How to Make Delicious Cocktails

By Brian John Maloney

ABOUT THE BOOK Are you looking to serve more than beer and wine at your next event? You don&#39;t need to be a master mixologist to prepare palatable potables. Whether you are planning to a host a large party for a graduation, engagement, birthday, your kitten&#39;s mastery of the litter box, etc. -- or are simply interested in learning more about mixing drinks -- this guide will help you prepare. You will be sure to pick up some ideas that will take your bar tending skills past indelicate combinations of Jack and Coke and into new frontiers of flavor and taste. We&#39;ll explore some of the most popular beverages that every bartender should know how to make, as well as a few specialty drinks from notable cocktail designers. If you are having a smaller event, like an intimate dinner party with friends or family, or are seeking to impress a date, you may want to showcase a particular drink that you like to make, rather than relying on overused recipes. This will cut down on the supplies that you need, and helps avoid a situation where you are unsure of how to make a drink. There are many resources available for recipes, including several iPhone apps -- Cocktails Made Easy and What Cocktail -- that could be useful as mobile references. Any home bar area should also include a written guide to mixing drinks. There are many widely available, including The Little Black Book of Cocktails: The Essential Guide to New &amp; Old Classics. MEET THE AUTHOR Brian John Maloney studied English and Philosophy at the University of Vermont. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the poetry and prose &#39;zine Juncture: A Writerly Newspaper. His work has appeared in Vantage Point, Thrasher and The Vermont Cynic. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK Items essential to the bartender&#39;s toolkit include stirrers, shakers, jiggers, garnish tools and more. Most kitchen retailers have a packaged set containing all of these tools. If you&#39;re in a pinch and don&#39;t have your cocktail toolkit, you can use a travel mug, water bottle or any beverage container with a tight-fitting top as shaker and a tea infuser or cheese cloth as a strainer. If you find yourself without a jigger, a shot glass is essentially the same thing. The standard liquid measure is 1.5 ounces, or 3 tablespoons. You dont have to learn any dramatic embellishments like flipping bottles and spinning around on your toes while pouring. Even a novice cocktail maker can create good drinks by consistently following recipes. Using an existing recipe can be a great inspiration or starting point for putting your own twist on a cocktail. Caution should be taken, however, not to stray too far from a recipes stated ratio of alcohol to other ingredients -- at least until youve gained enough experience to understand the role of each component. The most common mistakes when making a cocktail are improperly balancing the sweet and tart elements, or adding too much alcohol. You will want to consider the natural flavor profile of the spirit(s) that youre using. When deciding which other ingredients to include, it is helpful to consider the overall flavor that you want the drink to achieve. CHAPTER OUTLINE How to Make Delicious Cocktails + Introduction + Tools + Getting Started + Recipes + ...and much more

ABOUT THE BOOK
Are you looking to serve more than beer and wine at your next event? You don't need to be a master mixologist to prepare palatable potables.
Whether you are planning to a host a large party for a graduation, engagement, birthday, your kitten's mastery of the

By Brian John Maloney

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