Sharad Arora, who has been mixing drinks for years, gives a few pointers to keep in mind while mixing up some magic.
Fresh ice
The first step is to have fresh ice. Always use fresh water for ice. Do not use cubes that have air bubbles in them. Ice can make or break a drink.
Balance flavours
The basic rule is to always balance your flavours in a drink. If you’re using lemon, make sure you use sugar.
Base drink
It would be better to stick to vodka as the base of your drink. Vodka has a neutral flavour that goes well with other flavours. If you use gin, whisky etc. it could be a task finding the right blend of flavours.
Coffee drinks
Always be careful while using coffee in drinks. The coffee grinds need to be fresh and it shouldn’t be too strong. People suffering from high blood pressure should stay away from these drinks.
Mixing flavours
The key to mixing different flavours depends on practice. But as a basic rule, you can use fresh herbs like basil, mint etc. with citrusy fruits, and even with watermelon. However, avoid lemon while using milk products in your drink.
Spice up that drink
The trick with using spices in a drink is again balance. Always use just a bit of the spice. Then, if needed you can add more. Cinnamon, cloves, etc. can be used in drinks. Even curry leaves bring in a very different flavour to drinks.
