Have you always been keen on learning the tips and tricks to being the best home bartender but never really knew how or where to start?

Being a mixologist is truly all about practising and experimenting, knowing what works and what doesn’t. The key to this is using the right equipment, glasses, ingredients and techniques. The best mixologists may have honed their skills through years of shaking, stirring and serving, however you need not go through this as the pros themselves have shared some of their tips and tricks to becoming a great mixologist right at home.

Essential Cocktail Ingredients

Ingredients form the foundation to any recipe. Likewise, your ingredients for the cocktails are very important. We have listed down a few key ingredients that every home bar mixologist should have.

• Liquor- Depending upon the occasion and your guests, the liquor choice needs to be sorted. You can get them from the local liquor store or even online, depending upon your personal preference. However, remember not to spend too much on the liquor as they are eventually going to be mixed for your cocktail.

There are certain liquor types that are a must- haves like vodka, gin, whiskey(bourbon, scotch or rye), tequila, rum, brandy.

Besides these,you can keep your options open with a few Nice-to-haves like dry and sweet vermouth, triple sec, Grand Marnier and Pernod.

• Bring in the Mixers!

Cocktail mixers will always add a twist to your glass of creation, they will always give the cocktails that extra feel of vibe that can be according to the theme, the occasion or the location of the certain celebration.

• The must-haves include tonic water, ginger beer, club soda/sparkling water, simple syrup, limes and lemon juices.
• While the Nice-to-haves include orange juice, ginger ale, cranberry juice, soda/diet soda.
• The Garnish DOES matter

Just like a cherry on a cake can elevate the taste as well as the entire appearance, in the same way the topping to your cocktail also matters. They not only enhance the look but also amplify the flavors.

• A few must-haves as garnishes include limes, lemons, oranges for peeling, fresh herbs and spices like rosemary, mint, basil and cinnamon sticks.
• Besides these garnishes like pearl onions, black pepper and coconut cream can also be used for extra flavor.
• ‘Ice’ to meet you!

Yes! This is a very obvious must have for any drink but it is only because of the role that it plays in making a difference to your drink. The kind of ice that you use in your drinks matters. Ice from a standard tray or ice-maker is cloudy due to gases and impurities becoming trapped during the freezing process compared to the more sophisticated, directional freezing method used by professionals. Larger and harder cubes allow for a proper shake-time which will aerate the drink, giving you a nice chilly and frothy head glass of cocktail.

Cocktail Essential Tools

The gadgets to make a proper cocktail are quite important and make a huge difference. This however does not mean that you ought to spend huge amounts on buying tool kits that are a craze and hype, simply focus on quality essentials.These include- Jigger, Cocktail shaker, Muddler, Long-handle metal bar spoon and of course a blender.

Cocktail Glasses

The kind of vessels that you choose to serve the cocktails adds the climax to the final tasting. Searching for wares in vintage and thrift stores can be quite rewarding. Here are a few must-have glasses for different kinds of cocktails-

• Vodka/schnapps glass
• Old-fashioned glass
• Cordial/liqueur glass
• Highball glass
• Margarita glass
• Cocktail/martini glass
• Collins glass
• Champagne glass

Get these and begin serving!

With these essentials listed above, don’t let anything stand in your way of making the most cocktails for everybody to savour. You need a degree or those expensive professional equipment, just stick to the basic essentials and get creative!

Hey, the pride month is here, and boy, do we miss the outdoors? Yes, we do. The pandemic may have ruined those outdoor plans. But, Drinktales has something to revive your pride month mood. So, worry no more! To keep you chill in your abode, we have a list of cocktails that will keep your pride celebrations going. Thes

Have you always been keen on learning the tips and tricks to being the best home bartender but never really knew how or where to start?

Being a mixologist is truly all about practising and experimenting, knowing what works and what doesn’t. The key to this is using the right equipment, glasses, ingredients and techniques. The best mixologists may have honed their skills through years of shaking, stirring and serving, however you need not go through this as the pros themselves have shared some of their tips and tricks to becoming a great mixologist right at home.

Essential Cocktail Ingredients

Ingredients form the foundation to any recipe. Likewise, your ingredients for the cocktails are very important. We have listed down a few key ingredients that every home bar mixologist should have.

• Liquor- Depending upon the occasion and your guests, the liquor choice needs to be sorted. You can get them from the local liquor store or even online, depending upon your personal preference. However, remember not to spend too much on the liquor as they are eventually going to be mixed for your cocktail.

There are certain liquor types that are a must- haves like vodka, gin, whiskey(bourbon, scotch or rye), tequila, rum, brandy.

Besides these,you can keep your options open with a few Nice-to-haves like dry and sweet vermouth, triple sec, Grand Marnier and Pernod.

• Bring in the Mixers!

Cocktail mixers will always add a twist to your glass of creation, they will always give the cocktails that extra feel of vibe that can be according to the theme, the occasion or the location of the certain celebration.

• The must-haves include tonic water, ginger beer, club soda/sparkling water, simple syrup, limes and lemon juices.
• While the Nice-to-haves include orange juice, ginger ale, cranberry juice, soda/diet soda.
• The Garnish DOES matter

Just like a cherry on a cake can elevate the taste as well as the entire appearance, in the same way the topping to your cocktail also matters. They not only enhance the look but also amplify the flavors.

