A cocktail served in a glass with a decorated rim is more intriguing and refined. Moisten the rim by dipping it in a liquid of your choice, such as water or fruit juice, then add a crunchy and decorative ingredient. In addition to the classic ones, such as salt or sugar, you can use many others, some even colored.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Moisten the rim of the glass
Step 1. Immerse the rim of the glass in still or sparkling water
You can also use tonic water or, better yet, a sugary drink which, leaving a sticky residue on the glass, will act as an adhesive for the selected decorative ingredient. In the latter case it is better to use a transparent (or clear) drink so that it does not affect the color of the decoration.
If you want, you can use a lemon-flavored drink and enrich the decoration of the cocktail with a slice of lemon or lime
Step 2. Use a fruit or fruit juice
Cut a piece of fruit and rub a piece along the edge of the glass, or turn it upside down and dip the rim into the juice. Either way, it would be best to match the fruit or juice with the flavors of the cocktail.
You can also use a simple lemon or lime wedge
Step 3. Moisten the rim of the glass with diluted syrup
Use a ratio of 1: 1 with water to dilute the consistency. You can use a simple sugar syrup or a classic cocktail product, such as grenadine, otherwise you can indulge yourself with fruit flavors or syrups for desserts.
You can also use honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup
Step 4. Use an alcoholic drink
You can choose between beer, wine and spirits. Dip the corner of a clean sponge into the selected drink, then use it to moisten the rim of the cocktail glass. In this way, a minimum amount will be enough.
- Some liqueurs are stickier than others and will help make the edge sticky.
- If you want to serve a michelada, use the beer paired with salt on the rim of the glass.
Part 2 of 3: Choose the Decorative Ingredient
Step 1. Use salt or sugar
Pour the fine or flaky salt into a small dish. If you prefer to use sugar, you can choose between granulated or icing. Alternatively, you can use cane, preferably whole.
- You can mix sugar with ginger or ground nutmeg to bring to mind the flavors of faraway countries.
- Crush the salt with the lime zest to give it a fresh and citrus note.
- You can use a small amount of any powdered spice or herb if you think it goes well with the taste of the salt or sugar and the taste of the cocktail.
Step 2. Decorate the rim of the glass with candy powder
You can crush one of your favorite candies using the pestle and mortar or you can close it in a food bag and tap it gently with the rolling pin or hammer.
The ideal is to choose candies whose taste goes well with that of the cocktail
Step 3. Use crumbled sweet or savory biscuits
Again you can crush them using the pestle and mortar or you can close them in a food bag and gently hit them with a heavy object. If it is a cocktail that is normally served in a glass rimmed with sugar, it is better to use sweet biscuits, while for those that are combined with salt, pretzels or taralli are more appropriate.
- If you intend to serve a chocolate cocktail, there is nothing better than cream vodka and your favorite crumbled cookies to decorate the glass.
- For a classic margarita it is better to use taralli or salty crackers.
Step 4. Use cocoa
Dip the rim of the wet glass into the cocoa powder. It is a perfect option especially for chocolate or vanilla flavored cocktails. If you want, you can add a few grains of cocoa salt to enhance the flavor of the chocolate.
- Almond milk is a tasty drink with which you can moisten the rim of the glass before decorating it with cocoa. It is a perfect solution for cocktails that contain sweet liqueurs.
- Drop a couple of raspberries on the bottom of the glass or use them as an additional decoration on the rim, they are delicious paired with cocoa.
Step 5. Use the colored sugar sprinkles
Being very small and light, they will easily adhere to the edge of the wet glass. You can choose them multicolored or a single shade that goes well with that of the cocktail. You can also use round shaped colored sprinkles. Both varieties are suitable for drinks that are usually served in a sugar-rimmed glass.
The sprinkles and colored sprinkles go perfectly with cocktails that contain sweet and creamy syrups
Part 3 of 3: Decorate the rim of the glass
Step 1. Moisten the rim of the cocktail glass
Turn it over and hold it at a 45 ° angle. Immerse the rim of the glass only in the selected liquid, to a height of about half a centimeter. Rotate it to moisten the entire circumference. Alternatively, you can dip the corner of a clean sponge into the liquid and then wipe it over the rim of the glass (this is especially convenient if you are using an expensive drink).
- If you have chosen to use water, a simple soft drink or a diluted syrup, pour them into a small deep dish. If, on the other hand, you prefer to moisten the edge of the glass with beer, wine or an alcoholic drink, it is better to use the sponge to avoid waste.
- Use roughly two tablespoons of liquid for each glass.
Step 2. Dip the rim of the moistened glass in the solid ingredient selected for the decoration
First, pour a couple of tablespoons into a second small deep dish. Continue to hold the glass at a 45 ° angle and dip it into the selected powder or food. Rotate it so it fits around the entire circumference.
- Try to quickly rotate the glass left and right to get a thicker layer.
- Try not to drop any piece of garnish into the glass as it could spoil the balanced taste of the cocktail.
Step 3. Eliminate the excess
Gently shake the glass, holding it over the plate to drop any items that have not adhered well to the glass. If there are any marks on the glass, wipe them off with a sheet of kitchen paper or a damp tea towel.
To clean the glass without damaging the decoration, hold it upside down and place it on a hard surface. Grab it by the stem with one hand and press the wet paper or fabric against the glass, where the decorated edge ends. Now rotate it 360 ° to get rid of the small burrs
Advice
- If the cocktail is intended for a guest, consider decorating only half a glass so that they can choose which side to drink from.
- You can use a food coloring or an essence of your choice to match the taste of the cocktail.
