Page 4 - Sips & Suds 2020

4VV
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020 ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • SIPS AND SUDS
COCKTAIL GLOSSARY
FOR AMATEUR MIXOLOGISTS
When entertaining, hosts are sometimes called on to make and serve mixed drinks for guests. Making drinks may seems as simple as throwing a few ingredients into a shaker and pouring the resulting mix into a fancy glass, but authentic cocktail creation requires a little more effort than that. A cursory knowledge
of common words and phrases can help you become a master mixologist in no time.
BITTERS: Made from herbs and berries, bitters can add a diverse flavor profile to cocktails and balance out sweeter drinks.
BOSTON SHAKER: This device is used to make shaken drinks and chill them thoroughly.
FLUTE: This is a tall, narrow glass used to serve champagne and sparkling wines. The shape of the flute ensures that bubbles fizz for as long as possible.
COLLINS GLASS: This is a tall glass with a heavy base, quite similar to and often interchangeable with a highball glass.
DIRTY: This is a word typically associated with martinis. Dirty refers to serving the drink with an olive and some vinegar-based brine.
DRY: Like wine, cocktails can be sweet or dry. Cocktails that are dry tend to include dry vermouth.
FROSTED GLASSES: These glasses are kept in the freezer so cocktails can be served very cold. This technique works well for martinis and drinks that include gin, vodka and/or vermouth.
HIGHBALL: A highball is a spirit served on ice with carbonated soda as a mixer.
INFUSION: Spirits that have a special flavoring or ingredient added to them are known as infusions.
MIXERS: Mixers are liquids added to hard drinks. Mixers include fruit juices, sodas and tonic water.
NEAT: In the world of cocktails, “neat” refers to a single spirit or liqueur served on its own without ice, water or any other ingredients.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative
HOW TO BUILD
A HOME BAR
Who isn’t playing home mixologist these days? Many people are heading to the liquor store to make sure they have all the essentials on hand to blend classic cocktails and creative drinks for socially distant happy hours over Zoom or to toast to birthdays and other special events with loved ones at home.
Novice mixologists and even seasoned amateur barkeeps may benefit from a rundown of all the elements necessary to create cocktails from the comforts of home.
ESTABLISH A BAR SETUP
Home bars can range from rolling carts to built-in wet bars to a single tray of items. Space in a home will dictate the kind of bar homeowners can have. Rolling bar carts are popular and versatile, and they can be kept stationary or rolled in and out of a room as
needed. If a bar cart is open, organization is key, as you don’t want it to look unkempt. A full-blown wet bar will require more construction, including plumbing and electricity if you need outlets for plugging in appliances. Wet bars are ideal in dens, renovated garages and finished basements.
STOCK UP ON EQUIPMENT
A new home bar requires barware and glassware. Various drinks are best served in requisite glassware and prepared with the right equipment. A home bar will benefit from a muddler, a jigger, a cocktail shaker, a strainer, ice cube trays and a bar spoon. Glassware can include short glasses, tall glasses and wine glasses with stems. Martini glasses provide a chic look and are practical for those who prefer cosmopolitans and martinis.
FILL IT WITH SPIRITS
No bar is complete without alcohol and mixers. Homeowners can buy the types of spirits they love and complete their bars with the basics for mixing. When stocking a bar, keep in mind that everything does not have to be top-shelf. Vodka, gin, tequila, rum and whiskey are some of the more popular spirits. Simple syrup, fresh fruit, club soda, cola and bitters are examples of versatile mixers.
Entertaining guru Martha Stewart recommends having enough supplies on hand for guests. Expect each person to have three drinks (requiring three glasses) and use a pound of ice and three cocktail napkins per two-hour party. Don’t forget to also have nonalcoholic items on hand for those who don’t imbibe.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative