One of the best reasons to visit a bar for cocktail hour is that you get to work with a professional bartender who can whip up almost any drink you can name. You can get a sidecar, a Manhattan or a simple gin and tonic in seconds. When you move the cocktail hour to your own home, you can save money and let your inner Don Draper come out to play. As long as you have a few bottles of alcohol on hand some other delicious additions, you can enhance your cocktail hour and please your guests.
Fresh Fruit Juice
You don't need to spend a lot of money on things to enhance your cocktail, but you do want to make sure that you have some fresh fruit juice waiting in your refrigerator. When you taste something that comes across as a little bland, this may occur because the dish needs some acidity. You can get that acidity from a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Roll the citrus fruit between your hands for 15 to 30 seconds to loosen the juice inside, or place it in the microwave for no more than 10 seconds before cutting open and squeezing.
Rim the Glass
Bartenders roll the rim of margaritas and daiquiris in sugar or salt, which enhances the sweet flavor of the drink and adds a fun touch to the cocktail. You can do the same thing at home. Pour a little water or citrus juice in a bowl, dip the rim of the glass in the liquid and then dip in the salt or sugar. You can have fun experimenting with different flavor combinations too. Try rimming the glass with cocoa powder or some crushed cookies or candy for a sweet treat.
Use Mixers
Create the perfect cocktails for all your guests with healthy alcohol mixers. A can of your favorite mixer with an ounce or more of gin or your favorite alcohol creates a winning combination. Many of these healthy mixers do not contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives, and some even lack caffeine. Find delicious flavors like citrus, cranberry pomegranate or even soda flavored mixers that contain fewer calories than the real soda. Using mixers, rimming glasses with your favorite toppings and keeping fresh fruit juices on hand helps you create a cocktail hour that you and your guests will enjoy.
Fresh Fruit Juice
You don't need to spend a lot of money on things to enhance your cocktail, but you do want to make sure that you have some fresh fruit juice waiting in your refrigerator. When you taste something that comes across as a little bland, this may occur because the dish needs some acidity. You can get that acidity from a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Roll the citrus fruit between your hands for 15 to 30 seconds to loosen the juice inside, or place it in the microwave for no more than 10 seconds before cutting open and squeezing.
Rim the Glass
Bartenders roll the rim of margaritas and daiquiris in sugar or salt, which enhances the sweet flavor of the drink and adds a fun touch to the cocktail. You can do the same thing at home. Pour a little water or citrus juice in a bowl, dip the rim of the glass in the liquid and then dip in the salt or sugar. You can have fun experimenting with different flavor combinations too. Try rimming the glass with cocoa powder or some crushed cookies or candy for a sweet treat.
Use Mixers
Create the perfect cocktails for all your guests with healthy alcohol mixers. A can of your favorite mixer with an ounce or more of gin or your favorite alcohol creates a winning combination. Many of these healthy mixers do not contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives, and some even lack caffeine. Find delicious flavors like citrus, cranberry pomegranate or even soda flavored mixers that contain fewer calories than the real soda. Using mixers, rimming glasses with your favorite toppings and keeping fresh fruit juices on hand helps you create a cocktail hour that you and your guests will enjoy.
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