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Cocktail culture in America is a big deal. Highly skilled mixologists are getting acclaim on par with celebrity chefs. Sure, the pandemic is hit the brakes a bit on the cocktail renaissance, but it definitely hasn’t ended it. You can still find at least a few creative, talented cocktail bars in most major cities (and in most cases a bunch). Not only has this explosion in cocktail culture led to the ability to sip delicious cocktails from coast to coast, but it has also led to an increase in home bartending.
But this isn’t necessarily a good thing. That’s because amateur cocktail enthusiasts, without the proper knowledge, can find themselves making easily fixable mistakes. These simple errors can result in a watery, flavorless, or un-balanced drink. Fear not, we’re here to help. Below you’ll find eight mistakes many amateur mixologists make. Simply don’t do these things and you’re guaranteed to mix up high-quality or at the very least, palatable drinks.
8 Mistakes Amateur Mixologists
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Overdoing it with ingredients.
If you’ve been to a notable cocktail bar and enjoyed a creative, delicious drink, you definitely shouldn’t try to make your own version at home. They’re trained professionals who understand how different flavors work together. You don’t. Keep it simple with only a few flavors.
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Not using fresh ingredients.
If you’re making a drink that calls for mint leaves, make sure you use fresh mint leaves. If it calls for simple syrup, make a fresh batch. If it calls for fresh juice, don’t pour it out of a carton. The fresher your ingredients, the better your drink will be.
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Forgetting to chill your glasses.
Unless you really want your ice to melt quickly and your drink to end up a warm, watery mess, you’ll want to chill your glass before pouring your cocktail into it. You don’t need some fancy contraption to do it. Simply put a few glasses in the fridge and pull them out when it’s time to drink.
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Improper muddling.
If you’re making a mojito or mint julep, you’ll have to muddle some mint leaves. Don’t get crazy with it and turn them into a mushy paste. Just take your time and relax. You’ll enjoy the drink much more if it actually still tastes like mint.
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Using cheap alcohol.
Sure, you might assume that if you’re mixing with it, the quality of your alcohol isn’t important. That’s totally wrong. Obviously, you don’t need to go top shelf, but that bottom shelf swill will ruin your drink with its harsh, over-the-top flavor. Middle of the road is your best bet.
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Wrong alcohol ratio.
When it comes to cocktails there definitely is such a thing as too much of a good thing (as well as too little). Too much or too little alcohol can ruin your drink. If you use too much, you might as well just drink the spirit neat and too much and you’re more or less drinking a cocktail solely featuring the other ingredients.
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Forgetting the bitters.
If you’ve never used bitters in your cocktails, you’re missing out. A few dashes can add flavor to any cocktail. What would the classic old fashioned be without a few dashes of Angostura bitters? Well, it would be a sugary glass of rye or bourbon. That’s it.
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Not using a garnish.
When mixing at home, you might not care about adding a garnish. But the right garnish, on top of making your drink look great, can also add to the flavor. A simple garnish of orange or lemon peel can add a nice extra citrus oil flavor to your favorite drink.
