Whenever you order a cocktail at a bar or a restaurant, it might seem that it is just mixing some specific alcohols and juices. But when you look more into it, it is like science, because you have to be precise how you do it. A good cocktail, when mixed with the right amount of concoction and ice, can be the ultimate experience.
One may believe that cocktail making is just an easy task, but mixology calls for proper chemistry of ingredients to produce modern and qualitative cocktails. Mixing the proper quantity of alcohol with the proper quantity of refresher to make it taste mouth-watering is one thing – however, ensuring it tastes good without losing the enthusiasm of the alcohol is something the geniuses of mixology have worked on very hard over the years. Mixology is a cultured and in-depth study of the artwork and craft of mixing beverages. It mainly lies behind two significant aspects – the combination of flavors and glassware.
Any good mixologist or bartender is acquainted with spirits, liqueurs, syrups, juices, fruits, herbs, refreshers etc. You cannot mix any liqueur with any refresher, it is unlikely that it will taste good. The flavors of each liquid should fuse together flawlessly, improving the power of each, the alcohol and the refresher itself. It is not that difficult to mess it up, so that one liquid overpowers the other, but getting the right proportions with the right liquids is what makes a perfect cocktail.
Not only the liquids make a good cocktail but also ice, because the ice not only cools the cocktail, but it also becomes part of it as soon as it melts. Temperature matters, because a cold cocktail is much more enjoyable than a room temperature cocktail. There is nothing more refreshing than a cold drink after a long day at work. Certainly, the ice is not going to stay solid for very long as it gets added to the drink. When it waters down in the cocktail, it adds flavor to it.
Glassware is also a very important aspect of cocktail making. There are many types of glasses, and they each serve a purpose. The martini glass is distinguished by its V-shaped cup, long stem, and circular base. Although the shape of a martini glass is distinctively artistic, it was mainly designed to be functional, as the stem prevents the person holding the glass from warming the drink with their hands. It also prevents the ingredients of a martini: gin and vermouth, to separate, and the shape additionally shows the olive, cherry, or lemon rind that frequently garnishes the cocktail.
The coupe glass was originally used for champagne and sparkling wine. However, they are not really suitable for sparkling beverages, because the bubbles disappear very quickly due to the large surface area. Instead, bartenders and mixologists found out that the coupe glass is best to use for cocktails that need to be strained and served with no ice. Just like the Martini glass, it has a stem, which prevents the drinker from warming up the drink with their hands. The classy coupe glass is an avant-garde way to serve cocktails or even desserts.
There are many other types of cocktail glasses, but these two are the most eye-catching. Not only does a cocktail have to taste good, it also has to look aesthetically pleasing. A cocktail is not just a drink with mixed cocktail ingredients, it is the art, how it is made, the signature flavors in it and the presentation of the “art”.