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Have you ever wondered why cocktail garnishes are used? It’s simple really, they’re there to help make the cocktail look more appealing and taste better. Whether it is a lime or an olive, cocktail garnishes are designed to enhance your cocktail experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular cocktail garnishes and their origins.
What are cocktail garnishes?
The cocktail garnish, often a bright fruit or a salty olive or a festive umbrella, but sometimes something more exquisite, has a notable role in the history of mixed beverages.
A garnish is an attractive element that adds appeal to a drink. The garnish, in fact, imbues the drink with a little juice or citrus oil when used on fruit wedges, slices, or twists.
A Martini, for example, or a Gibson with an onion or olive adds a hint of savory taste to the mix. And of course, there are the crimson (or green) cherries that come along with beverages like the Manhattan. These give the drink some sweetness and brightness.
Garnishes include grates of nutmeg or cinnamon, sprigs of mint or other herbs, and the smorgasbord of salty or pickled items (often used in a Bloody Mary.)
Not all garnishes are food items, of course. Umbrellas, toy animals, elegant straws, and plastic swords are just a few examples of inedibles that act as garnishes. It’s also possible that the name of this garnish comes from a similar phrase in French, as well: “q était délicieux” translates roughly to “a wonderful thing to have on hand.”
In addition, one origin story for the term cocktail is associated with such a decoration: Cock’s tails were used to garnish mixed drinks during the Revolutionary War, according to legend. (Incidentally, while this tale is colorful, it’s almost certainly apocryphal.)
How To Use Cocktail Garnishes
Garnishes for drinks may be used on a wide variety of beverages, from adding stylish appeal to a martini to providing a more professional finish to fruit-based beverages like a pina colada. Garnishes, while not an essential component of the dish, give each drink a distinct flair and add aesthetic appeal. They not only improve the look of your beverages, but they may also enhance their taste.
Cocktail garnishes, such as olives or cherries, may be put into a drink on a cocktail stick, which is inserted into the drink.
Do you really need cocktail garnishes?
Garnishes, such as olives and cherries, are a necessary component of cocktail-making or a detraction from the quality of the liquid?
Cocktail garnishes have evolved over time, becoming more extravagant and theatrical, showcasing a bartender’s creative talent and adding a bit of theater to the cocktail-making process.
However, some bartenders choose to focus on the drink’s balance and quality rather than its appearance, using simple or even pre-bottled servings. Some go so far as to claim that overly garnished drinks detract from the drink’s quality.
Customers appreciate garnishes, according to some, because they give them something they could not make at home and add excitement and creativity to their bar experience.
Top types of cocktail garnish
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs, such as mint, rosemary, and thyme, provide both taste and visual appeal to a drink. Before adding your fresh-herb garnish to the cocktail, smack it with your hand to release essential oils and add more scent.
Cut-Out Fruit Shapes
Use a small cookie cutter to cut crisp fruits, such as apples, pears, or pineapples, into various forms. Skewer the fruit form on a cocktail pick or use a sharp knife to cut a thin slice and hang it over the glass edge.
Pro Tip: Starfruit is naturally a fun-shaped fruit garnish.
Cinnamon Sticks
Don’t forget to garnish your winter beverages, too! The addition of a cinnamon stick to mulled wine, spiked apple cider, and glogg will give the drink a finished appearance.
Super-Thin Citrus Slices
Make extremely thin citrus slices using a sharp paring knife or mandoline. Carefully slide the citrus pieces into place around the inside of your cocktail glass with the handle of a spoon. This garnish is best used with drinks served on the rocks, since the ice will assist keep the slices in place.
Chocolate Shavings
Chocolate shavings give desserts such as a chocolate martini or brandy alexander more oomph. To produce curls, simply scrape a vegetable peeler lengthwise down the blade of a room-temperature block or bar of chocolate. Fine chocolate shavings may also be dusted over any drink using a Microplane grater.
Salt Rim
It’s a typical garnish for a margarita, but it’s easy to add glitter to just about any drink. Start by moistening the top edge of the glass with the juice from a lime or lemon wedge. In a shallow bowl, combine salt and the glass until coated on both sides.
Citrus Wheels
A citrus wheel is a simple but classic garnish. To create a wheel, use a sharp paring knife to cut the fruit into 1/4″ to 1/8″ slices. Remove any seeds from the slice and make a slit through the peel all the way to the edge of your glass.
Whipped Cream
To complete your beverage, top each with whipped cream for a decadent dessert. This rich garnish looks best with iced tea or hot beverages like Irish coffee and spiked cocoa.
Fruit Wedge
A fruit wedge is a simple way to add color and flair to your drink. Cut lemons, oranges, or pineapple into 1/4″ or 1/2″ wedges. Then make a slit up to the peel/rind and place the wedge on the rim of the glass. It gives pina coladas a wonderful tropical feel!
Should you learn more about garnishes?
Garnishes are a necessary component of cocktail-making or a detraction from the quality of the liquid? For most experts, no. These add a visual element to the drink and often extra flavors. So learn a few basic garnishes yourself and see what you think!
[…] Why Use Cocktail Garnishes? […]