Everybody knows the name of their favourite cocktail. Many never give thought to how those special cocktails were created. Those drinks were created by someone at some time and now they are enjoyed by millions who are unknown to the creators of those drinks. The Tom Collins, Martini, Sangria, Sake Bomb and the Long Island Iced Tea are all in the class of rock star cocktails that have become staples at most every bar in the world.
The reality is that anyone can create their own signature cocktail; all they need is creativity and a little time for trial and error.
Here are some things one would be wise to ask themselves before attempting to come up with their own signature cocktail.
What drinks to you like?
For a person who wants to come up with their own signature cocktail, while they want it to be unique, they can still look for inspiration. The best information will come from recalling what drinks they actually enjoy and figuring out why.
Have you chosen a base spirit?
The base spirit is an important selection because it is the driving force behind the rest of the drink. It is important to make sure that anything added to the base spirit is a complementing flavour. There is a reason why orange juice is often seen mixed with champagne rather than cognac.
Is it for a specific event?
If the cocktail is for a themed party, the drink should fit the theme. For example, choosing a base spirit for a cocktail like Russian vodka might not be the best idea for a Mexican fiesta themed party.
What type of glass will you serve it in?
Of course, once you come up with the drink, you need to then figure out what type of glass would be best to present the drink in. Yes, this is one of the cases where presentation means everything. No one will have near as much fun drinking your new blueberry-pear martini out of a beer mug as they would out of chilled martini glass.
Can you be imaginative?
Sure, there are some guidelines that have been presented to help a person come up with a signature cocktail they'll enjoy serving to their friends for years to come; but that doesn't mean one shouldn't stretch their imaginative legs in creating their new cocktail. By all means, try out things that people wouldn't ordinarily think of and who knows, it might turn out to be the best idea.
The key thing to remember when creating a signature cocktail is to let who you are shine through; let the drink somehow be a reflection of you. When they drink it, hopefully, they will learn something new about the creator of the cocktail. Perhaps they will be so inspired by the new combination of flavours that have been introduced to them, they'll want to go home and create a signature cocktail of their own.
To be honest I can't even think of a spirit I like on it's own. Think I'll just save time and money and serve wine, beer and lemonade. Gonna be catering myself so I'll have loads to do.
