Culinary Central

Bartenders on Fire – Everything You Need to Know About Mixology

July 1, 2010 •Le Cordon Bleu •St. Louis • 0 Comments

Whether you plan on becoming a bartender, enjoy entertaining or simply honor the value of a perfectly mixed cocktail, knowing the basics of mixology can really come in handy. Learn the basics and let your creativity run wild.  You’ll also avoid the embarrassment of having no idea what you want to order and then being unpleasantly surprised with the “surprise me” type cocktail you order in haste.

Equipment
If you plan on entertaining guests, presentation is what separates the ‘bartenders on fire’ from the smoldering ones. Try adding these items to your at home bar and you’ll be sure to look like a pro.

1. A set of wine glasses
2. Cocktail shaker
3. Brandy snifters
4. Shot glasses
5. Beer mugs
6. Martini glasses
7. Cocktail stirrers
8. Margarita glasses
9. Punch Bowl

Basic Ingredients
Chose your favorites or if you are new to making and tasting different types of drinks get started with these basics.

Alcohol                           

1. Vodka                        
   
2. Rum                             
   
3. Whiskey                       
   
4. Vodka                          
   
5. Brandy                          
   
6. Wine (white and red)     
   
7. Vermouth                     
   
8. Gin
9. Triple Sex

Mixers

1. Grapefruit juice
2. Cranberry juice
3. Ginger ale
4. Lime juice
5. Sweet and sour
6. Margarita mix
7. Tomato juice
8. Grenadine

Basic Bartending Lingo
Float: To pour alcohol on the top without mixing.
Roll: After making the drink, pour the contents gently back and forth from one glass to another.
Rim: Typically used for margaritas, to rim the glass just means adding something to it like sugar or salt.
Muddle: Crushing up fruit or another no ne liquid ingredient to bring out its flavor.
Straight up: Usually the drink it put into a strainer and served chilled but not over ice.
Neat: Served room temperature without ice.
On the rocks: Served over ice.


4 No Fail Cocktail Staples – Recipes by GlobalGourmet.com

Bloody Mary
Ingredients:

• 3 ounces tomato juice
• 1-1/2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• dash celery salt, or to taste
• dash Worcestershire sauce
• dash Tabasco sauce
• Directions:
• Shake ingredients with ice. Serve over ice with celery stick garnish.

White Russian
Ingredients:

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce coffee liqueur
• 3-1/2 ounces fresh cream or milk

Directions:
Serve over ice

Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:

• 1 shot whiskey
• Sour mix
• Stir and garnish with a cherry and lemon slice.

Dry Martini
Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 shots gin
• 1/2 dash of dry vermouth

Directions:
Garnish with one of these a lemon twist, stuffed olive or pearl onion. Pour it on the rocks or serve it straight up.

This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the St. Louis, Missouri area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/St-Louis for more information.  

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