Three fresh ingredients that will make cocktails taste better
Adam Richard Seger is a professional in the hospitality, flavor, and teaching industries. He pioneered the farm-to-bar movement, fusing his expertise in wine and culinary arts. The expert shares three fresh ingredients that will surely make homemade cocktails even better.
Ginger
This is a good ingredient to have with rum and vodka. It can easily upgrade a drink with its warm, strong, sweet, earthy, and zesty flavors. One can use grated ginger or ginger syrup to add to their drinks. Those who want to try other sweeteners, using ginger syrup will give a different taste to vodka-based or gin-based cocktails.
Lemongrass
To make great cocktails, Adam Richard Seger suggests using only fresh ingredients. While lemongrass is usually used as a garnish, it can also add flavor to the drink. Many bartenders and mixologists have discovered the beauty of adding lemongrass to gin and vodka-based drinks for a stronger cocktail. Some even infuse lemongrass in the bottles for drinks to make it even zestier.
Mint
The mojito and mint julep won’t be complete without mint. The calming scent and refreshing flavor complement other fresh ingredients such as citrus fruits, berries, and herbs like basil. It can also be matched with chocolate, cinnamon, apple, and ginger. The most common varieties are peppermint and spearmint. For those who want a stronger taste when pairing with sweet mixers and liquor, peppermint is the most suitable. Those who want that mild and cool flavor should add spearmint. While most people add mint to rum and whiskey, it can also be tried with gin, vodka, and even tequila.
Passionate about food and wine, Adam Richard Seger has spent a lifetime in hospitality, flavor, and teaching. He is alumnus of Cornell Hotel School, Michelin-Starred restaurants Chez Julien in Strasbourg, TRU in Chicago and The French Laundry in Napa Valley. Visit this blog for more on cocktail culture.
