• How to Balance a Cocktail

  • Nov 5 2024
  • Length: 32 mins
  • Podcast

How to Balance a Cocktail

  • Summary

  • Your training is almost complete. Today we’re cocktail tasting, cocktail balancing and cocktail perfecting. In this finale of our "Getting Started" series, we’re breaking down the steps to deconstructing a cocktail, balancing it and then improving it. et us introduce you to a sweet little friend of ours—the Cocktail of the Week. Who will also be our model this week. So get in here!

    Too Long, Didn't Listen

    (00:00) How to Balance a Cocktail

    (01:54) Cocktail of the Week: The Plain & Simple (Daiquiri)

    (03:59) Why fresh lime juice matters

    (05:21) A brief sojourn into rum

    (08:31) How to taste cocktails like an expert (no, you're doing it wrong)

    (15:32) The secret to balancing cocktails (hint: it involves homework)

    (24:02) Simple tips to improve your cocktail

    (30:00) Closing

    Recipes The Plain & Simple (Daiquiri)
    • 2 parts white rum
    • 1 part fresh lime juice
    • 1 part simple syrup (1:1 white cane sugar to water)
    • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until fully chilled. Double strain into a chilled, stemmed cocktail glass. Serve without garnish.

    Ben's Preferred Plain & Simple
    • 2 parts Plantation Three Stars rum
    • 3/4 part fresh lime juice
    • 3/4 part simple syrup (1:1)
    • 1 lime wheel for garnish
    • Combine rum, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake until fully chilled. Double strain into a chilled, stemmed cocktail glass. Float lime wheel on top of cocktail.

    Sour Plain & Simple
    • 2 parts white rum
    • 1 part fresh lime juice
    • 3/4 part simple syrup
    • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until fully chilled. Double strain into a chilled, stemmed cocktail glass.

    Sweet Plain & Simple
    • 2 parts white rum
    • 3/4 part fresh lime juice
    • 1 part simple syrup
    • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until fully chilled. Double strain into a chilled, stemmed cocktail glass.

    Spirit Forward Plain & Simple
    • 2 parts white rum
    • 3/4 part fresh lime juice
    • 3/4 part simple syrup
    • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until fully chilled. Double strain into a chilled, stemmed cocktail glass.

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    Books & Equipment Links

    The links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.

    Books

    We own and recommend these books:

    The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

    Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

    Imbibe! by David Wondrich

    Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

    Equipment

    Products we own, like and use:

    • Measuring tools
    • OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
    • OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
    • OXO SteeL Double Jigger
    • Shakers
    • This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
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