Solids, gases and liquids — no, this isn’t your high school science class, though we will be talking a bit about creative cocktail chemistry!
We believe that the perfect cocktail is so much more than just liquid in a glass. To keep our cocktail menus on the cutting edge, we find that taking a step back to consider drinks as a whole — instead of just the sum of their liquid parts — can be a very worthwhile endeavor.
With access to nearly 1,000 bottles of vodka and whiskey between our two St. Louis-based establishments, and a list of 150+ ever-changing cocktails, we’ve found that incorporating detailed garnishes, flavored ice cubes, smoke, wood and more into unique drinking experiences that keep our customers coming back to see what’s new behind the bar.
For example, one of our most popular drinks at Gamlin Whiskey House is the Smoked Manhattan. By adding a little smoke to our traditional Manhattan, we’re able to bring out the flavors of the wood — which is so important to determining the character of a whiskey — one final time between distiller and consumer.
Steps like this also help boost your bottom line — by adding an unexpected twist on a traditional drink, we’re able to increase our per drink profit by up to 50 percent.
You don’t have to be a mad scientist or invest in a lot of crazy equipment to make this possible, either. A little creativity goes a long way! For example, unique flavored ice cubes can be readily made from things found in any professional bar, and can really help enhance/expand a cocktail’s flavors without watering it down.
There’s so much more to a cocktail than its spirit base; we want to share our passion and ideas for exploring the endless options with industry individuals looking for ingredient inspiration. Using nontraditional ingredients in a creative way is a great way to engage your guests during their experience, which is something all bartenders need to keep front of mind in order to set their establishment apart.
Our session will offer opportunities for bartenders to learn new techniques within their craft, as well as to think more creatively when sourcing ingredients for a cocktail recipe.
Registration for the 2017 Nightclub & Bar Show is open now! Register and make sure to attend this exciting and informative session!