Great spirits for great cocktails - in search of quality

The world of cocktails and long drinks is a fascinating set of ingredients expertly mixed according to recipes that are now part of the great history of mixology. Tradition, innovation, fantasy and creativity are combined in the glass in a perfect synthesis of aromas. At the base of great cocktails, however, there are always quality spirits . Aside from the skill of the barman, what really makes the difference between a cocktail and another is the basic ingredient, the raw material: the distillate. One of the most classic mistakes is to think of buying high-end spirits to taste smooth and, instead, to use low-quality labels to prepare cocktails . The distillate is the fundamental ingredient of a cocktail, the one that characterizes it, that gives personality and decrees its success. Given that many spirits, we think of Gin, Vodka, Tequila, can be used indifferently for the two uses, therefore buying a single bottle, there are some spirits, in particular Rum and Whiskey, which have characteristics particularly suitable for the type of consumption .

In the field of Rum , for example, to prepare cocktails we will choose the white or slightly aged versions in wood , which have a simpler, fresh and delicate taste, more suitable to marry in harmony with other ingredients. The distillate must be the background of a symphony of aromas and must hold and bind the flavors without overpowering the other ingredients. A Rum aged in wood for a long time would be too intense, complex, deep and would risk excessively marking the taste of the cocktail.

The same principle will guide us in choosing a Whiskey . Also in this case we will choose a Whiskey with a rather short aging and in neutral woods, which do not go too far to mark the aroma of the distillate, leaving above all the malty and fruity aromas, not too dense and rich. We will also avoid using Islay-style Whiskeys, characterized by peaty, brackish and smoked notes, which risk overwhelming the aromas of the other ingredients.

To prepare great cocktails, high quality spirits are therefore needed, with a fine and elegant profile and a delicate taste, capable of marrying the rest of the ingredients in a harmonious way. We talked about Rum and Whiskey, but the same can be said for Tequila and any other distillate that you will want to use to prepare your favorite cocktails.

So, do not save on the distillate, always aim for the highest quality, rather save on the quantity: drink only one cocktail but excellent!