Bartending: Twists And Wedges
What is a "garnish" for a cocktail?
A garnish is anything that would accompany your drink, like fruit or herbs. The idea of a garnish is to make the drink look nice whilst adding something to its flavor. Mint sprigs and limes are the most typical.
How do I cut orange slices for a cocktail?
I like to cut orange slices by taking an orange and cutting it directly down the middle. You can then take these two halves and cut smaller slices directly from those. It's very important, when you're dealing with orange slices, that you go a little bit thinner than you think. Remember, you're not giving your guests pieces of orange to eat, but simply a little slice to garnish their drink.
How do I cut a lemon or lime wedge for a cocktail?
There are a couple different ways to cut lemon or lime wedges and, ultimately, you need to find which way works best for you. What most bars and restaurants do is they have a machine called a 'slicer', which can cut a single fruit into 6 or 8 slices very quickly. It's unlikely that you'll have one of those, so the best advice is the cut the lime in half and then cut smaller slices from there.
How do I cut a lemon twist for a cocktail?
The easiest way to cut a lemon twist is to start by cutting off the ends of a lemon. Then you want to take a small knife, usually a paring knife. Cut one side of the rind, think about it like you're opening a book. Now you take your bar spoon and scoop out the lemon -- or the lime, for that matter. Now you're left with just the rind. You take that rind, you roll it very tightly, and now you can take your knife and cut individual slices of the lemon twist from there.
