source.
Whipped cream The secret to an impressive looking cocktail is the presentation. For creamier cocktails or warm drinks, whipped cream is essential to that look. Instead of taking your time to whip the cream, use a whipped cream charger to whip your cream instantly. Take a look at www.creamchargersdirect.co.uk for more details.
Stock up Slowly start building your collection of ingredients. Spirits such as bourbon, Cointreau, gin, vermouth and vodka are good places to start. You'll also need grenadine, sugar syrup, bitters and mixers. Buy the ingredients for your favorite cocktail first and then start collecting other bits and pieces.
The basics You'll need a cocktail shaker (eBay is always a good source of cocktail shakers) muddler, stirrer, tumblers, tall glasses and a strainer. Having the right tools can make it much easier to create the perfect cocktail.
Simple cocktails you can make at home Making cocktails at home can be fun. Here are a few simple recipes to get you started.
Lynchburg lemonade
- 1½ shot bourbon
- 1 shot Cointreau triple sec
- 1 shot freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Top up with lemonade
Combine the shots in a glass, add the lemon and lemonade, stir and enjoy. A lovely, lemony cocktail that is great for summer barbecues.
Vodka Martini
- 1½ shots vodka
- ¾ shot dry vermouth
Pour both into a glass and garnish with a green olive. This strong, simple cocktail will make anyone who drinks it feel like James Bond.
Amaretto sour
- 2 shots Amaretto liqueur
- 1 shot freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ fresh egg white
- 1 dash Angostura aromatic bitters
Shake all the ingredients together without ice to emulsify. Then shake them with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with a cherry. This is the best way to get the flavor of Amaretto in a cocktail. It's sure to be a hit at parties.
Gin fizz
- ¾ shot dry gin
- Champagne
- Lemon rind, peeled
Add chilled gin to a glass, top up with champagne and garnish with lemon rind. Another fantastic, summer drink. It’s a nice twist on a champagne cocktail that one might serve at a celebratory event such as a wedding or anniversary.
Mudslide Delight
- 2 shots Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 shot Kahlua
- 1 shot Amaretto
- 50ml chocolate milk
- Squirt whipped cream
Shake together the Baileys, Kahula, Amaretto and chocolate milk with ice. Strain and pour into a glass then top with whipped cream.
Here's a list of more cocktail recipes for you to try.
The secret to great tasting cocktails is to be prepared. Make sure you have the ingredients and tools in your home at all times so you can make cocktails on demand.
Practice also makes perfect. Try your hand at making cocktails for family and friends before attempting to make them for a larger group.
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