Simple, elaborate, edible or not, cocktail garnishes add character and aesthetic to your drink. These decorative embellishments are as integral to the drinking experience as much as the cocktail itself. From dehydrated fruit, bitters, citrus rinds and even cotton candy, garnishes can be a fussy affair but also help you impress your onlookers at the same time. While it might be understandable that recreating these embellishments for your drinks at home may not always be possible; you might even settle for a tiny cocktail umbrella and though that is absolutely wonderful, there are a few of these visually appealing and delicious things that you can pop into your drink without breaking into a sweat.
Olive Toothpicks
Image Credits: Sipsmith Gin
Olives skewered with tiny toothpicks and dunked into a martini glass is the ultimate sign of living the good life within the comforts of your home. As the name suggests, this garnish is literally an olive or three stuck to a toothpick, one behind the other. Make a bunch of these before a party to keep the martinis and Bloody Mary flowing.
Citrus Twists
Image Credits: Steve The Bartender
These tiny pieces of fruit peel from lemons or oranges are a great visual as well as flavour addition to your cosmopolitan or margarita. Simply use a citrus peeler and work your way around said fruit by turning it around in a circle. Twist it tightly and place it on the edge of your glass, et voila!
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Dehydrated Fruit
Image Credits: Pinterest
This process of allowing the moisture to evaporate from fruits like pineapples, oranges, mangoes and berries, intensifies the flavour of these fruits, thereby making for a fun edible garnish to have in a pina colada, berry daiquiri and more. Cut or segment the fruit into half an inch thin slices and place in a single layer on a baking tray and place in a low oven of about 40-60 degrees Celsius for four to six hours.
Cucumber/Celery Planks
Image Credits: Verywell Fit
Summer is here and everybody is in the mood for a cold, spicy Michelada or G&T’s. While there’s enough going on with these cocktails with context to flavour, adding a thin wedge of celery or thinly shaved slices of cucumber in your drink is the perfect way to break in between and cleanse your palette with a bite of either vegetable.
Glass Rims
Image Credits: Craft Gin Club
Move away from the predictable salt and sugar rims we often spot on cocktails and experiment with rims like chocolate syrup and a dusting of cocoa powder for your espresso martinis; go a bit fancy with frosting and popcorn or roasted nuts studded to one side of your glass. For savoury cocktails, dip the rim of your glass in a bit of vodka or lime juice and sprinkle some poppy and sesame seeds over it. Cheers!