For the most part, garnishing drinks is an art unto itself. We have all seen elaborate drink adornments and there are times when they are too garish. You look at the drink wondering where to start and how exactly to get to the liquid underneath all the flourish. The art in garnishing is in its ability to compliment the drink and the best are simple, yet elegantly constructed.
This week we launched 2 new videos about garnishing, one on winter and the other on summer drink embellishments.
The winter video (5 Winter Cocktail Garnishes) is ideal for this time of year and includes 5 ways to add a little flair to drinks. The whipped cream suggestions can be used on any of your hot cocktails, especially coffee and hot chocolate drinks. Another option with this topping is to flavor the cream in the way that Kyle Branche explains in Whip That Groove. The rosemary and cranberry skewer in the video can be used year round, and I love the pomegranate and lime boat is a very cute idea as well. On that one, I would also consider making more of a boat with the wheel by wrapping it tighter? as we did with the orange in the Tequila Sunrise photo.
I realize the other video is about 'summer' drink garnishes, but these are the most universal because many of us drink stereotypical 'summer' cocktails year-round. Honestly, the ideas in this video are nothing fancy or give you that great A-HA! moment of clarity. They are instead simple and very easy to do and proof that anyone with an extra minute can beautify a drink. Garnished drinks seem to have that touch that make the drinker feel just a little bit more special, so why not?
Beyond that, when was the last time you garnished with a cucumber? This can easily be added to a number of drinks. I think specifically of gin cocktails, particularly anything made with Hendrick's Gin or any of the newer, lighter American gins.? Think Gin & Tonic, Bring It Home, or Chartreuse Martini. I have also become fond of cucumber in tequila cocktails as well. It is an oft forgotten fruit and that is a shame.
More Garnish Videos...
- Cocktail Garnishes - Includes wheels, twists, citrus, cherries, etc. This is a good primer for basic cuts.
- How to Create a Lemon Spiral - This video shows one technique for creating the elusive lemon spiral. This is a garnish that requires practice and the sacrifice of a few lemons, but you can always use them for juice.
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