• A few must-haves as garnishes include limes, lemons, oranges for peeling, fresh herbs and spices like rosemary, mint, basil and cinnamon sticks.
• Besides these garnishes like pearl onions, black pepper and coconut cream can also be used for extra flavor.
• ‘Ice’ to meet you!

Yes! This is a very obvious must have for any drink but it is only because of the role that it plays in making a difference to your drink. The kind of ice that you use in your drinks matters. Ice from a standard tray or ice-maker is cloudy due to gases and impurities becoming trapped during the freezing process compared to the more sophisticated, directional freezing method used by professionals. Larger and harder cubes allow for a proper shake-time which will aerate the drink, giving you a nice chilly and frothy head glass of cocktail.

Cocktail Essential Tools

The gadgets to make a proper cocktail are quite important and make a huge difference. This however does not mean that you ought to spend huge amounts on buying tool kits that are a craze and hype, simply focus on quality essentials.These include- Jigger, Cocktail shaker, Muddler, Long-handle metal bar spoon and of course a blender.

Cocktail Glasses

The kind of vessels that you choose to serve the cocktails adds the climax to the final tasting. Searching for wares in vintage and thrift stores can be quite rewarding. Here are a few must-have glasses for different kinds of cocktails-

• Vodka/schnapps glass
• Old-fashioned glass
• Cordial/liqueur glass
• Highball glass
• Margarita glass
• Cocktail/martini glass
• Collins glass
• Champagne glass

Get these and begin serving!

With these essentials listed above, don’t let anything stand in your way of making the most cocktails for everybody to savour. You need a degree or those expensive professional equipment, just stick to the basic essentials and get creative!

e refreshing treats will be your perfect partners. Let’s learn these easy peasy recipes and add a touch of high to your celebrations –

The Cheever:

What’s better than a vodka cocktail with hints and notes of pineapple and coconut? Nothing. This drink simply cheers you up with its subtle notes and makes it a perfect treat for the humid month of June. All you need is one part of Vodka, half parts of cream, cream of coconut and blue Curacao each and lastly, 3 parts of pineapple juice! Put the pineapple juice, Vodka, and creams in a blender with a few ice cubes, blend, and strain, top it with some blue Curacao, ice, and hurray! You can now dive into the cool and tropical taste of Cheever.  

The Melon Sour:

Okay, June also brings with it that humid and hot weather. So why not indulge in a sweet and sour drink? So let’s make the melon sour. All you need is 11/2 parts of melon liqueur and sweet and sour mix, 1 part citrus vodka, Lemon Juice for that extra punch, some fresh ginger, and lastly, orange Liqueur. The pride community represents so much versatility. Similarly, this drink shall also add a diverse force of flavours.

Muddle the ginger, lime juice, and melon liqueur, followed by the sweet and sour mix and citrus vodka. Shake with ice and strain. These form the bottom layer, top it with some cranberry juice and finish it with some orange liqueur and candied ginger for a fancy look. Enjoy this colorful and refreshing treat!

Say Hello to Jell-O:

Just the right amount of gelatin, liquor, and color, and your refreshing jelly slickster is ready! Four colored Jell-O mixes, your choice of liquor, and a few ice cubes are all you need.

For each of the Jell-O mixes, empty the contents on ¾ cup of boiling water, throw in a few ice cubes, stir till it cools, and ¾ cup of Vodka and layer it in shot glasses. By the end of the 4th mix, you will have a colorful jelly shot cocktail ready! It is indeed a quirky addition to your Pride Month get-togethers or house parties.

Rainbow Sangrigio:

Ready to dive into a fruity delight? Well, then get chopping and collect a bottle of dry white wine, 3 tbsp of honey or powdered sugar, and some lime juice. Mix all of the ingredients and combine till the sugar or honey completely dissolves. Arrange the fruits in a glass; let the chef in you create a beautiful and colorful glass. Pour in the wine mix and let the fruits soak up all of those amazing flavors. The secret of making the perfect Sangrigio is to let the fruits drink the entire liquid first. Then, you can top these fruits with either brandy or soda and relish this refreshing yet a little healthy drink!

Happiness enhanced with Harvey Milkshake:

This one is quite different but is still an amazing treat. Pink, beautiful and refreshing! All you need is some great Vanilla ice cream, some fresh cream, Vanilla Vodka, White crème the cacao, and some fresh pear puree. Blend all of these elements and ta-da! You can now dive into a smooth and chilled delight!

Loud and Proud:

So, this one is the most complex drink since it has many ingredients but oh it does taste great? Well, make and find out. For this one, you must collect 1 ½ oz of Empress Indigo Gin, ½ oz of Lemongrass syrup, and Germaine elderflower liqueur each and 1 oz of Apple rosewater. Mix all the ingredients with a dash of lemon juice and shake them up with some ice cubes. The finished result would be something you will feel magical and apt for the Pride month joy.

Celebrate the community of Pride and Love this Pride month with DrinkTales!

If you want to ease out the cocktail-making process, then simply order yourself a cocktail mix from Drinktales! Our team is looking forward to adding an extra jolly vibe with its cocktail mixers. So along with the drinks slated above, you can experiment with our cocktail mixers to enjoy with your partner and community pals. Without any ado, browse through our website and find your perfect chill drink!