Building
BeginnerAssembling a cocktail directly in the serving glass without separate mixing. Used for highballs and simple drinks.
Comment faire
1. Place ice in the serving glass first. 2. Add the base spirit directly to the glass. 3. Add any modifiers, bitters, or syrups. 4. Top with your mixer (soda, tonic, juice) by pouring gently down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation. 5. Stir briefly with a bar spoon — 2–3 rotations only — and add your garnish. Tip: Always add carbonated mixers last and stir minimally to keep the drink effervescent. The ice goes in before the spirit to avoid splashing and to begin chilling immediately. Common mistake: over-stirring after adding carbonated mixers, which flattens the drink.
Conseils pro
Add ingredients in order of cost — cheapest first — so if you make a mistake, you waste less. Fill the glass with ice before adding spirits to ensure immediate chilling and prevent the drink from sitting warm. Pour the carbonated mixer last and stir gently just 2-3 times to integrate without losing effervescence. For highballs, use a tall Collins glass packed tightly with ice to the brim, which keeps the drink cold longer and maintains the ratio as ice slowly melts.
Erreurs courantes
Adding soda before spirits causes the carbonation to fizz up violently and go flat before the drink is finished, leaving a lifeless highball. Not giving the drink a gentle stir after building means spirits sink to the bottom while mixer sits on top, creating an unbalanced sip of straight liquor followed by plain soda. Over-pouring without measuring throws off the spirit-to-mixer ratio, making the drink either too boozy or too bland.
