Books Read In Lockdown Days Bartender’s Pocket Guide : Kathy Hamlin

Books Read In Lockdown Days

Bartender’s Pocket Guide : Kathy Hamlin

Bartender’s Pocket Guide contains all the bartender and party host needs to know that too in a compact format! Written by a professional bartender Kathy Hamlin, this handy guide is small enough to keep in the your bar shelf , yet BIG on essential information. Even the professional bartenders will love to find the entire gyan  of making cocktails in a single book easily to be fit in pocket. The book was first published in 2005, is an interesting read, it talks about 

* All the glasses : Champagne Flute, Cordial glass, Cocktail Glass, Champagne Saucers, Highball glass, STEIN, Snifter, Schooner, Pilsner, Mug, White Wine glass , Red Wine Glass, Old Fashioned glass, Lowball glass, Sherry glass, Tulip, Margarita, Shot Glass, Hurricanes, Rocks

*Equipment’s : Pony-Jigger Measure , Speed Pourer , Ice Scoop, Cocktail Shaker, Strainer, Blender, Paring Knife, Long-handled bar sooon, Cutting Board, Can Opener, Corkscrew, Juicer, Lighter, Muddler

* A comprehensive look at technique: from mixing to serving, garnishing and flairing

* Designing, stocking and decorating a bar, and planning the ultimate party 

Kathy claims that bartending is almost as old as 2100 BC as the public drinking houses were flourished during that period in Babylon.

In the recent recorded history, Jerry Thomas was a celebrated bartender. In 1862, he wrote The Bon Vivant’s Companion or How To Mix Drinks and traveled the globe hawking his book, showing off his talents as Mixologist. His Blue Blazer cocktail awed most as he streamed on ignited concoction of Scotch, water and a tabs of honey back and forth between shakers. That was in fact the beginning of what has now become a popular craft with bartenders, trying to find out their own distinct style to entertain their customers. Finding your style does not necessarily mean involving tossing bottles & glasses in the air , flaming drinks, what makes a bartenders better - understanding basics , love experimenting so that people love to come back.

A good bartender should have firsthand knowledge of basic liquor. Most cocktails start with a base of Vodka, Rum, Gin, Blended Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, Tequila and Brandy. And you also need secondary ingredients which include Triple Sec, Sweet as well as Dry Vermouth, White and dark Creme de cocoa, White and green creme de me the, coffee liqueur, amaretto, peach schnapps, Apricot Brandy and other Liqueurs. 

And of course you need mixers, as mixers dilute or enhance many cocktail recipes. Common mixers are : 

Canned/ Fresh  juices like Apple, Tomatoes, Cranberry , Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange

Bitters, Club Soda, Coffee, Cola, Cream of Coconut, Expresso, Ginger Ale , Grenadine, Half and Half, Lemon Lime Soda, Sour Mix, Tonic Water, Milk , Soda

Syrups like Passion fruit, Simple Sugar 

*Learning basic skills of Blend, Build, Flot, Frappe, Shake , Stir , Layer, Mist, Muddle

*Learning how to garnish a drink

So I pick to cocktails from book : 

1. Sangria

Ingredients- one orange, lemon and lime

                       One bottle of dry red or 

                       White Wine 

                       One quart Club  Soda 

                       One tbsp castor sugar 

Optional Additions - 30 ml Brandy, 

                                   30 ml Triple Sec

                                   Pineapple slices, 

                                   Cherries

To make - Slice the fruits and combine these with wine and sugar can also include optional ingredients , Refrigerate

Overnight , mix soda before serving 

      2. Frozen Strawberry Margarita 

Ingredients- 30 ml Tequila, 15 ml Triple Sec, mashed fresh strawberries or puréed strawberries one splash , one splash sour mix, one dash grenadine, cubbed or crushed ice 

To make- Blend the ingredients with the ice until smooth , pour into a sugar frosted decorative glass. Drink is ready, garnish it with the lime wedge and the 

Strawberry

Mocktail Recipe: If there are teetotaller, under medical condition or designated person to drive, always offer them non-alcoholic Mocktail: 

Virgin Pina Colada 

Ingredients-90 ml pineapple juice 

                     60 ml cream of coconut 

                     Whipped cream 

                      Ice cubes 

                      Garnish-Pineapple Wedge &

                                      Cherry

To Make :       Blend the ingredients with 

                        Ice until smooth. Serve in a       

                        Hurricane Glass. Garnish it 

                        with pineapple wedge and 

                        Cherry.