We all love to sip cocktails in the sun…and what better place to do that than at the Craic House bar over looking Malapascuas’ white sand beach.
But what do you really know about that drink in your hand?
A cocktail refers to any mixed alcoholic drink that contains three or more ingredients, with at least one of these being alcohol.
There is much dispute as to when, where and how the cocktail originated, but it was first defined in 1806 in a New York publication as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters….it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head.”
So how do you make a good cocktail? Just like preparing good food, mixing cocktails is not particularly difficult but does demand attention to detail. So here are some tips from the Craic House Girls…
● Always read the recipe before you start so you can understand what you are making and don’t get a surprise half way through preparation!
● If you want consistent taste stick to the proportions of each ingredient given in the recipe
● A decent drink is only as good as its ingredients…so use fresh juices. Roll the fruit before juicing to get the most juice from it
● Use good quality ice made from mineral/purified water to avoid any strange tastes
● Chill your glassware…Fill a glass with ice cubes and water and leave to stand while preparing the drink. Pour away the ice and water before straining the cocktail into the glass. If you plan ahead you can also place the glass in the fridge for an hour to chill
● To shake or stir? The classic rule is any drink made with clear spirits should be stirred. Shake if your drink contains many ingredients, juices, creams and liqueurs.
So drop by the Craic House and try out some of our favorites…Happy Hour is daily from 4pm-7pm and selected cocktails are 2 for 1!
