Easy Cocktail Inspo From One Of Our Favourite Local Mixologists
The Whisky for when you sorta deserve one.
Is your usual after-work wine or Saturday arvo beer starting to feel a bit tired? It might be time to shake (or stir) things up with a cocktail or two.
If your only experience with cocktails is watching bartenders flip, decorate, and light drinks on fire, you might already be feeling a little overwhelmed. But making cocktails actually isn’t as hard as it seems. And, once you’ve got the basics down, it lifts your at-home drinks sessions to a whole new level. Mixing yourself a fancy as hell drink “just because” is the kind of small win we’re chasing in 2020.
To help kick-start your journey into the wonderful world of cocktails, we chatted to Sam Benetatos, a mixologist at Sydney’s NOLA Smokehouse and Bar. Sam started out like the rest of us – churning through vodka Red Bulls at nightclubs – but he’s now serving up New Orleans classics and fancy whisky favourites at one of Sydney’s best venues.
So, what should you actually mix with the spirits you’ve got stashed in that dark corner of the kitchen? How do you make your drinks look better, and what are some good cocktail recipes to try first? With Sam’s best tips and tricks, you’ll be whipping up his fave cocktails in no time.
Start With The Basics
Even if your mixing skills aren’t great (yet), you can get away with it if you have a quality base like Monkey Shoulder.
“Your cocktail is built on the foundations of the spirits you use, so always make sure you use high-quality spirits in your drinks,” Sam says.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune, though. Monkey Shoulder is an affordable whisky that’s made with mixing in mind. It’s the whisky for when you’ve sorta earned one, and it’s the key ingredient in one of Sam’s favourite easy cocktails.
“I love a whisky sour with Monkey Shoulder,” he says. “I think the blend lends itself really well to citrus notes.”
Image courtesy of Monkey Shoulder
Then Add Mixers
Once you have good spirits, you need things to mix with them. Whether you prefer soft drink, soda water, juice, or whatever else, Sam’s advice is the same: “There are so many flavour combinations for every spirit, but simplicity is key. Tequila? Use lime or citrus. Rum? Tropical fruits. Whisky? Mix it with bitters.”
And remember: always use fresh fruit juice and garnishes if you can. “Don’t use bottled juice. Squeezing fresh juice instantly makes a drink 100 times more delicious.”
Image: Mae Mu / Unsplash
Always Follow The Golden Ratio
No matter what mixers you use, you can almost always make them taste good by following the “golden ratio”. It’s the foundation for lots of classic cocktails: two parts alcohol, one part sweet, and one part sour.
“If you follow this, your drink will virtually always balance.”
You can have a lot of fun with your mixers, so don’t be afraid to experiment with new flavour combinations – just stick to the golden ratio.
Image: Dstudio Bcn / Unsplash
Invest In The Right Tools
“If you just want to make a few tasty cocktails on a Saturday night before dinner, you don’t need to go out and spend a fortune on antique shakers,” Sam says.
Do you have a mason jar, protein shaker, or blender? Congratulations, you have a cocktail shaker!
“One piece of equipment that I think is essential is a citrus juicer,” Sam says. Because, as we all know now, fresh juice equals a better drink.
Image: Daniel Curran / Unsplash
It’s All In The Aesthetic
Look, let’s just admit that a good cocktail is 50 percent skills and 50 percent visuals.
“I think it all comes down to your garnish,” Sam says. “Something as simple as learning how to make a proper lemon twist for your martini will not only make it look legit, but it will also elevate the drink as a whole.”
When you’re thinking of garnishes, go back to Sam’s second rule: choose a flavour you like, and make sure it’s fresh.
Image: Adam Jaime / Unsplash
Just Don’t Do This…
Sam says the number one mistake he sees people make when they mix cocktails at home is using sour mix or pre-made cocktail mix.
“Fresh margaritas with good tequila and fresh lime juice are one of the greatest things ever. Don’t mess with something so simple and delicious with gross artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives.”
Pre-mixes might seem easier than preparing your own ingredients, but they don’t actually save you much time and they give your cocktail a distinct “this came from something cheap” taste.
Image: Jessica Lewis / Unsplash
Have Fun With It
The best thing you can do if you’re interested in making your own cocktails at home is to do your research, ask questions, and experiment.
“Cocktails are about having fun – make sure you don’t forget that part!”
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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You just read a whole article, you earned yourself a Monkey Shoulder.
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(Lead image courtesy of Monkey Shoulder)