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| TECHNIQUES |
| Measuring |
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Hollywood flicks. Once the scientific method is mastered, it becomes an art, never a side show. A great bartender's motions are as subtle as a cocktail's edge, only forceful when appropriate. Compare it to ballroom dancing: Every dancer follows the same steps; it's the subtle execution of these steps that makes a particular dancer more graceful and elegant.
The most important step in making cocktails is measuring. Before you attempt to impress your friends or woo lovers, make sure you have mastered this step. Each drink has its own recipe, and each recipe should be followed precisely.
Measurements are exacting and should be respected as such. A little extra here and a little less there does make a difference. Until you have mastered concise measurement, recommend your guests have the same drink instead of unique servings. A slight misstep will go undetected when multiple drinks are being prepared in one shaker.
The most common mistake of novice mixers is to add extra liquor to drinks, falsely anticipating that their guests' main desire is a stronger cocktail. What you end up with is a half-sipped cocktail burdened by the flavor of juniper or rye.
Part of measuring is being familiar with the terminology. For starters, a "jigger" is a drink measure that usually holds up to 4 cl of liquor. A useful jigger will have a small cup on each end (one 2 cl and the other 4 cl) and cl increments etched on its sides.
Although you can buy a simple stainless-steel jigger at any liquor store, style counts. Spend hours searching stores for a sterling-silver jigger, or at least a glass one cleverly decorated from the '50s. A fanciful jigger, along with your mixing tools, will give your guests something to talk about while you prepare their potables. |
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