12 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Delicious Cocktails

1) Not shaking enough

Take your time with each drink, mix it properly. When using a cocktail shaker , shake vigorously until the entire shaker is thoroughly chilled (about fifteen seconds). When using a mixing glass , take the time to give the glass 20 to 30 swirls with your bar spoon to achieve a well - mixed blend . It doesn't cost much and the difference is guaranteed!

2) Incorrect dosage

Perhaps the most common mistake… a good cocktail requires precise measurements . You may have seen bartenders pour spirits directly into their mixing glass… But their bottles often have spouts that control the flow of the drink, allowing them to measure the amount they pour by counting. Don't just pour your ingredients into your glass haphazardly. Get a good jigger and use it.

3) Prepare a sparkling cocktail in advance

If your cocktail contains bubbles (any sparkling beverage – champagne 🍾, Badoit, Schweppes, etc.), you won't be able to keep it until you're ready to drink it. Our advice is that when you want to prepare such a cocktail in advance, make the entire mix without the sparkling ingredient , and only add the sparkling ingredient when you 're ready to serve!

4) Do not use fresh juice

5) Empty your melted ice cubes into the cocktail glass

If you think the ice in your shaker is no different from a fresh handful straight from the freezer, think again the next time you pour it all directly into your glass. Ice gets quite a beating when shaken, and broken pieces melt much faster than fresh cubes. This means you'll end up with far more water than intended in your cocktail, which is far from ideal. Strain what comes out of your shaker or mixing glass with a cocktail strainer, then add fresh ice to your glass (if the recipe calls for it, of course) .

6) Do not crush your ingredients properly

• Use a sturdy glass (ideally, muddle the ingredients in your mixing glass or at the bottom of your shaker)
• Crush gently and not too much: press hard to release juice while being careful not to tear the leaves; if you damage them too much they will release their chlorophyll, which does not taste the best.
• Use a cocktail muddler: using the right utensil will prevent you from having to tear the leaves to extract their juice.

7) Using the wrong glass

For every type of cocktail, there's an ideal cocktail glass : coupes keep your precious Martini elevated in the glass, allowing its aromas to fully develop. Hurricane glasses, on the other hand, are tall enough to hold delicious sweet and fruity long drinks. Each glass has its own story, often linked to the history of the cocktails it holds.

8) Using a shaker when you should be using a mixing glass (and vice versa)

It turns out James Bond has rather peculiar tastes; Martinis are actually much better prepared in a mixing glass, not a shaker. All hard liquor cocktails are better prepared in a mixing glass rather than a shaker! A shaker is useful when the recipe calls for fruit juices or creams. Conversely, stirring with a spoon when the recipe calls for a shaker won't give your cocktail the right frothy, slightly cloudy texture.

9) Shake too vigorously and/or too gently

So you've decided to make your Martinis and Manhattans in a mixing glass! Don't just mix them haphazardly… Rest assured, it's not complicated at all. The right way to stir is to take your time. Some bartenders count 30 swirls of the mixing glass for the cocktail to be ready. And one last point: don't shake your cocktail vigorously, but rather gently swirl it around the mixing glass. Also, use a bar spoon, long enough to be comfortable and enjoy the mixing process.

10) Use expired vermouth

Countless Martinis have been ruined by expired dry vermouth. While vermouth is alcoholic, its 16-18% alcohol content isn't high enough to keep it outside the refrigerator, or even in the refrigerator, for more than a month. Consider this an excuse to have another glass before it goes bad, and always be sure to keep your medium-proof spirits (those that have already been opened) refrigerated.

11) Keep everything that isn't vodka in the refrigerator

Following on from the previous point, it's best not to put everything in your refrigerator. The cold can trap volatile compounds in spirits like whiskey, which contribute to the spirit's taste and aroma. Vodka, which is distilled to be pure and clean, is perfectly fine in the fridge... The cold can actually help thicken the alcohol's texture for a pleasantly rich sip—but everything else should stay safely on your bar cart.

12) Forgetting to cool the glass

This isn't crucial, but a frosted glass really enhances the drinking experience. If you know your glass can withstand very low temperatures, you can simply leave it in the freezer for about thirty minutes. If your glasses aren't freezer-safe, no problem: just remember to take them out 20 minutes before serving and fill them with ice. Just before serving your cocktail, discard the melted ice.

13) Use unlikely ingredients

(We've already covered the 12 mistakes to avoid! But we still have a few things to tell you...)

A cocktail with many ingredients is very tempting and you almost have them. Everyone: well, get the missing ingredients. Don't substitute ingredients with similar ones; in 90% of cases, it will be a disappointment. Here's a simple tip that will make a big difference!

Bonus tip: Take care of your ice cubes

Unless you enjoy drinking cocktails with tap water, it's important to take care of your ice cubes. It's very simple to do, and it's arguably the quickest improvement you can make to your cocktails; trust me, you'll taste the difference! We've written a blog post with three very simple tips you can implement right now to improve the quality of your ice cubes.