Just like a memorable dinner in an elegant restaurant, the look of your favorite cocktail would be incomplete without the finishing touch - decoration.
Decorations come in all shapes and sizes, and are often used not only for display, but also to enhance the taste of a drink. They can be placed on the surface of the cocktail, placed in it, or elegantly hoisted onto the rim of the glass.
These are curls (usually from citrus fruits), fresh tropical fruits (do not forget about the cocktail umbrella), the classic olive (served on the edge of the glass). More and more often pickled vegetables are used as a "highlight" - for example, in the preparation of "Bloody Mary".
Experiment as your palate dictates by mixing and matching a wide variety of ingredients. However, there are a few basic rules to follow when choosing jewelry:
• Citrus fruits are commonly used in shakes that do not contain milk or cream.
• Cocktail cherries, which are widely used in a variety of cocktails from Manhattan to Pina Colada, are not recommended to be served with classic drinks such as martinis.
• Vodka cocktails tend to pair well with lemon and lime.
• Tequila and lime blend, as well as rum and mint go well with each other.
• Cinnamon stick, coffee beans and chocolate are great for dessert cocktails.
• Vegetables are good for tomato juice drinks.
In general, when choosing a decorating method, it is best to consider the overall theme of your drink, based on the main ingredient. For example, a slice of pear is perfect with an Asian pear martini. Coffee beans are the perfect accompaniment to Irish liqueur and coffee-based cocktails.
In addition to the right ingredients, it is also important to choose the right tools. Most decorations can be made with a fruit knife, but it is also helpful to have a decorating knife and grater handy. The grater is useful for grating dessert toppings such as chocolate and nutmeg. Larger knives are useful for slicing fresh fruits and vegetables.
A decorating knife with a "v" blade can transform lemon, lime and orange peels into artistic curls. However, don't overdo it! When using a decorating knife, it is important to carefully peel off only the top layer of the peel without trapping the white inner layer. The curl tends to float in the cocktail, so the uncut portion of the white layer can add bitterness to the beverage that cannot be compensated for by the high glossy sheen of the top layer of the rind.
Decorating can be spontaneous, but the best decorations should be prepared ahead of time, even before you start mixing your drink. This way you can focus on form and style without worrying about the ice melting before you finish making your cocktail. Decorations are added immediately after mixing the cocktail in a shaker, blender or directly in a glass.
And of course, don't be afraid to experiment! Think cocktail cherries are too much? Try adding homemade dried cherries to your Manhattan instead. Celery and olives don't taste right? Garnish your next Bloody Mary with pickled asparagus, green beans and an egg.
