Bars & Breweries

Easy Ways to Update Your Cocktail Menu

Last updated on Jul 5, 2022
Jessica Wieser

Creating a well-balanced, exciting cocktail menu takes time and the occasional adjustment. Keeping things fresh and exciting for your regulars can keep them coming back, and it’s a great way to attract new customers to your bar. Staying aware of changing trends in bars can help you keep your offerings feeling modern while staying true to your brand. If you’re looking for a few easy updates, try incorporating the suggestions below into your drink menu.

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Create Savory Culinary Cocktails

Culinary Cocktails

Taking the savory route allows mixologists to balance flavors similar to how a chef creates a plate of food. While this isn’t necessarily a new concept (think of a spicy bloody mary and salt-rimmed margarita), bartenders are finding new and creative ways to play with savory flavors. Cocktails featuring vegetable juices, like carrot or beet, not only look great, but they can add unique flavor elements to your menu. You’ll even see cocktails that incorporate ingredients like roasted red peppers or spicy jalapenos.

What Is Fat-Washing?

Fat-washing is the process of using a fat such as butter, duck fat, or oil to infuse savory flavors into a cocktail. To fat-wash, mix a liquid fat (such as melted butter) into your spirit of choice. Allow the mixture to sit out at room temperature for several hours before chilling in the refrigerator. Once the fat solidifies, skim it off the top of the drink. The spirit is now infused with the fat flavoring.

Here are a few savory cocktails to get you started:

  • Bullshot: vodka, beef bouillon or broth, Worcestshire sauce
  • Rosemary Salty Dog: gin, grapefruit juice, rosemary syrup
  • Thyme Lemonade: gin, fresh thyme, lemon juice, sugar

Cocktail and Food Pairings

Similar to the idea of wine pairings, cocktail pairings provide limitless options because of their diverse nature. Here are a few food pairing ideas for classic cocktails:

  • Margarita: ceviche, jerk chicken, samosas, or pulled pork
  • Gin and Tonic: smoked salmon, charcuterie board, curry, or fish and chips
  • Martini: shrimp cocktail, hummus and chips, grilled fish, or stuffed mushrooms
  • Mimosa: scrambled eggs, risotto, lobster, or bagel and lox
  • Old Fashioned: bacon-wrapped dates, pork chops, spiced and roasted pecans, or duck confit

Grow Your Own Ingredients

Creating a hyperlocal source for your ingredients is an on-trend way to appeal to your environmentally or health-conscious consumers. Growing your own fruits, herbs, and vegetables is cost-effective and allows you to gain total control over the handling of your produce.

If it’s feasible for your bar or restaurant, consider maintaining a small garden plot either on your property or somewhere local. You can even try breeding your plants to yield unique flavor qualities or preserve heirloom integrity. And while it may not be viable to grow enough produce to cover the needs of your entire food menu, the small quantities required for cocktails makes the endeavor a lot more manageable.

Incorporate Tea into Cocktails

Tea Cocktails

From earl gray to chamomile, teas are trickling into our cocktails with their warm, aromatic flavors. Hot or cold, tea pairs well with a variety of different liquors, and the subtle flavors won’t overpower the nuances of top shelf selections. As with many cocktail trends, tea is not a new ingredient for mixologists. In fact, most old school party punch recipes include tea as a major component. But while the old classics can serve as a nod to the past, you may also see more modern interpretations popping up on menus around you.

Here are a few tea-infused cocktails to get you started:

  • Black Tea Rum Punch: white rum, loose black tea, pineapple juice, apricot liqueur, simple syrup, lime and lemon juice, bitters
  • Green Tea Mojito: white rum, lime juice, sugar, brewed and chilled green tea, mint
  • Chamomile Tequila Sour: tequila, chamomile simple syrup, lime

Medicinal and Herbal Cocktails

Using apothecary-inspired ingredients isn’t a new concept, but rather a modern interpretation of an old belief. That’s because many believe that cocktails first got their start as mixtures intended to treat ailments.

Tonic water and bitters are two extremely common cocktail ingredients, and they both found their beginnings in medicine. The juniper flavor of gin likely wound up there because juniper was traditionally used to treat a wide array of health problems. It's the same story with Fernet and Sambuca, which both originated as digestifs and are still believed to play some role in aiding digestion after meals

While the herbal remedies that find their way into today’s cocktails are more for flavor than anything else, the folkloric quality of the ingredients contributes to the mood of the drink and tone of the overall experience. There’s any number of reasons for the resurgence of interest in medicinal cocktails including the uprising of health drinks like kombucha or the desire to incorporate unconventional ingredients into culinary cocktails.

