The increasing popularity of cocktail crafting has rapidly increased over the years, with more and more individuals preferring to enjoy a hand-crafted drink at home or while out with friends. As with any creation, there is always something unique to discover and new methods to enhance the drink. 

Take a few extra steps to add new ingredients to your drinks when mixing cocktails. It can definitely turn a boring beverage into a creative and delicious concoction. If you are in for something fruity and fresh or smoky and strong, there are always a few ingredients that can help bring your cocktail game to a whole new level.

Looking for small-batch options will give your cocktail a nice flavor, as well as boost the overall quality of your drink. From there, you can add a variety of ingredients and spices to take your cocktail up a notch. We listed these five components that will certainly help in transforming your concoction into a fantastic cocktail!

Bitters

In the 1700s, bitters are used as a medication to treat blood and stomach problems. The idea was to preserve herbs and spices in alcohol. In the 18th century, more people seek medication and started adding bitters to spirits to make them palatable. In the 19th century, bitters made it to bar shelves and were used by some renowned people in the mixology world. It’s been a viable component of cocktail recipes. 

It also gives the cocktail a special flavor profile that makes it more fascinating with only a few dashes. It balances the beverage’s sweetness and accentuates the flavor and aroma. It became a must-have ingredient for any bartenders and mixologists alike.

Angostura bitters are known as a versatile bitter since you can add it to just about any cocktail, but there are also many other flavors to choose from, such as orange, chocolate, and grapefruit.

Although bitters might appear to be something only skilled bartenders use, they're actually quite simple to incorporate, especially if you think of them as one of the bar's spices. A few dashes can provide a great job of balancing the sweet and sour notes that cocktails frequently have.

One too many cocktails recipes use bitters as one of their ingredients, but the old-fashioned, the Manhattan cocktail, and the Sazerac are undeniably three of the most well-known on the list.

Shrubs

Shrubs originated in 17th-century British and later on spread to the U.S. shores through English settlers. The word comes from the Arabic word “sharab,” which means “to drink.” It’s made out of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers mixed with sugar and vinegar. The process was meant to preserve fruits and vegetables since refrigeration is still far-fetched. It was also used as a remedy for “scurvy” and other ailments.

Shrubs come in a wide range of flavors, like raspberry, apple, and peach. Apple cider vinegar is the most common base for shrubs, and herbs and spices are usually added to create distinct flavor combinations. This sweet, acidic mixer can be used to produce a variety of mixed drinks, which also works well with soda or water. You can use shrubs to give your cocktails a tangy, fruity flavor, but due to their acidic flavor profile, it's advisable not to pair them with citrus and other fruits that have high acidity.

Smoke

In 2007, Eben Freemen, a barkeep at Manhattan Taylor’s in New York, found a way to elevate cocktails to a whole new game. When he infused a Coke and bourbon with cherry and alder wood smoke, you can check more about the history of smoking technique in our blog article, The Magic of Smoke Infusion: A Trend From the Past. 

Smoking cocktails have indeed revolutionized the world of bartending and mixology today by creating a new layer of complexity and depth to classic drinks prepared traditionally. The art of smoking involves infusing the drink with a flavorful smoke by burning wood, herbs, or spices. The result is a drink that looks not only gorgeous but also tastes distinct, with a smokey aroma elevating your guests’ drinking experience.

One of the creative methods to add this flavor to your drinks is to use specialized equipment. Adding a hint of smoke to your cocktails is truly a game-changer. Cocktails that have been smoked have a strikingly unique scent and enhanced flavor profile. Serve these drinks to stand out at your next celebration, or use them to create a relaxing drinking experience in the comforts of your home.

Herbs

Herbs and also spices are flexible components that can be used to flavor and add depth to a number of cocktails. Some herbs to pick from, like basil, thyme, and rosemary, in addition to the widely used herb mint. Muddling herbs can help in bringing out the herb’s extract, creating a fresh and definite flavor and aroma for your cocktail. Some herbs can also be used as a garnish or even cooked and boil then to make a simple syrup.

Whether you choose cinnamon sticks or powder from the market or basil, lavender, and rosemary from your own beautiful garden, incorporating these herbs and spices to your bar opens up a whole new world of culinary and drinking experience. 

These herbs not only add an explosion of flavors, but they also drive health benefits to your drink. A lot of herbs, such as basil and thyme, are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, making your drink not only delicious but also great for your well-being.

Infused spirits

Adding some components to cocktails is a practice that has been gaining more popularity in recent years. With the addition of different ingredients to a spirit, you can create a unique flavor profile that gives a cocktail a profound character. A fantastic approach to giving your drinks a personal touch is to infuse your spirits with rare flavors. Add in fruit, herbs, or spices little by little to avoid overpowering the spirit and compromising its quality. You can always add more as you go. Fresh taste combinations can be infused for up to five days.

One of the neutral spirits that are easy to use is Vodka. Infusing vodka with fruits gives a fruity flavor without the added fruit juice. Another excellent ideas is incorporating herbs or spices for earthy refreshing flavor notes. You can change up the flavors in your cocktails without constantly buying bottles of flavored spirits.

As you now know, improving your cocktail game doesn't necessarily have a significant impact on your bar’s overall appearance. All you need are a few special ingredients that you can use to craft a truly memorable drinking experience, from simple syrups to aromatic bitters. Any cocktail that contains these five components has much greater depth, complexity, and originality. 

Why not try one of these unique components the next time you're serving customers cocktails at your event? Reimagine your cocktail’s recipe and incorporate these unique methods and ingredients o produce something completely original.

The options are limitless!