THE COOL CLUB
Like many, The Ice Co˚ finds that cocktail recipes come in different formats, often using different cocktail measurements. As much as many cocktails are down to personal taste, some require more accurate measurements and as we are not all professional mixologists – the difference between a jigger and a mixer is like the difference between a shovel and a spade. However, it is worth knowing because afterall, you wouldn’t dig a hole with a spade!
Confused? Thought so. (Hint: Shovels are better for digging and moving soil, spades are better for loosening and levelling soil) But anyway, back to cocktails!
Here’s our guide to cocktail measurements for the amateur mixologist!
Splash on the other hand is a much looser term – really giving you free reign to pour a good glug of the ingredient into the mix!
But remember, when it comes to splash and dash – they are called these non-specific, un measured terms purely for that reason: Because they are unmeasured and non-specific, allowing for personal experimentation and taste to take charge.
As long as we keep in mind, dash is less and splash is more!
“1 part this, 2 parts that, and top up with Orange Juice”
What’s a part?! Do not let this confuse you. It is a way of trying to simplify measurements so that the recipes can be used worldwide with whatever measuring equipment is at hand.
So 1 part could equal 1 shot, 1 jigger, 1 splash (just to confuse you!!) and 2 parts would be 2 shots, 2 jiggers etc – you really can use anything to measure like this, as long as it is consistent.
“That recipe looks so good, but it’s in ounces and I only have a jigger!”
You can still use this recipe, just try to translate it into measurements you know, but keep it in proportion. For example:
1 ½ ounces Rum = 1 ½ Parts Rum
3 ounces Ginger Beer = 3 Parts Ginger Beer
Dash of Lime Juice = Dash of Lime Juice
And this means, use 1 ½ measures of whatever measuring tool you have, be it a jigger, shot glass, bucket etc! and if it’s done in proportion the drink should be the same.
“That cocktail is so good, I want a whole punch bowl of it!”
And you can, all you need to do is increase all measurements PROPORTIONALLY!
It is easy to think that when making a punch bowl just throw all the ingredients into a bowl as ‘guesstimate’ measures! However, we don’t recommend this – you don’t want a fowl tasting punch bowl, or alternatively a punch bowl that is so strong everyone has to leave your party early because it just ‘hit them’!
Make the punch bowl by simply multiplying everything in the recipe by 5 or 10 depending on how much you would like. Or instead of 1 shot of Vodka, use 1 mug of Vodka – but increase all measurements the same!
“Top Up your drink”
A top up is again, down to personal preference. When making a drink in a tall glass, then top up usually means fill to the top. However, if you like your drinks a little stronger then dont top up so much. Again, this term is giving free reign to the cocktail maker.
But the most important thing is to not let them phase you. At the end of the day, the top 10 mixologists in the world could all make a Mojito and guaranteed they would all taste different. So use recipes as guidance, but tweek them to suit your taste!
Need some cocktail inspiration to put the above into practice? Visit our recipes page.