Here are a few common medicinal cocktails:

  • Hot Toddy: bourbon, honey, lemon juice, hot water
  • Bees Knees: gin, lemon juice, honey
  • Hot Buttered Rum: spiced rum, brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, hot water

While drinking alcohol isn’t necessarily healthy, indulging in the occasional artisanal cocktail can be good for the soul. A focus on high-quality ingredients, new flavor combinations, and a touch of herbal remedy can help boost profits from your drink menu. Offering unique cocktails that can’t be found anywhere else can be a big draw for your establishment. So, while you may want to keep some of the old classics, embracing some new approaches to the way you develop your cocktails can provide guests with an exciting experience.

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  • The Top 10 Cocktail Bitters Every Bar Needs

    If you want to create an upscale cocktail menu, investing in popular, high-quality bitters is essential. Made by infusing herbs spices, and other botanicals in alcohol, bitters are concentrated flavor extracts that add depth and complexity to cocktails. They also play a crucial role in crafting a flavorful mocktail, helping compensate for the lack of liquor. From earthy to sweet, there are a wide variety of bitters to choose from. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most popular bitters flavors bars should invest in and the brands they should know. Shop All Bitters Learn more about the most popular bitters: 1. Orange Bitters 2. Aromatic Bitters 3. Chocolate Bitters 4. Lavender Bitters 5. Cherry Bitters 6. Peach Bitters 7. Grapefruit Bitters 8. Celery Bitters 9. Vanilla Bitters 10. Lemon Bitters 11. Best Bitters Brands 1. Orange Bitters Orange bitters are made from a combination of ingredients such as orange peels, cardamom, caraway seed, coriander, anise, and burnt sugar. 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Lavender Bitters Tasting Notes: Floral lavender, fresh herbs, citrus zest Liquors Lavender Bitters Complement: Gin, vodka, tequila Best Cocktails for Lavender Bitters: Spiked Lemonade, Lavender Gin and Tonic, Lavender French 75, Lavender Bee’s Knees 5. Cherry Bitters Made from the essence of sweet or sour cherries, these bitters offer a delightful combination of fruity and spiced flavors that can elevate the taste of many cocktails. They can pair well with both light and dark liquors, making them a versatile ingredient in a bartender's toolkit. The distinct spiced cherry notes in cherry bitters come from the infusion of botanicals like cherry bark during the production process, resulting in a complex flavor profile that adds depth and richness. Cherry bitters are particularly well-suited for updating classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, where their bold flavor can shine through. Cherry Bitters Tasting Notes: Ripe cherries, floral aroma, a balance of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors Liquors Cherry Bitters Complement: Rum, whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin Best Cocktails for Cherry Bitters: Cherry Old Fashioned, Cherry Manhattan, Cherry Gin Rickey, Cherry Gin Fizz, Cherry Negroni, Cherry Bramble 6. Peach Bitters Peach bitters are known for their juicy, sweet peach flavor that pairs exceptionally well with a variety of spirits, including bourbon, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, and cognac. Ideal for creating high-quality craft cocktails and mocktails, peach bitters can add a refreshing flavor to classic recipes. In addition to the prominent peach flavor, these bitters may also include complementary notes of almond, citrus, and herb flavors, enhancing the complexity of the drink. Experiment with different combinations to discover the perfect balance of sweet and savory notes in your drinks. Peach Bitters Tasting Notes: Ripe cherries, floral aroma, a balance of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors Liquors Peach Bitters Complement: Bourbon, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, and cognac Best Cocktails for Peach Bitters: Spiked Iced Tea, Bellini-Tini, Greenbriar, Peach Old Fashioned, La Bicyclette, Bourbon Peach Smash, Byrrh 7. Grapefruit Bitters Grapefruit bitters are known for their refreshing, bittersweet grapefruit flavor that adds a citrusy kick to your drinks. They pair exceptionally well with vodka, tequila, mezcal, or gin, enhancing the overall taste profile of your cocktails. Try adding a dash to our spicy grapefruit mezcal margarita recipe. In addition to their citrusy flavor, grapefruit bitters can also contain floral notes such as gentian flower or lavender, as well as herbal notes like rosemary. These additional flavor layers can elevate your cocktails' complexity, creating a well-balanced and aromatic drinking experience. It's important to note that a little bit of grapefruit bitters goes a long way, so bartenders should use them sparingly to avoid overpowering the drink. Grapefruit Bitters Tasting Notes: Grapefruit, citrus fruits, herbs and spices, occasional floral notes Liquors Grapefruit Bitters Complement: Vodka, tequila, mezcal, gin Best Cocktails for Grapefruit Bitters: Tenner Martini, Paloma, Death in Venice, Greyhound, Sunstroke 8. Celery Bitters In addition to their distinctive celery taste, these bitters often contain notes of lemongrass, ginger, licorice root, or black pepper, adding layers of depth and complexity to your beverages. Celery bitters pair exceptionally well with vodka, tequila, gin, or other light spirits, adding a crisp and refreshing element to your drinks. Whether you're looking to enhance a Bloody Mary or experiment with new flavor profiles, celery bitters are a must-have ingredient for any bartender looking to take their mixology skills to the next level. Celery Bitters Tasting Notes: Earthy