When mixing drinks, what does muddling mean?!
When mixing drinks, what does muddling mean?
For example, muddle the straw berries and then add ice ETC
Answers:
Muddling means to crush or mash. This is done primarily in cocktails with mint in them such as Mint Juleps, Mojitos, and Caprhianas. It is also done in the Old Fashioned with the orange and cherry. As well as a few other cocktails. The purpose is to release the essntial oils and their flavors from the ingrediant(s) being muddled. You can actually see the act of muddling in that stupid Bacardi Mojito commercial. The guy has a glass full of mint leaves and he is using a muddler to press and twist the leaves. Thats muddling. A muddler is a tool that looks kind of like a little wooden baseball bat. Some are also made of plastic. If you don't have or can't find a muddler you can use a pestal or the back handle of a large serving spoon or some other kitchen tool with a rounded or flat bottom. If you ever go to a place that sells old fashioned homemade lemonade they might muddle the lemons in wedges to release the oils, juices, and flavors.