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.