The Art Of Infusing Alcohol, Making Good Cocktails In Cocktail Bar

There are many ways to create a good cocktail in cocktail bar. As with fine dining and good infusions, the quality of ingredients is paramount. Having great bartenders behind bars crafting the drinks adds to the pleasure of mixing your own spirits.

Infusing Alcohol: Infusing alcohol is the art of combining alcohol with essences from fruits, herbs, flowers, spices etc. to create a unique spirit. These infusions (spirits) can be subtle – adding just a hint of flavor to a spirit – or they can be strong – changing the base spirit in a strong way. Creating an Infusion: Infusions can be created in three ways.

In Glassware: This is the easiest way of infusing alcohol. Just add the essence (fruit, herb, flower, spice etc.) to a glass container, add spirits, cover and allow to steep for the desired time. When the time has passed strain off the essence and bottle the infused spirit. This method works well for fruits, spices and flowers.

Infusion Kits: Most good liquor stores will carry infusion kits. These kits come with a bowl or pot, a strainer and the necessary ingredients to create an infusion. The kit contains all the ingredients (fruits, herbs and spices), pots with lid, and stirrers. You simply add the mixture to the pot, add your spirit, stir, place the lid on the pot and add to the refrigerator. Leave to infuse for the desired time, then strain out the essence, bottle and label.

Infusing the Blender: This is a more advanced way of infusing. Place fruit, herbs, spices etc. in the blender, add your spirit, blend, place in a glass container, place in the refrigerator and allow to infuse until done.

Spirits: Vodka, Rum and Whiskey are the three most popular spirits for infusing.

The Spirit: For infusing spirits the spirit should have a strong flavor. Vodka is usually the base spirit. The stronger the Vodka the stronger the infusion. Rum and Whiskey also make great infusions.

The Infusion: Creating an infusion is easy. All you do is combine the essence with your spirit of choice and allow it to infuse. Infusing Vodka: Vodka is one of the few spirits that can be infused and drunk directly. For a subtle infusion add 10- 25% essence to vodka.

Infusing strong Vodka: 25-50% essence for a strong Infusion. Infusing Rum: Rum is a versatile spirit when it comes to making infusions. Infusing 10-25% essence will create subtle infusions while 25-50% essences will create a strong infusion.

Infusing Whiskey: Whiskey is a great spirit for infusing. 10-25% essences will create a subtle infusion while 25-50% essences will create a strong infusion. Infusion using Flavored Alcohol: Flavored alcohol is more difficult to infuse than Vodka. The infusion can take up to six weeks. Be sure to label the bottles carefully and write down the flavors used and the time the essences were infused.