A cocktail mixed a la minute is nice and all, but don’t turn your nose up at bottles of pre-batched libations that are handy in a pinch
The path of least resistance towards your end-of-day drink is typically a cork screw or a bottle cap opener but, with a little bit of planning, you can have ready-to-pour cocktails in your fridge as well—right next to your eggs and milk! They also make for great picnic additions, hostess gifts, and sneaky flask drinks the next time you travel.
See also: 7 Gift Ideas For Gourmands
A few tips to keep in mind for pre-batched drinks
1. Cocktails that keep best are spirit-forward, without the use of citrus juice or other fresh fruit juices directly that would spoil or change flavour over time. There will be ways to incorporate these flavours in a few techniques mentioned below.
2. Test your proportions beforehand to find your perfect ratio of ingredients before batching in large quantities. The recipes listed below are just a suggestion and your preferences may vary.
3. Reuse old glass wine or spirit bottles. The container should be non-reactive and have a relatively tight seal to minimise oxidation. Leave a little room in the bottle to allow for a quick shake to mix the ingredients within.
4. Storing cocktails in the freezer rather than the fridge gives the drink a creamier, fuller texture, but some may not like that mouthfeel or may feel it dulls the original flavours. Experiment with both to see which you prefer, though cocktails with less spirit may risk being a little slushy right out of the freezer.
5. Mark the date that you batched the cocktail on the bottle. If you only use spirits, there is no definite expiry date. For cocktails containing vermouth or other fortified wines, they are best consumed in under 5 months. If incorporating infusions such as fruits and herbs, try your best (as hard as it may seem!) to finish the batch in under a week.
6. Always add filtered water to the bottle in order to replicate the dilution from stirring on ice.
7. Store a glass or two in your fridge or freezer if you have the space. This will give you a chilled vessel perfect for an ice cold cocktail anytime.
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The pre-batched recipe ideas below (all tested by me!) will create enough to fill 750ml bottles—i.e. 6-8 servings.
