5 Easy Tricks to Making Great Cocktails

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #Zima #Z2K #CollectiveBias

In honor of the triumphant return of Zima® for a limited time, I wanted to share some tips that will be indispensable in helping you create your best cocktails at home.  Zima® is completely a blast from my 90’s past. Zima® is a really refreshing beer alternative with a smooth, light citrus flavor that makes it perfect for summer.

1 ZIMA®

I wanted to kick this list off with a reminder to stock up on Zima® this summer before it runs out. It’s like #Z2K. Why Zima®? Because its flavor profile makes it perfect for mixing.  You’ll wow your friends with sweet nuanced cocktails that will have them saying you’re “da bomb.” Zima® goes great with amaretto, scotch, tequila, a nice fruity vodka… you get the picture.

2 BE FRESH

No, I’m not using 90’s lingo.  I literally mean use fresh ingredients whenever possible.  It makes all the difference and it is so not hard to do. For example, Sweet and Sour Mix is just equal parts water, sugar, lemon juice and lime juice.  Grenadine is equal parts sugar and pomegranate juice heated in a saucepan. Adding fresh fruit to your cocktail adds visual appeal as well as flavor.

3 SWEET AND SIMPLE

Make awesome simple sugar in any flavor you like to totally wow your party guests.  Simple sugar is just equal parts sugar and water, but if you use your favorite herbal tea to infuse that water with flavor, you instantly have something special on your hands.

4 QUICK PICKLING

With equal parts vinegar and water, plus a dash of sugar and salt, you can pickle any vegetable, ginger, egg, whatever.  Bring the pickling liquid to a boil. You can even do this in the microwave. When it is bubbling, remove from heat. Toss whatever you’d like to pickle in a bowl and cover it in the hot brine.  Let it cool to room temp and chill for later use.

5 EGG WHITE FOAM

Add complexity to your cocktail with a frothy foam for a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and better eye appeal.  This simple trick adds tons of wow factor and requires so little effort. Simply add egg white to your drink mix in a shaker and dry shake (without ice).  The dry shaking helps to emulsify the mixture and activate the foam. If you don’t have a shaker, you can use two plastic cups, but be super careful. For best results, use organic eggs instead of pasteurized and top off the drink with an aromatic.

I hope you enjoyed these little tips and have lots of fun trying things out.  Remember Zima® is only back for a short time, so get it while you can. Go here to learn more.