Updated 1/28/11

These days, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when wanting to make a cocktail.

Everyone you come across is working his/her way to becoming a mixologist. New restaurants, TV shows about drinks, all kinds of new infused vodkas and bourbons, fancy names and flair to match — it gets overwhelming. It is not hard, however, to achieve such mastery, allowing you to avoid that feeling of being overwhelmed or uneducated.

When it comes to something so fun as mixing, fear should play no part — everyone should be able to enjoy it. It’s what I like to consider an art in itself, and like any art or hobby, the “mixer” should be able to delve into it however deeply he likes.

There are a few necessary items that one should always have handy when wanting to get creative.

A couple of “must-haves” include:

- Bitters (preferably one flavored — such as orange or grapefruit — and a regular bitters)
- Fresh fruit juices
- Agave nectar or simple syrup
- Dry and sweet vermouth
- Sweet & sour mix

Bourbon, rum, vodka and a rye whiskey are what most consider necessary for a beginner’s bar, and then there are so many cordials to choose from that you just have to go with what suits your taste.

Accessories seem to be the new “it” thing for cocktails, and these small little things can make or break a great drink. Plus, there are so many to choose from: orange flower water, hibiscus syrup, elderflower water, ginger liqueurs, etc… the list goes on and on. You won’t know what you like until you try it, and doing this outside of the restaurant/bar will definitely save you money in the long run. On top of that, it will increase your knowledge while adding quite the flair for any guests that you might have over for cocktails. You don’t have to break your budget to appease your new hobby.

So whether you want to lightly dabble in the latest trend of mixology or become a full-fledged bartending expert, Midtown Wine and Spirits will make your transition into a cocktail master as smooth as possible. We not only have all the proper tools for you to do so, but we provide the mixers, bitters and necessary measuring tools/bar accessories in our adjoining store, Midtown Beer and Cigars. We would love to provide as much knowledge as possible for you and help you decide the best spirits to take home.

For even more inspiration, you should check out some of these popular cocktail blogs:

NY Barfly
Cocktailians
Alcademics
The Cocktail Chronicles

Posted in: Spirits News
Tags: bitters, bourbon, cocktails, Midtown Wine and Spirits, mixology, spirits, vodka, whiskey