Did you know that you can create beautiful and delicious cocktails right from the comfort of your own home? The flavor opportunities are endless when it comes to cocktails, and you can experiment with different alcohols and mix-ins to make the perfect drink. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or relaxing by the pool, complete the day with a DIY cocktail. Here, Pascale’s Wine & Liquors discusses mixing techniques, cocktail ingredients, tips, and recipes.

How to Mix Cocktails like a Pro

If you’ve ever been to a bar or a restaurant when the bartender is preparing cocktails, you may have noticed them shaking, blending, or muddling the drink. When making cocktails at home, you can use these same mixing methods, too. The best mixing strategy depends on the specific cocktail. For example, cocktails made with heavily flavored drinks, like juice or soda, are gently mixed, and drinks with puree or juice concentrate are muddled. A few different cocktail mixing techniques to try out at home include:

Shaken Cocktails

Shaking is the most common way to mix cocktails. You can buy a separate shaker, but mason jars, water bottles with lids, and similar containers will do the trick, too. Simply pour all of the ingredients in, add some ice, secure the lid, shake horizontally for about 10 seconds, and strain into a chilled glass. You can even add some fresh ice if you’d like.

Stirred Drinks

When you are making a mixed drink using distilled spirits or a spirit-forward drink like a martini or Manhattan, stirring is the way to go. This allows for a gentler form of mixing and is easy to accomplish. Simply add the liquor and other contents to a chilled glass with some ice and stir a few times until combined.

Blended Cocktails

If you’re looking for a refreshing cocktail to enjoy on a warm day, a frozen margarita or daiquiri is a perfect choice. These cocktails are delicious with fresh or frozen fruit. All you have to do to create the perfect frozen cocktail is add your ingredients to the blender with double the ice (so, if you have one cup of mix, add two cups of ice), and blend until the drink has a slushy consistency.

No matter what type of cocktail you are making, you can experiment with different mixing techniques. Each cocktail recipe will require unique ingredients, but the elements of common cocktails include alcohol (such as vodka, rum, tequila, or vermouth), mix-ins (like orange juice, pineapple juice, ginger beer, tonic water, or simple syrup), and fun garnishes (such as maraschino cherries, lemon and orange slices, or fresh mint).

Fun and Easy Cocktails to Try at Home

There are many neat cocktail recipes out there, but when first tackling DIY cocktails at home, you can never go wrong with the classics. Some easy classic cocktail recipes to get you started are:

• Negroni: To prepare this Italian cocktail, simply mix equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, then garnish with an orange peel. We recommend making your negroni with Nick’s Pick, Grays Peak Gin.
• Mojito: This refreshing drink is made with white rum, which is a distilled liquor made from sugarcane or molasses. It hasn’t aged as long as a more typical dark rum, giving white rum a lighter flavor that balances well with the muddled mint, lime juice, and soda water in a mojito. Try it with El Dorado 3 Year Rum, a Guyanese rum with notes of vanilla.
• Cosmopolitan: When you want something fruity and tart, mix a little cranberry juice and orange liqueur with a splash of citrus vodka for the perfect cosmopolitan. Vodka is a clear spirit made from fermented cereal grains or potatoes and is used in a wide variety of cocktails. To prepare your cocktail with one of Nick’s Picks, use Cote d'Azur Vodka, or try out Ciroc Mango Vodka for an extra flavor twist.
• White Russian: These are the best fall-time and holiday season drinks. They are also great for the coffee lover. All you need is fresh cream, vodka, and coffee liqueur. Spice it up by adding a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce for a fancy touch. Use Grays Peak Vodka and a dash of Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur for a decadent drink.
• Old Fashioned: This simple yet elegant cocktail is made with whiskey, bitters, and sugar, and is often garnished with an orange peel or a cherry. Recipes for the old fashioned typically call for bourbon or rye whiskey, liquor that’s made from grain mash and aged in barrels. For a smooth flavor, try making your cocktail with Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye or Knob Creek 10 Year Single Barrel Select Bourbon.

These are just a few DIY cocktail recipes to make at home or to use as a guide in creating new variations. Additionally, they are perfect for entertaining and even make a fun activity to do with friends and family.

Shop for Cocktail Ingredients at Pascale’s Wine & Liquors

When you’re ready to tackle cocktail-making, you can find everything you need at Pascale’s Wine & Liquors. With locations in Fayetteville, Manlius, East Syracuse, Dewitt, and Jamesville, New York, our team is ready to assist you with all of your alcohol shopping needs. With our extensive knowledge of both wine and spirits, we can help you find everything you need to serve your favorite drinks at home. For additional information on alcohol options and cocktail tips, contact us today.