Cocktail Techniques

Using a blender to create frozen cocktails with smooth, slushy consistency.

~30s

Assembling a cocktail directly in the serving glass without separate mixing. Used for highballs and simple drinks.

~30s

Squeezing citrus peel over a drink to release aromatic oils onto the surface.

~5s

Pressing herbs, fruit, or sugar in a glass to release essential oils and juices without over-crushing.

~10s

Coating the inside of a glass with a small amount of spirit, then discarding the excess.

~10s

Vigorously mixing ingredients with ice in a sealed shaker to chill, dilute, and aerate. The most common cocktail technique.

~12s

Gently mixing spirit-forward cocktails with a bar spoon to chill and dilute without introducing air bubbles.

~30s

Separating liquid from ice and solids using a Hawthorne or julep strainer after shaking or stirring.

~5s

Pre-mixing large quantities of a cocktail for efficient service at parties and events.

~600s

Adding CO2 to cocktails using a soda siphon, iSi whip, or forced carbonation system.

~300s

Using both a Hawthorne strainer and fine mesh sieve for crystal-clear pours free of ice shards and pulp.

~5s

Shaking without ice first to emulsify egg whites or aquafaba, then adding ice for the final shake.

~15s

Brief 3-5 second pulse blending with crushed ice for Tiki-style drinks without over-dilution.

~5s

Gently pouring a spirit on top of a finished drink so it sits on the surface.

~10s

Steeping ingredients in spirits over hours or days to extract flavors.

~86400s

Gently pouring a cocktail back and forth between two vessels for light mixing without aeration.

~10s

Adding aromatic wood smoke to cocktails using a smoke gun, torch, or wood chips under a glass cloche.

~30s

Using citric acid and citrus peels to extract 6-8x more juice than traditional juicing methods.

~7200s

Spinning a swizzle stick between palms inside the glass to mix and frost. Caribbean cocktail tradition.

~15s

Removing particles from a cocktail using milk proteins, agar, or gelatin for crystal transparency.

~86400s

Infusing spirits with liquid fat (butter, bacon, coconut oil), then freezing to remove the fat while keeping flavor.

~172800s

Igniting spirits or citrus oils for dramatic effect and caramelized flavor notes.

~10s

Carefully pouring ingredients over a bar spoon to create distinct density layers in a glass.

~60s

Using precise temperature-controlled water baths for rapid, consistent flavor infusions.

~7200s

Pouring liquid in a high arc between two vessels, a Spanish bartending tradition that aerates gently.

~15s