By Aillinn Brennan • Special to The Current
The building blocks for all delicious cocktails are; alcohol, something sweet, sour and/or bitter. Learn these ingredients and their proportions and you are your own mixologist!
Alcohol, the obvious element is your basic building block and comes in many forms. Cocktails typically use 80 proof spirits. Whiskey, vodka, and gin are where to begin!
An American whiskey like rye is coarse and fiery which imparts a burning, heat sensation into your cocktail. Think the stuff that tough guys drink straight out of the bottle in the movies. Scotch, which is peated, where the malts are smoked, lends a smoky note to your drink. And, a blended Irish Whiskey will impart a more subtle and smooth whiskey experience bringing with it citrus, vanilla and baking spice notes.
Vodka, is a neutral spirit which means it is distilled to such a degree that no aromas or flavors of the original sugar source are present. It should be an expression of pure alcohol. It is the blank canvas for your mixers to shine.
Gin is also a neutral spirit but the finished product is flavored with juniper berries, herbs, spices and botanicals. They are highly aromatic and flavorful and perfect for fresh summer cocktails. Note, are they are very boozy usually coming in at 95 proof.
Now for something sweet. Honey, agave, and any sugar in the form of “simple syrup” work. Dissolve 1 part sugar, into 1 part water by stirring over heat. It’s that simple. To take your cocktail to the next level add some flavor to your syrup. Tea’s provide lots of options, just steep your favorite tea bag in the heated simple syrup. Chamomile, hibiscus, and green tea are fantastic. Whatever is your favorite will work. Herbs, are another great addition. And if getting out a pot is not your thing, that’s what sweet liqueurs and cordials like Cointreau, Grand Marnier and fruit liqueurs are for.
Sour power. Think how hard lemons and limes work for us. How they brighten a plain glass of water and make that iced tea so refreshing. Fresh squeezed citrus juice in your cocktail balances the sweet, and brings that mouth-watering, pucker, take another sip feeling. And don’t forget orange, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, blood orange, tangerine and mandarin.
The easiest way to impart the bitter element is a few dashes of “bitters” an old time cure all medicine, now the geeky bartenders’ obsession. Angostura Bitters, around since the 1800’s and available in most grocery stores and liquor stores is the standard “go to.” There is a liqueur route here as well, ones like Aperol, Campari and Amaro blend beautifully in cocktails. Remember bitter IS bitter, so just a few dashes!
Time to put it all together. Gather all your ingredients, measuring implements, and get out the fancy glasses, it’s time to play mixologist.
Here’s your blueprint, the formula for your cocktail construction success. 2 oz alcohol + ¾ oz sour + ¾ oz sweet, + or – 2 dashes bitters = delicious!
Shake it, stir it, mix it, match it, AND repeat!
Aillinn Brennan is proprietor of The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe. For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
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