celery, lemongrass, ginger, licorice root, black pepper Liquors Grapefruit Bitters Complement: Vodka, tequila, gin Best Cocktails for Grapefruit Bitters: Ephemeral Cocktail, Celery Daquiri, Bloody Mary, Celery Vesper Martini, Loop Tonic Cocktail, Fourth Regiment Cocktail 9. Vanilla Bitters All vanilla bitters contain premium vanilla as a key ingredient, which imparts a rich and aromatic flavor profile to drinks. Many vanilla bitters are bourbon barrel-aged, adding depth and complexity to the flavor profile. In addition to vanilla, these bitters often contain complementary flavors such as cherry, star anise, cocoa, orange, maple, or almond. These additional flavors enhance the overall taste of the bitters and provide a well-rounded experience. Vanilla bitters complement a wide range of spirits but pair particularly well with bourbon, rye whiskey, or gin. Vanilla Bitters Tasting Notes: Vanilla bean and complementary flavors such as cacao, almond, or star anise depending on the brand Liquors Vanilla Bitters Complement: Bourbon, rye whiskey, gin Best Cocktails for Vanilla Bitters: El Sueno Cocktail, Bourbon Vanilla Manhattan, Chilean Monkey Tail Punch, Vanilla Bean Old Fashioned, Vanilla Rum White Russian 10. Lemon Bitters The bright citrus flavor of lemon bitters adds a zesty kick to drinks, enhancing their overall taste profile. These bitters pair best with light-colored spirits such as vodka, tequila, and gin. From spiked iced teas and lemonades to limoncello margaritas and lemon spritz, lemon bitters are a perfect addition when you're creating summery cocktails. Many brands pair florals and spices to enhance the flavor profile of their lemon bitters. Lemon Bitters Tasting Notes: Bright citrus, lemon zest, bitter lemon Liquors Lemon Bitters Complement: Vodka, tequila, gin Best Cocktails for Lemon Bitters: Lemon Lime and Bitters Cocktail, Spiked Iced Tea, Spiked Lemonade, Limoncello Margarita, Lemon Spritz, Basil Lemon Margarita, Lemon Lavender Gin and Tonic Back to Top Bitters Brands While you can make your own cocktail bitters, it’s a time-consuming process most bar operators can’t take upon themselves. Thankfully, many exemplary brands have won the trust and respect of bartenders over the years. Before stocking up on bar essentials, review our information on prominent bitters brands to make an informed purchasing decision. Angostura Angostura is a widely recognized producer of aromatic bitters with a rich history dating back to the 1870s when Dr. Johann Siegert created bitters as a medicinal remedy for stomach ailments. Although Angostura bitters are no longer used for medicinal purposes, they have found a new role in the culinary world. These bitters are often incorporated into cooking recipes and are particularly popular in cocktail making, such as in crafting classic Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. Price Point: $8.89 - $31.99 Flavors: Aromatic bitters, orange bitters, cocoa bitters Sizes Available: 4 fl. oz. - 16 fl. oz. See what our customers are saying about Angostura bitters! Fee Brothers Established in 1864, Fee Brothers is a family-owned business renowned for crafting premium drink flavorings and mixes. Originally founded as a winemaking and liquor import enterprise, the company transitioned in the 1950s to primarily offer non-alcoholic products that had surged in demand since the Prohibition era. The dedication and enthusiasm invested in bottling each Fee Brothers product have been consistently upheld over the years, solidifying its reputation as a respected and reliable brand within the cocktail-making sphere. Price Point: $8.69 Flavors: Aromatic bitters, cardamon bitters, cherry bitters, chili bitters, chocolate bitters, grapefruit bitters, orange bitters, lemon bitters, vanilla bitters Sizes Available: 5 fl. oz See what our customers are saying about Fee Brothers bitters! Woodford Reserve Situated on the historic grounds of Kentucky's oldest distillery where Elijah Pepper began crafting whiskey in 1812, Woodford Reserve stands as one of the oldest and smallest distilleries in the United States. Woodford Reserve has formed a proud partnership with Bourbon Barrel Foods, offering a range of cocktail and culinary mixes. By using Woodford Reserve's bitters and concentrated flavors, you can elevate the taste of your cocktails. Price Point: $9.49 Flavors: Aromatic bitters, cherry bitters, chocolate bitters, orange bitters, herbs and spices, peach bitters Sizes Available: 1.7 fl. oz - 2 fl. oz. See what our customers are saying about Woodford Reserve bitters! King Floyd’s King Floyd's Bar Provisions specializes in creating distinctively flavored bitters. Their dedication to perfection is evident in their meticulous approach, starting from selecting premium ingredients to maintaining uniform quality. By allowing time and nature to enhance the flavors, King Floyd's achieves a truly authentic taste that sets them apart. Transform your drinks into sophisticated, rich cocktails with King Floyd's exceptional flavors. Price Point: $9.49 Flavors: Aromatic bitters, cherry bitters, chocolate bitters, orange bitters, ginger bitters, grapefruit bitters, pear bitters, herbs and spices, plum rosemary bitters Sizes Available: 1.7 fl. oz - 2 fl. oz. See what our customers are saying about King Floyd’s bitters! Back to Top Elevate your cocktail menu and impress your customers with the addition of top-quality cocktail bitters to your bar arsenal. Whether you are looking to add depth and complexity to classic cocktails or experiment with new flavor combinations in innovative creations, cocktail bitters are a versatile ingredient that can enhance the overall drinking experience. With a wide range of options available, from traditional aromatic bitters to exotic and bold flavors, there is something to suit every taste preference and style of establishment.

