Styling Spirits

Tasteful Touches to Better Your Beverages

By Kristen Lee

Special touches like rims, garnishes, and even ice can turn a good cocktail into a great cocktail. Here, we share ways to style your favorite drinks and elevate your bartending skills, as well as recommendations for spirits to elevate your sips.

Custom Ice

Whether including a monogrammed block of ice in a shot of whiskey or using skull-shaped ice for your Halloween party, custom ice can elevate a basic drink to the next level. There’s a variety of ice molds in different shapes and sizes depending on your theme, or for those looking for a new hobby, you can buy large blocks and sculpt the ice yourself. Remember, the more filtered the water is, the more clear your ice will be, so use filtered water when possible.

Rims

Adding a special rim to your cocktail glass allows for a decorative element to your cocktail while also enhancing the flavor profile. For tequila-based drinks, popular rims include Tajin seasoning and lime, while a lemon-drop martini is completed by a sugar rim. You can play with colors to add interest, such as black salt or pink sugar, for a fun and unique twist.

Citrus Garnishes

Citrus garnishes bring out citrus notes in cocktails or spirits, while also adding to the visual appeal with a pop of color. A lemon or lime slice is a classic addition to margaritas or citrus-based cocktails, an old fashioned requires an orange peel, and a lemon twist is a must for a dry martini.

Skewers

Skewers of fruits, olives, or even meat are a fun addition to a cocktail. Opt for luxe garnishes like gourmet cherries in syrup, olives stuffed with garlic or blue cheese, and maple bacon to take a drink over the top. Candy is also an exciting garnish option – peach rings, rock candy sticks, and dark chocolate are lovely pairings depending on your spirit of choice.

Smoke

In the past few years, smoked cocktails have increased in popularity. The technique is often reserved for bourbons and whiskeys, but the flavor also lends itself well to tequilas, gins, and even beer. A smoked gin and tonic is a fun twist on a summery cocktail, and a smoked marshmallow-flavored whiskey alludes to campfire fun. Many stores sell cocktail smoker kits you can add to your home bar.

Color

For the holidays or a themed-party, adding colorful liquors can spruce things up in cocktails and shooters. You can even add edible glitter if you’re feeling extra fancy.

From the Experts

When styling cocktails, including a premium spirit is always a good idea. Below are a few recommendations from our friends Shelby Whalen and Courtney Daniels, on premise sales representatives from Athens Distributing.

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Pour this award-winning, twice-barreled bourbon over a big cube of ice and enjoy. Elijah Craig uses a custom finishing process which adds an extra layer of sweet oak, and a flavor they describe as “big, rich, and complex,” with notes of spice, pepper, chocolate, and a hint of smoke.

Espolòn Añejo Tequila

Made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, this balanced tequila is earthy with a hint of butterscotch and notes of caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and chocolate. It drinks well on its own, or it is a great addition to a margarita, paloma, or other tequila-based cocktail.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

This Irish gin gets a unique flavor from slow-dried gunpowder tea, oriental botanicals, and citrus. It’s a fantastic choice for cocktails, but it’s especially great for a gin martini.

Izarra Green Liqueur

Made from several different botanicals, Izarra is a unique green liquor that has hints of mint and spice. Use it to create a spooky green Halloween cocktail or a refreshing summery beverage.

Chopin Vodka

Chopin’s family-owned vodka production, based in Eastern Poland, offers three styles of vodka – potato, rye, and wheat. Each is unique in its flavor and profile. The potato vodka is perfect for a classic martini, while peppery notes in the rye add interest to a bloody mary, and the lightness of the wheat goes well in fruity cocktails or spritzes.