'Cool Cocktails' Ben Reed		'The Cocktail Hour' Ben Reed

Essential Cocktail Equipment

The essential bartenders equipment! Please see our Barware section·

• Ice bucket
• Ice tongs
  
• Measure
  
• Shaker
  
• Juice Squeezer
  
• Bottle opener
  
• Stainless Steal Pourer
  
• Barspoon
  
• Cloths / Bar towels / Damp wiping cloth
  
• Sharp knife
  
• Mixing glass
  
• Scoop

Glasses

• The Shot Glass
  This small glass is used for high alcohol drinks that are not intended to stay in the glass for long!!
  
  
• The Cocktail Glass
  This popular cocktail glass (hence the name!) is used to serve many cocktails. It is an elegant glass with a slightly rounded bowl and thick stem to prevent your hand from warming the drink.
  
  
• The Martini Glass
  The classic and traditional cocktail glass! It is most commonly used to serve the ever-popular Martinis and Margaritas.
  
  
• The Champagne Flute
  This long-stemmed, slim and elegant glass is designed for those bubbly cocktails.
  
  
• The Lowball Glass
  This is a squat, heavy based glass. It is ideal for those cocktails with a large mixer-alcohol ratio.
  
  
• The Highball Glass
  This glass comes in various sizes but the tall, slim characteristics makes it ideal for keeping a long drink fresh and cold.

The Ingredients
There are hundreds of drinks that can be mixed to make exciting and delicious cocktails. Although possible to order almost any cocktail from a bar where they have a wide selection of spirits and mixers available, it is unlikely that you will have all of these at home. Therefore we have identified some of the basics that will be a good starting point

Spirits

• Gin
  
• Vodka
  
• Whisky
  
• Rum
  
• Tequila
  
• Cachaca
  
• Brandy
  
• Champagne

Mixers

• Cola
  
• Soda Water
  
• Tonic Water
  
• Tomato Juice
  
• Variety of fruit juices
  
• Grenadine
  
• Lime Cordial
  
• Cream

Garnishes/Extras

• Olives
  
• Berries - Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Cranberries
  
• Lemons / Limes / Oranges / Pineapple / Cherries
  
• Caster Sugar
  
• Tabasco Sauce / Worcestershire Sauce
  
• Ice - Crushed and cubed
  
• Mint
  
• Sprinkles of Cocoa / Nutmeg / Cinnamon / Chocolate Shavings
  
• Cocktail Umbrellas
  
• Slices of Cucumber / Watermelon / Pineapple
  
• Squirty Cream
  
• Salt
  
• Sugar Syrup

Techniques

To create a delicious cocktail there are several techniques that must be mastered. Ben Reed explains these in his definitive cocktail guide, The Cocktail Hour (available both on www.cookingshop.com and www.homebookshop.com)

Firstly it is important to check that you have measured all ingredients exactly to ensure the correct balance of flavour is achieved…….this can be done through guess work but it takes much practice!!!!!

Ben Reed identifies the 6 main techniques as:

Building - This method involves adding each ingredient to the selected glass with ice, one-by-one. A quick stir is then given just before serving.

Blending - Simply put all of the ingredients into a blender with some crushed ice and switch it on!

Shaker - The most fun and entertaining technique for both yourself and your guests. Place all of the ingredients into the shaker and top up with ice. Use a sharp shaking action, ensuring the cap is held firmly on. Usually 10 seconds will ensure that the cocktail is shaken to perfection, however if using a recipe involving egg white, cream and juices then a little longer is suggested.

Stirring - If you want to retain both the clarity and strength of the spirits then this is the ideal technique to use. Stir carefully in an ice-filled mixing glass, and try to avoid chipping the ice and diluting the drink. The serving glasses should be left in the freezer for an hour before use.

Layering - Rest the flat end of the bar-spoon on the surface of the base spirit and pour each of the remaining spirits in turn down the handle of the spoon. This separates the ingredients to allow them to be tasted individually.

Muddling - Using the flat end of the bar-spoon or muddler, mix or crush the fruit and herb ingredients to allow gentle release of the flavours.

Recipes

Shooter

Bubblegum - Also can be made as a cocktail. Put equal quantity of each part into a shaker and shake.

Glass: Shot glass
Technique: Shaker
Equipment: Shaker, Stainless Steel Pourer, Measure
Ingredients:1 part peach schnapps, 1 part vodka, 1 part banana liqueur, 1 part orange juice

Non-Alcoholic

Cranberry Cooler: Shake the cranberry and lime juice together and pour in a highball glass filled with ice. Fill with Soda Water and garnish with a slice of lime.

Glass: Highball
Technique: Shaker
Equipment: Shaker, Stainless Steel Pourer, Measure
Ingredients: 2oz Cranberry Juice, ½ tablespoon lime juice, Soda water

Champagne Cocktail

Raspberry Sorbet Fizz: The ideal party drink! Place a scoop of sorbet in the bottom of a champagne flute, top with champagne and decorate with raspberries. This recipe can be adapted according to whichever flavour sorbet you prefer, whether it be raspberry, peach, apricot or mango. Simply match the fruit garnish to the sorbet.

Glass: Champagne Flute
Technique: Building
Equipment: Scoop, Stainless Steel pourer
Ingredients: Pink Champagne, 1 Scoop Raspberry Sorbet, Raspberries to decorate

For Sorbet recipes please see Gelati, Sorbets and Ice-Creams. by Elsa Petersen-Schepelern

Cocktail of the week

B52 - An all time favourite. This is a very simple, deliciously creamy and comforting recipe, ideal for those fast approaching Autumnal evenings for a warming feeling! Simply shake all the ingredients together and serve.

Glass: Lowball
Technique: Shaker
Equipment: Shaker, Stainless Steel Pourer, Measure.
Ingredients: 1 part grand marnier, 1 part irish cream, 1 part kahula, 5 ice cubes

Further recipes / information

For further cocktail recipes please view the following publications in our Books department, also available at www.homebookshop.com:

• The Cocktail Hour
  
• Cool Cocktails
  
• Cool Cocktails Home Bar Cards
  
• Cool Smoothies, Juices and Cocktails
  
• Cool Smoothies Home Bar Cards
  
• Bubbly
  
• Smoothies & Shakes
  
• Juices & Tonics
  

	'Bubbly' Jonathon Ray		'Juices and Tonics' Elsa Petersen-Schepelern		'The Cocktail Hour' Ben Reed
	'Cool Cocktails' Ben Reed (Also available as home bar-cards)		'Cool Smoothies' Elsa Petersen-Schepelern (Also available as home bar-cards)		'Smoothies and Shakes' Elsa Petersen-Schepelern