How to perfect your cocktails

We speak to a cocktail guru to get his expert opinion on what you need to know to create the very best serves

Pritesh Mody is a Cocktail Developer and Founder of bottled cocktail company World of Zing. He’s a regular on TV show Sunday Brunch, mixing up the latest drinks.

Which glasses do you need for cocktails?

COUPE: martinis are at home in a coupe, as is a Daiquiri.

TUMBLER: the glass for a Margarita, Negroni and Old Fashioned.

HIGHBALL: use for simple spirit/mixer drinks, Mojitos and Tom Collins.

WINE: a nice wine glass is fantastic for the super popular spritzes.

The essential cocktail ingredients

Sugar syrup

Bring two parts sugar and one part water to a gentle simmer and stir until the sugar’s dissolved. Leave to cool, pour into a bottle and refrigerate for up to three months. Add a flavoured teabag while cooling to create a flavoured syrup!

Ice

We often get this wrong in the UK. You need to use large cubes so the drink will dilute less. And the glass or shaker has to be packed. If there’s ice floating when you pour the liquid in, there’s not enough! It keeps the drink cooler for longer and maintains flavour.

Egg whites

They create a frothy texture in drinks such as sours. I don’t use them now as there are more sustainable options that appeal to a wider audience. Aquafaba, made from chickpea water, is great. You can buy it in cartons – I use Oggs.

Mixers

A quality tonic is one of my favourites. Beyond the obvious, it pairs well with tequila and bourbon. Soda is something bars sometimes miss. It has brilliant effervescence and offers a different experience in drinks such as Mojitos.

The right technique for shaking cocktails

I see a lot of people in on-trade who don’t shake a cocktail properly. It’s not about strength, it’s all in the movement. Put the shaker by your ear/side of your head, holding the top and bottom. Shake back and forward. You want to hear and feel ALL the ice moving back and forward, not just a bit. If your technique is poor, the drink won’t be properly aerated or chilled.

Barman shaking a cocktail with a drink in the foreground

How to make cocktails look good

Cocktails (and mocktails) tend to have a higher price point so they need to look good. Here’s how you can impress customers:

1 Use lots of ice for a strong visual impact.

2 Think about garnishes. Fresh fruit can be expensive so look at alternatives. Edible rice-paper toppers and penny sweets are fun, as are dustings like cocoa on Espresso Martinis or berry powder on fruity drinks. Consider a flavour essence spray – spritz it over the finished cocktail for an enticing aroma!

3 For mocktails, presentation is important to justify the higher cost. A simple mocktail can feel premium in a wine glass filled with ice and topped with fruit.

4 Make sure your glassware is sparkly clean.