The Lifestyle
To Garnish or not to Garnish?
Ok, so you have mastered the art of mixing drinks, you’re a mean cocktail making machine, but keep in mind that people taste with their eyes too.
Not only should it taste good but also look good. The presentation of a drink is a huge part of its appeal. These days, bartenders are turning to garnishes to increase the aesthetics of cocktails. Fruits are usually used; the flavor of the drink is the guideline for figuring out which fruit to choose. Once you start garnishing, make sure you’re using fresh fruits though. Because your Margarita might be the best in the world, but if you garnish with a dried-out lime wheel, it will be a deal-breaker.
Even if a drink is made with fresh juice and from a great recipe, that’s not enough to compensate for bad presentation. The easier way to garnish is by the liquor. Meaning, you can match the garnish to the flavor of the liquor. For example, a drink with Bacardi Big Apple can be garnished with a slice of apple. But in the case that the liquor is flavorless, you can use the following guidelines:
By the Mixer:
Cranberry juice - Lime
Soda/tonic - Lime
Cola product - Lemon
Orange juice - Orange
Sour mix - Orange and cherry
Olive juice - Olives
Lemonade - Lemon
By the martini:
Cosmopolitan - Lime
Vodka or gin – Olives or lemon twist
Manhattan = Cherry
Other drinks:
Mojito = Mint and lime
Mimosa = Orange
Bloody Mary = Celery and lemon, or lime and olives
Margarita = Lime and salt
Daiquiri = Orange and cherry
Pina colada = Pineapple
