If you’re throwing an event and want to give your guests a little something extra, or if you just like to experiment with flavors for your own enjoyment, you’ve probably thought about adding herbs to your cocktails. Different herbs can each add their own special something to the delicate flavor balance of a drink, and it’s always a good idea to play around and see for yourself what works. Here are some tips to get you started.
Add Freshness
Adding herbs with fresh flavors can make your cocktails extra refreshing, especially when it’s hot out or you’re drinking something with a lot of ice. The number one herb for this purpose is mint. Mint is an extremely versatile flavor and can be worked into almost any drink thanks to its cooling, sweetening effect. Another good option is basil, which works especially well in frozen and fruity drinks like a strawberry daiquiri. And in general, adding a sprig of something fresh as a garnish will give you an extra summery kick.
Flavor
To add flavor to your drink, try a more potent herb like rosemary or thyme. The woody, earthy tones of rosemary taste particularly good in vodka-based drinks and are paired with citrus flavors like orange or lime. Or a lighter, tea-like herb like lavender will give your drink flowery notes and add color and aroma to boot.
Muddling
Muddling is essentially using some kind of tool to rub the flavor out of an herb, and it should be used in moderation. If you choose to muddle, which you don’t always need to do, do so only enough to release the flavorful oils and not so much that your leaves are ruined and lose their flavor.
