This blog series will provide a step-by-step guide to creating mixologist quality cocktails at home. It will lay out exactly what tools you need to get started and explain the basic techniques the pros use to create mouth-watering cocktails. Finally, you will discover our complete recipes, no holds barred. And there will be a few surprises in there too!
Want to start making bar quality cocktails at home? Read on.
Northern Shakers, Teesside’s Original Cocktail Co.
Equipment used by our mixologists:
Essential:
- Boston Shaker (Tin on Glass is preferred)
- Hawthorne Strainer
- Jigger
- Bar Spoon
All available at https://northernshakers.com/bottle-shop/
Advanced:
- Speed pourer
- Fine strainer
- Mexican elbow
- Muddler
Glasses for serving:
- Coupe
- Rocks
- Collins
- Sling
- Shot
NS, Teesside’s Original Cocktail Co.
Cocktail terms and techniques used by our mixologists explained:
- Shake- seems obvious, just make sure you fill the shaker tin with your ingredients, ice, and fruit as required, place the glass on top, bang the top with your hand to create an airtight seal, hands either end and shake away (make sure you give it some welly if you want a frothy head!) When you’re finished shaking, place a hand one side at the top of the tin where the gap is and bang the opposite side with the other hand, this will create an air gap and release the Boston shaker tin from the glass.
- Strain- after your cocktail is shaken, place the hawthorne strainer over your tin and pour, ensuring the strainer catches any ice or fruit.
- Dirty pour- pour the contents of your cocktail shaker directly into your serving glass.
- Built- when we refer to a drink being ‘built’ this means it is created in full in the glass, no shaking or straining required, there could be some stirring or muddling though!
- Muddle- using a muddler, or the flat end of a bar spoon (pro-tip) squash, squeeze or crush your ingredients.
- Gomme- also known as simple syrup or sugar syrup, this can be made by combining 150-200 grams of sugar with every 100ml of boiling water, depending on the thickness you would like (more sugar = thicker gomme), stir well and leave to cool. It is also available to buy pre made.
If you really want to see masters at work, don’t forget you can book our mobile cocktail bar for any size party, anywhere! Just head to http://www.northernshakers.com or email us at [email protected] for a free no obligation quote.
Northern Shakers, Teessides Original Cockail Co.
