2019 Q4 Iowa Spirits - 8

appropriate glasses, however, consider
stocking basic styles that can cradle most
any cocktail.
* Single Rocks (9 ounce) or Double
Rocks / Old Fashioned glasses (13 ounces).
The name says it all: "on the rocks" or classic whiskey cocktails like an Old Fashioned.
You don't expect to fill the glass to the brim,
but the size allows a large ice cube melting
oh-so-slowly in a neat or blended spirit.
* Highball or Collins glasses (11
ounces). Often used with tall, cool drinks.
* Martini glasses (4.5 ounces). Ideal for
the sophisticated Mad Men or Sex in the
City drinks that favor alcohol over mixers.
* Champagne flute glasses (7 ounces).
If you appreciate sparkling wine drinks, the
flute will nurture the bubbly.

10 COOL TOOLS

A basic set of bar tools helps you create
top-notch cocktails. Start with these 10 (in
order of importance).
1. Jigger
Guesstimating your ingredients may seem
to indicate confidence, but the end result
is less likely to have that perfect balance
of tastes! A jigger marks measurements
clearly, ensuring a perfect pour.
2. Shaker
"Shaken, not stirred." Many drink recipes
call for shaking the ingredients with ice,
thus mixing, chilling, and slightly diluting
the cocktail in one fell swoop. Plus, it looks
cool. The three-part cobbler shaker (a
large tin base, strainer top and cap) is an easy
place to start. The Boston shaker (two pint-glasslike receptacles, typically both tin or one tin and
one glass) makes you look like a pro; however,
making and breaking the seal is a little trickier-
and you'll need to invest in bar tool #3, a strainer.
3. Hawthorne strainer
After shaking ingredients, you'll want to strain out
ice bits, citrus pulp, and other solids. A Hawthorne
strainer fits neatly on a Boston shaker and is easy
to hold in place while pouring, so even an amateur
looks like a pro.

8 IOWA SPIRITS

4. Mixing glass
"Stirred, not shaken." When a cocktail recipe calls
for stirring, and the glass isn't big enough for mixing and stirring-such as a sophisticated martini
glass-a separate mixing glass comes to the rescue.
Mix, stir, and strain into the perfect serving glass.
A typical mixing glass also enables mixing multiple
servings simultaneously. A cocktail mixing glass
has a spout, too, for a neater pour and less waste.
5. Juicer
Fresh citrus juice elevates cocktails like a Daiquiri,
Bourbon Sidecar, or Whiskey Sour. A sturdy juicer
makes the task easier, neater,and more efficient.
6. Paring knife & cutting board set
A sharp knife and cutting board are handy for
cutting citrus and other fruits, herbs, and vegetables (like tomatoes and celery) for garnishes and
juicing. Make sure you don't use the same cutting
board you use for meats-you can infect the drink
with undesirable flavors and harmful bacteria.
7. Muddler
Muddling or crushing herbs, berries, and similar
ingredients brings out the best flavors and aromatics. Without a muddler, a mint julep would
lose much of its minty goodness!
8. Bar spoon
This versatile bartender's tool has a long handle,
ready to tackle stirring in highball, Collins, and pint
glasses. It can also be used to measure (approximately equal to a teaspoon), to layer (envision
eye-catching layered shooters like a B-52), and to
place garnishes such as olives and cherries.
9. Channel knife
Enhance your cocktails and impress your friends
with citrus garnishes and twists using this specialty
knife.
10. Ice options
Large ice cubes not only add aesthetic appeal,
they melt more slowly than multiple smaller cubes,
resulting in less drink dilution. If you sip your spirits neat or with a splash of water, consider reusable "ice" such as whiskey stones, which also
come in fun shapes like bullets, footballs, skulls
and grenades.

2019 Q4 Iowa Spirits

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