Common Ingredients in a Cocktail

by Kevin Smith Author

Handcrafted cocktails in Sandy Plains, GA are a great way to turn your average drink into something fun. However, you'll need to stock up on the common ingredients required to come up with such concoctions. Here's a list of the basics that make up most alcoholic mixes.

Alcohol

The liquor is the essence of any cocktail. Whether you want it shaken or stirred, make sure your drink is complete with a shot (or shots) of:

· Vodka: Added to the Alabama Slammer and the Zombie, this Russian distilled alcohol is considered the Centrum of Cocktails.

· Gin: Also a staple for many alcoholic beverages, gin's trademark bitter taste gives the drink its strong kick.

· Tequila: Have this Mexican alcohol stirred in a margarita for a fun night.

· Brandy: Also known as cognac, this liquor can be used for bar favorites like the Metropolitan and Sidecar.

· Rum: Whether it's white, light, or silver, no mojito is complete without rum.

· Whiskey: An export from Scotland, whiskey is the main ingredient for a Whiskey Fizz or Whiskey Sour.

· Champagne: A fixture in rap videos and race car awards, this bubbly is used to make a Raspberry fizz or a Mimosa.

Mixer

While alcohol can be imbibed on its own, adding another beverage to it can make the experience better. Called mixers, these are used to dampen the strength of the alcohol, temper the taste, and make them go down smoother.

· Fruit Juice: Juices such as lemon, lime, orange, raspberry, cranberry, or any other kind of berry add zest to drinks. The fruit's distinct sourness can divert the strong alcohol taste or simply add more flavor to the cocktail.

· Seltzer: Also known as soda water, this carbonated liquid is what gives the Skinny Peach Mojito and Raspberry Mint Seltzer Spritzer their signature fizz. Seltzers are also used in diluting liquor without affecting much of the original flavor, popularly in the form of a Vodka Soda.

· Soft Drink: This beverage is similar to soda water, but with more sugary goodness. Usually coming in lemon-lime, root beer, ginger, or classic cola, soft drinks are what's behind the familiar taste of Jack and Coke, and Moscow Mule.

Garnish

The following items add a finishing touch to your mix. They complement the drinks by improving its taste or by merely making the glass and its contents pretty to look at.

· Cherries: Sweetened or unsweetened, these small, bright red fruits are used to give drinks, like the Tequila Sunrise, its pinkish color.

· Lemons or Limes: These citruses pack a sour punch that makes drinking pure tequila tolerable. Lemons and limes are also the core for drinks like the Singapore Sling and Long Island Iced Tea.

· Fruit Slices: Fruits are rich with vitamins and minerals, but that's probably not the reason why you're having them in your drink. Cuts or wedges of these natural harvests perfectly match the flavor and color of many handcrafted cocktails in Sandy Plains, GA.