The difference in taste between cocktails enjoyed at a bar and those made at home isn't due to the ingredients, but rather the "manner of preparation." Just by learning the basic techniques that bartenders take for granted, you can achieve a different result with the same ingredients.
Here are 10 tips that can be used for cocktails made with ZEN TEA BREW's Tea Infusion, as well as other cocktails.
1. Don't be stingy with ice; fill the glass to the brim.
While it might seem like a lot of ice would dilute your drink, the opposite is true. More ice rapidly lowers the liquid's temperature, making the ice itself melt slower. A small amount of ice melts quickly, making the drink watery. Fill the glass to the brim.
2. Stir gently, 3-4 times.
When stirring a cocktail, don't vigorously swirl it around. Gently glide the spoon along the inner wall of the glass, 3-4 times. This prevents incorporating excess air and results in a crisp, sharp flavor. If you don't have a bar spoon, chopsticks or the handle of a regular spoon will suffice.
3. Pour carbonated drinks gently, along the inner wall.
If you pour a carbonated drink vigorously into the center of the glass, the gas will escape rapidly. Pour it gently along the inner wall. For the final stir, just one vertical motion is enough.
4. Use lemon twice.
Lemon juice adjusts the "flavor (acidity)." The peel creates the "aroma." Instead of discarding the squeezed peel, try rubbing it along the rim of the glass. You'll get a citrus aroma with every sip.
5. Put lemon juice at the bottom of the glass first.
For carbonated cocktails, put the lemon juice at the bottom of the glass first. The acid will keep the citrus aromatic components (limonene) in the liquid, preventing the aroma from escaping with the carbon dioxide gas. Adding it first helps the aroma last longer than adding it later.
6. Heavy ingredients first, light ingredients last.
Pour heavier liquids like syrup, juice, and alcohol first, then add lighter liquids like carbonated water or soda. This creates natural convection, allowing for even mixing with less stirring. You can also intentionally avoid mixing to enjoy the gradient created by differences in specific gravity.
7. The magic of a pinch of salt.
Adding just a pinch of salt to a sweet cocktail accentuates the sweetness and enhances the aroma. Sodium chloride increases the sensitivity of sweetness receptors while simultaneously suppressing bitterness. A small packet of salt from a convenience store is perfectly fine.
8. Chilling the glass for 5 minutes gives a professional finish.
When the liquid temperature drops, sweetness becomes less pronounced, while bitterness and acidity become more prominent. Simply chilling the glass in the freezer for 5 minutes will sharpen the flavor profile and give a professional finish.
9. Measure.
Eyeballing ingredients is the biggest cause of inconsistent taste. Don't worry if you don't have a measuring cup. 1 tablespoon = 15ml, 2 tablespoons = 30ml. A PET bottle cap is about 7.5ml, which is handy to remember.
10. The glass changes the taste.
Tall glasses (Collins glasses or tumblers) retain carbonation well and are suitable for gin and tonics or highballs. Wide-mouthed glasses allow aromas to spread easily and are ideal for cocktails where you want to enjoy the fragrance. Just changing the glass can alter the impression of the same cocktail.
Try it with ZEN TEA BREW
These tips can be directly applied to cocktails made with ZEN TEA BREW's Tea Infusion. The best arrangement recipes for each of the four kits are introduced in "4 Arrangement Recipes Made with Convenience Store Ingredients," and how to choose spirits is explained in "How to Choose Spirits for Tea Cocktails."