EASY WAYS YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR DRINK PRESENTATION

In case you missed last week's blog, this is part one of our Top Five Tips For Running A Successful Bar. This blog series is more geared towards commercial bars. Though if you're a home-bartender, there is still plenty that can apply to you, so read on. This week we are focusing on easy ways you can upgrade your bars drink presentation. 

Drink presentation is essential. After all, we do eat (or drink) with our eyes. Upgrading how your cocktails appear is the easiest and often most price-effective way to make your bar stand out from the competition. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are some easy, surefire ways to make your drinks look better. 

Upgrade Your Ice

Surprisingly, when it comes to something mundane such as ice, the sky is the limit. These days, the big trend is to have clear ice available for your bar patrons. Not only does it look cool, but it will impart fewer impurities/flavors into your cocktails and also melts way slower, thereby ensuring your drinks stay colder for a longer period. There are lots of companies that specialize in this niche and can ship high-quality ice to your bar. (Here in Los Angeles we recommend Penny Pound Ice) For a cool effect, you can also experiment with adding a tiny piece of dry-ice to your drinks.  

Buying custom ice is all the rage, but not every bar has the budget for that. So at the very least, your bar should have big 2x2 giant ice cubes available for Old-Fashioned's and the clientele that likes to drink their poison on the rocks. Grab some ice molds (like this one) and throw them in your bar freezer. We feel that in 2020, this is non-negotiable. Every bar should have large ice cubes available. 

Pay Attention To Garnishes

Is your bar just throwing a lemon wedge on every drink and calling it a day? Garnishes are the eye candy and easily upgradable. When I order an Old-Fashioned from a bar, and it arrives with one of those Shirley-Temple-Bright-Red-Piece-Of-Garbage cherries floating in it, I know that I'm at the wrong place. Here are some ideas on upgrading your garnishes - 

• Switch to Luxardo cherries, not those food-colored maraschino cherries. 
• Get real crazy and cut a lemon/lime wheel instead of a wedge. They have a more sophisticated look, especially on coupe/martini glasses.
• Try cutting a wedge at a different angle, so it sits on the glass rim vertical, not horizontal. (See picture above) 
• Using a channel knife, add fun designs to your fruit before just making a big twist using a potato peeler. 
• Using dehydrated fruit or charred fruit is a huge wow factor. 
• Use tiny clothespins to attach herbs or twists. (Check these out)
• Making a bloody marry? Try cracking some fresh pepper on top of the drink. 

These are just a few simple examples. Take an afternoon and look up some youtube videos. From simple to extraordinary, there is so much you can do when it comes to garnishes. 

Glassware

Are you still using those TGI Friday's giant margarita glasses from 1995? If so, you are either: hosting a 90's themed pop-up bar experience or your bar is stuck in the wrong decade. Glassware can get real expensive, real fast, but it might be worth looking into updating your glasses if your bar has neglected this area. For a more contemporary feel, try - 

• Switching your martini glasses to coupe glasses or stemless martini glasses. 
• Changing basic wineglasses out for something more angular. (Like these) 
• Using small bucket/neat glasses instead of shot-glasses. 
• Use Nonic (British Pint) beer glasses instead of the bland looking American pint glasses. 

We know budgets can be tight, but remember, you don't have to replace all your glassware at one time. Take it step-by-step. 

Cocktail Colors

In the age of Instagram, the color of your cocktail matters a lot. We are not advocating for adding food coloring, but there are some cool ways to make your drinks stand out using more natural methods. Remember that if it is Instagram worthy, it is a free advertisement.

• Mess around with clarifying cocktails using milk clarification or using a Spinzall. Everybody loves a clear cocktail. 
• Alter the color and flavor of your cocktail by using infused ice. We love making red ice cubes out of hibiscus tea. It not only looks phenomenal but can add some delicious flavor nuance. 
• Use butterfly pea flowers to make blue or purple drinks. 
• Infuse liquors with fruit. We love infusing pineapple with vodka. It turns the potato juice into a yellow and delicious liquid. Great for martini and Moscow mule variations. 

Making your drinks taste good is just one part of the equation. You also want to make sure that they look good. Today's bar customers are savvier than ever, and they will notice your effort (or lack thereof) when it comes to drink presentation. It doesn't have to be complicated, so try not to get overwhelmed. Just merely having cool glassware, or making a unique garnish, can be that wow factor that your drinks were missing. 

We would love to see your cocktail creations. Tag us on Instagram using @twist_and_bitters to share your drinks with us. 

Cheers, 

-Sam

Twist and Bitters

P.S: If you need help with your bar please email us at [email protected]. We offer bar consulting and would love to help you :)