Happy World Cocktail Day! Did you know? World Cocktail Day commemorates the first time the word “cocktail” appeared in a publication. That was in 1806, in a New York newspaper. The paper defined a cocktail as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters”. Cocktails, as we know them, have come a long way since then!
To celebrate the birth of cocktails, we’re giving you our top recommendations for creating the perfect at-home cocktail. In addition to this, we have teamed up with Food Stylist, Author of Craft Cocktails and cocktail guru, Monika Coughlan, to bring you one of her signature summer cocktails. Create this Raspberry & Thyme Gin Spritz to impress guests at your next alfresco evening.
Creating Your Best At-Home Cocktail this World Cocktail Day
A good cocktail is hard to beat. The pubs have been closed for the better part of a year now, and as a result of this many people have taken to shaking and stirring cocktails at home. If you’re starting your foray into the cocktail world, you may be unsure of what you need to to produce a professional tasting cocktails.
There are several essentials that every cocktail expert will have in their arsenal. Firstly, you need a good Cocktail Shaker. Not only is this is a fantastic home bar accessory to own but it’s also the key to unlocking a world of good cocktails too – a lot of well known favourites require a cocktail shaker.
The Glass Boston Cocktail Shaker is a beginners must-have. This cocktail shaker features handy markings on the outside of the glass, giving you the exact measurements needed before you shake, shake, shake. While some people are prone to guessing their quantities, using exact measurements will give you the best results. Some classic cocktails you know and love such as Margaritas and Daiquiris need to be shaken before you serve them.
So we have shaking covered, but what about stirring? Typically, you stir cocktails that only include distilled spirits or very light mixers. Stirring is a gentler technique for mixing cocktails, though it’s often done for at least 30 seconds, which is longer than the typical shake. It is recommended to stir gin and whiskey cocktails because it is thought that shaking can ‘bruise’ the spirit.
Therefore if you prefer the taste of these cocktails, you’ll need a good mixer. Take a look at our Cocktail Mixing Set which is ideal for everyone, from budding bartenders to experienced mixologists as well as cocktail connoisseurs. This set comes complete with a cocktail recipe book featuring four cocktail favourites.
Complete Cocktail Sets
If you prefer a set that includes everything you need to create your best at-home cocktails, we absolutely recommend our Gold 6 Piece Cocktails Set enough! This extremely stylish set not only comes with a super stylish gold cocktail shaker, it also includes a dual spirit measuring jug, wooden muddler, bar knife, mixing spoon, cocktail strainer. You’ll be ready to start making cocktails right out of the box.
Alternatively, for all the gin lovers, our Gin Cocktail Gift Set is sleek in design and includes all of the necessary cocktail making accessories, as well as a set of two gin glasses. It comes beautifully presented in a box and for this reason, is an ideal gift.
As well as your shakers, stirrers and muddlers our Cocktail Compass will be a great addition to your at-home cocktail evenings. Spin the wheel and make whichever of the twelve delicious cocktails you land on. The wheel features cocktails like Cosmopolitans and Long Island Ice Teas as well as Margaritas and Mojitos.
Gorgeous Glassware
After taking the time to mix the perfect cocktail, you’ll want to present them accordingly. Glasses are a big feature and one of the most fun aspects of a cocktail. Owning the right glassware which compliments your home bar is even more important than owning the cocktail sets to make them. Serving cocktails in your everyday glassware won’t do it justice, and it also won’t impress your guests.
However, with so many glasses to choose from – martini, D.O.F’s, highballs, and lowballs just to name a few, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choice. It’s also important to understand the types of cocktail glassware available and which drinks each one is designed to serve.
Our Bach Hi-Ball Glasses can hold up to 16 ounces. Due to its larger size, this makes it a great choice for those shaken cocktails that need a lot of ice and garnish. Top these drinks off with some fun Tropical Cocktail Stirrers or even a sustainable Stainless Steel Straw.
Our super stylish Bach D.O.F Glasses (D.O.F stands for Double Old Fashioned) is perfect for serving sours. The D.O.F can hold an ice cube or two, but you don’t fill this glass up with ice. For this reason, our Mega Ice Spheres are the perfect accessory for D.O.F glasses.
Last but not lease is a classic everyone is familiar with, the Martini Glass. This stunning glass features a V-shaped bowl that is perched atop a long stem. Drinks that come in this glass are served straight up; shaken or stirred with ice and then strained and served in the stemmed glass without ice. Martinis and also Cosmopolitans are examples you may be familiar with.
Try out Monika’s Raspberry & Thyme Gin Spritz for World Cocktail Day
She also kindly shared her Top 5 summer cocktail tips with us.
Ingredients
- 50ml Trade Secrets Gin
- 30ml Raspberry & Thyme syrup by Dacha Drinks
- 25ml Poachers soda water
- 75ml Prosecco from O’Brien’s
- Ice
- Garnish: Keelings fresh raspberries and fresh thyme from Super Valu
Method
- Put the gin and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled glass with crushed ice.
- Add the Prosecco and top with soda water. Stir well.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries and a sprig of thyme.
Monika’s Top 5 Cocktail Tips
- Use summer produce grown locally and make the most of beautiful seasonal ingredients. Summer fruit like berries are great for making your syrups or garnishes.
- Think outside the box when it comes to glassware. Use different shapes and sizes, vintage pieces or go mad and serve a cocktail in a glass jar!
- Get adventurous with the garnishes. Use colourful fresh fruit, herbs, botanicals and edible flowers for the wow factor.
- Chill your glassware and use plenty of ice. For serving, large ice cubes are great in cocktails like Sour whereas crushed ice is perfect for Mojito and Spritz.
- Invest in a good cocktail set. A quality shaker, jigger and strainer is essential and will last forever.
If you enjoyed making Monika’s Raspberry & Thyme Gin Spritz, her book, Craft Cocktails is available to purchase on our website.
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