges , which are all about the juice , the citrus peel twist is about the oil . Using just the peel of a lemon , lime or grapefruit and giving it a slight twist brings out the citrus oil , which imparts aroma and flavor to the drink .
The basic lemon peel twist appears in classic cocktails such as the Martini . For cocktails that use grapefruit juice , you can cut a wide swath of a grapefruit peel to use as a garnish . Roll it up and secure with a pick to kick it up a notch .
UP TO THE RIM
The Margarita glass with salt is the most common example of a cocktail rim . Some places use tajin — a chili / salt / lime seasoning — as a spicier ’ Rita glass rim .
To rim a glass , dip the rim of a glass into a shallow saucer of citrus juice , then dip into a plate of coarse salt or other seasoning . Bartenders often just rim half the glass with a lime or lemon wedge , which looks pretty and doesn ’ t overwhelm the drink .
For fruity or sparkling cocktails , you can also rim the glass with coarse sugar . For instance , Pink House Alchemy , which specialized in syrups , bitters and shrubs , has a hibiscus lavender sugar that works well as a rim for fruity or floral cocktails .
DIG THE HERBS
Fresh mint garnishes appear in several cocktails , most notably the Mint Julep . But fresh thyme , rosemary and basil can make beautiful garnishes as long as they complement the drink ’ s flavors .
You can also use fresh herbs in conjunction with fruits or vegetables , such as a rosemary sprig speared through a lemon wheel . ( This is called a compound garnish , by the way .) Experts say that if you can introduce another color or shape to the garnish , it becomes more appealing .
GET FLOWER POWER
Flowers make a beautiful cocktail presentation , especially at brunch , weddings and other celebrations . Pansies , violas , hibiscus ,
RUBY ROSE
PALOMA
The Ruby Rose from the mixologists at 1800 tequila , top , is garnished with dried rose petals that complement the bit of rosewater in the cocktail . The brand ’ s Silver Leaf Paloma , above , is garnished with half a grapefruit wheel and a sprig of thyme or rosemary .
marigold and nasturtium are just a few of the floral garnishes to bloom in cocktails .
Dried rose petals can also lend a whimsical and romantic flair to beverages . The Ruby Rose from the mixologists at 1800 tequila , is garnished with dried rose petals that complement the rosewater in the cocktail .
Buzz buttons , also called Szechuan or buddha buttons , are golden flower buds that tingle the tongue and accentuate flavors when consumed . This provides a multisensory experience and well as a visual enhancement to the drink .
The Verbena cocktail at The Chandelier Lounge in The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas is a lemon verbena and ginger-infused Margarita garnished with the Szechuan flower .
How to choose floral garnishes ? Make sure that
GIMME SOME SUGAR
FIXER UPPER
The Gimme Some Sugar cocktail , top , by Pink House Alchemy uses the brand ’ s hibiscus lavender sugar to rim the glass . The Fixer Upper cocktail , above , at Husk in Nashville is garnished with a dried blood-orange wheel and sprig of fresh thyme .
they ’ re edible blooms , for starters , so they don ’ t poison the drink or the drinker . A number of online merchants sell culinary-grade fresh and dried flowers and other garnishes .
DON ’ T OVERDO IT
Keep in mind that that cocktail garnishes are all about the glass , color and contrast . As a general rule , pair your garnish size with your glass size . You want the garnish to enhance the drink , not overwhelm it .
Any fresh ingredients used should be ripe and in season and also a good fit with the drink ’ s flavor profile . The garnish should serve as an aromatic or a flavor extension of the drink it adorns , in addition to adding visual appeal .
12 | SPRING 2022 • CHEERS @ HOME WWW . CHEERSONLINEATHOME . COM