It’s in our nature to be drawn to beauty, to seek it, and even to be influenced by it. In many ways, beauty truly is power. It has a special power over us, and it can truly improve our experiences.

At first glance, it might not seem like much, but the way a cocktail is presented to us is a critical component of our drinking experience.

The experience with the preparation of the cocktail, developing anticipation as the drink is carefully prepared, our senses begin to take in all of the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of the process. Finally, once shaken or stirred and strained, we garnish.

The garnish is the final touch, meant to accentuate the drink’s flavours, tie them together, contrast with them, or perfectly compliment them. Below are our top 4 garnishing methods for cocktails:

1. TWIST GARNISHING WITH CITRUS PEEL

One of the easiest and most common garnishes for cocktails is the twist. No matter what type of twist you use, though, the basic idea remains the same. A twist is a tool for expressing citrus oil into a drink. Squeeze the peel over the surface of the cocktail, rub the coloured side (not the white pith) around the rim of the glass, and either drop the peel into the glass or discard, it’s Your call.

2. MINT GARNISHING

Mint isn’t much harder to work with than twists are. The main thing with mint is to have a light hand, especially when muddling. When you garnish the top of the glass, use a fresh bunch of sprigs (don’t be miserly, and don’t reuse the stuff you muddled), and be sure to sharply spank the mint to release its aromas. Yes, I said spank.

3. DRESSING UP THE RIM WITH SALT, SUGAR & SPICE

A speedy way to add a bit of flair to most cocktails. This is usually a two-way garnishing method that works perfectly well with sweet and punchier cocktails. This garnishing method (with sugar) would make a nice addition to cocktails on the sweeter side such as a bright-coloured cosmopolitan. In the case of punchier cocktails like a margarita, for instance, a salted rim is the way to go. But instead of just using plain old salt, mix it with a bit of micro planed lime zest. You could also try mixing in different spices that bring out the drink’s flavours, like cinnamon, cayenne, or even smoked salt.

4. TRANSFORM APPLE SLICES INTO FLOWERS

These apple roses might look technically difficult, but they’re actually pretty easy to pull off. Slice the apples with a mandolin (or if your knife skills are first-rate, use a sharp knife) and simmer them over low heat in a mixture of lemon juice and water. Once cooled, roll one slice to make the centre, then roll each slice around the centre until you have a rose. Use a skewer to hold everything together and top on an Apple-centric drink, like a cold-weather riff on a Moscow mule with apple cider, ginger beer, and lime.

Garnishes add visual appeal as well as aromatics and subtle flavours to cocktails. These small elements can have a big impact on the finished drink, so don’t skip them!

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Source; thespruceeats