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5. Garnishes & Mixers

Garnishes

  • Fruit/Vegetables: Bartenders often use fruit to add a touch of flavor, either as a complement to the drink or to contrast a flavor in the drink.
    • Lemon: Lemons are used to add a bitter or sour note to a drink, and are often used in iced tea-based drinks.
    • Orange: Oranges add a refreshing and sweet citrus note to a drink. They are usually added to drinks like Tom Collins or drinks containing orange juice or orange liqueur. They are even sometimes paired with hefeweizens and wheat beers.
    • Cherry: Cherries are famously used for old-school whiskey drinks like Manhattans, but are also used to add a fruity note to dessert drinks (usually atop whipped cream).
    • Olive: There are various types of olives available, but they are most often used to add a subtle flavor to martinis.
    • Lime: Limes are used very much like lemons, except that they are used primarily for drinks that use tonic or club soda, as well as margaritas.
    • Apple: Apple slices are often used as a garnish for apple flavored drinks, especially apple martinis.
    • Pineapple: Used to garnish fruity, tropical drinks by accentuating the flavors as well as adding to the aesthetic of the drink.
    • Celery: Classically used to garnish a Bloody Mary, although bartenders like to use the Bloody Mary as a platform for unique garnishes, like pickles, lobster tails, sliders, bacon, etc.
  • Spices/Herbs:
    • Salt: Salt is most classically used to garnish margaritas (you will probably want to ask your customers to specify “with salt” of “without salt”).
    • Pepper: Often used for a Bloody Mary, but different variations are used for martinis and even margaritas, as well as mixed drinks (peppercorn, pink peppercorn, etc.).
    • Mint leaves: Mint leaves are usually muddled into drinks like mojitos and mint juleps.
  • Sugars/Sweets:
    • Sugar: Used to garnish dessert-themed martinis (candy and cookies are also sometimes used).
    • Chocolate: Chocolate is used either in pieces or as shavings to garnish sweet drinks.
    • Whipped cream: Added to top off coffee- or dessert-themed drinks.
  • Inedible garnishes: Inedible garnishes are used to add color, flair, or a theme to drinks. Some popular inedible garnishes include plastic swords, sparklers, and fancy straws.
 Mixers
  • Sodas: Sodas make a great mixer because they add texture to a drink.
    • Types: Cola, lemon-lime, tonic water, club soda, ginger ale.
    • Popular drinks: Rum & Cola, Gin & Tonic, Tom Collins, Whiskey & Ginger Ale.
  • Juice: Juices are great because they add fruitiness to a drink. Juices can be used in a full measure or as a splash.
    • Types: Orange, cranberry, pineapple, grapefruit.
    • Popular drinks: Vodka & Cranberry, Sea breeze, Cosmopolitan, Screwdriver.
  • Bitters: An alcoholic mixer that adds bitterness to a drink.
    • Types: Orange, chocolate, cinnamon, pepper.
    • Popular drinks: Old Fashioned, Long Island Iced Tea, Gin Swizzle.
  • Dairy: Dairy items add a creamy or milky flavor and texture to drinks. These are very popular with dessert-themed drinks but are also used in others.
    • Types: Milk, cream, eggs.
    • Popular drinks: White Russian, Eggnog, Chocolate Martinis.
  • Syrups: Syrups add a concentrated artificial flavor to a drink.
    • Types: Simple syrup, grenadine.
    • Popular drinks: Mojito, Whisky Sour, Mint Julep.
  • Mixes: Mixes add concentrated flavors to a drink
    • Types: Sweet and Sour mix, Bloody Mary mix (although most bartenders choose to prepare their own mixes fresh).
    • Popular drinks: Margarita, Bloody Mary.