How to plan the perfect serve for a house party

livemint.com:

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In bartending lexicon, the perfect serve is the ultimate cocktail experience. It has multiple parameters, including ingredients, temperature, glassware, ice, technique, ambience and flawless service.

This experience can be recreated at home just like a bartender—by being mindful. Let’s consider the classic Old Fashioned. A perfect serve would be in a rocks glass at the temperature of 7-10 degrees Celsius.

The glass would be chilled or pre-chilled with some ice water. Large ice cubes minimise dilution while continuing to keep the drink cold, and the cocktail would be stirred with ice to chill it adequately. While garnishes can be both, in or beside a drink, for the Old Fashioned, an orange peel in the glass would allow for a more integrated flavour profile.

Neil Alexander, beverage consultant at the Bengaluru brewery Windmills explains that adding a fresh orange peel to the drink elevates the flavour, with a burst of citrus to complement the whisky and bitters. Without this, the initial citrus aroma fades quickly, leaving only the whisky and bitters as the unsavoury dominant flavours after a few sips. Breaking down the various elements of a perfect serve, Alexander highlights technique.

“Knowing that you should shake, not stir cocktails which have juices or creams in them and vice versa for the spirit-forward drinks; pouring gently over the back of a spoon to maintain distinct layers; balancing flavours are all crucial to a great cocktail experience," he explains. Alexander suggests working with standardised recipes to create consistent cocktails. Maintaining clear recipe cards for each cocktail, outlining ingredients, measurements, and procedures helps.