Cocktail garnishes aren’t merely for aesthetics. Here is an essential guide to common cocktail garnishes with tips on how to use them.
Cocktail Garnishes – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Although we tend to drink with our eyes first, a cocktail garnish should serve a purpose beyond just the visual. This inherent element of the drink can add aroma, flavour and in some cases texture which enhances the enjoyment of the cocktail experience.
Cocktail garnishes can range from the simple and elegant to the extreme and garish, as we’ve all seen in a Bloody Mary garnished with a burger, a large crustacean and a whole roast chicken. For the purpose of this essential guide, we’ve omitted non-edible garnishes such as cocktail umbrellas and mini flags in favour of edible garnishes.
Over the next few pages, we present common cocktail garnishes such as citrus, olives, cherries, rims, edible flowers, vegetables, herbs, fruit, spice as well as other edibles along with tips on how to use them.
Click on the page numbers below to navigate to the next cocktail garnish in the series including a tip on how to use it.