  • How to Measure Liquor

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Jiggers A jigger is a measurement tool that helps bartenders obtain equal shots of liquor for their drinks. The pros and cons of measuring liquor with a jigger are as follows: Ensures consistency - Your drinks will come out the same every time. Cuts costs - By guaranteeing how much liquor is going into each drink, jiggers can reduce revenue loss. Takes longer - Measuring liquor in a jigger is more time-consuming than other pouring methods. 2. Free Pouring Free pouring is the art of pouring liquor and counting down to gauge the correct amount. The pros and cons of free pouring are as follows: Saves time - It is much faster to free pour liquor than to measure it in a jigger. The ability to serve more drinks may increase your bar’s profit margins and the number of tips you’ll earn. Multi-tasking - Because free pouring only requires one hand, you can use your free hand to prepare other drinks. Visually enticing - Free pouring adds an element of showmanship to the drink-making process. Can yield flavor inconsistencies - Free pouring liquor can produce inconsistent amounts of alcohol, throwing off the flavor of drinks. Can lead to revenue loss - It’s easy to overpour liquor when you don’t use a formal measurement system, leading to lost revenue. 3. Measured Pourers Measured liquor pourers are designed to accurately dispense certain pour increments, making it easy for bartenders to quickly serve precise amounts of liquor. The pros and cons of measuring liquor with a measured pourer are as follows. Liquor inventory management - Controls how much liquor goes into each drink and prevents heavy-handed liquor pours. Flavor control - Ensures your cocktails offer the same delicious flavor every time they’re ordered. Must purchase multiple - Because measured pourers deliver preset amounts of liquor, you’ll require multiple and will have to switch them out to accommodate different drink orders. 4. Precision Pour Bottle Rack Systems Precision pour bottle rack systems provide quick, accurate results for measuring liquor. You install your liquor bottle to the pourer head, and then mount the entire unit upside down. This allows your liquor to flow freely when you dispense it by pressing the rim of your glass against the bottom of the head. Like measured pourers, precision pour rack systems dispense preset amounts of liquor. The pros and cons of measuring liquor with precision pour rack systems are as follows: Accurate - Ensures the right amount of liquor is dispensed every time. Fast - Eliminates the extra step of measuring liquor. Multi-Bottle Units Available - Many precision pour bottle rack systems allow you to load multiple liquor bottles into the same unit for convenience. May slow bartenders down - If you have to wait for another bartender to finish using the station to access the bottle you need, it will slow your drink-making process. Less visually stimulating - For craft cocktail bars, doling out liquor from an upside-down pourer is less exciting for customers to watch than a bartender measuring or counting out their drink. Back to Top Liquor Pouring FAQ Get answers to the most common questions about pouring liquor below. What Is the Standard Pour in a Single Mixer Cocktail? The standard pour for single mixer cocktails is 1 1/2 fl. oz. of liquor. How Many Counts Is a Shot? A 3-count liquor pour equals one shot. Each count delivers 1/2 a fl. oz., so it takes 3 counts to create the standard 1 1/2 fl. oz. shot. How Many Counts for Neat/on the Rocks Drinks? A 4-count pour is standard for liquor served neat/on the rocks with no mixers. You’ll want to give patrons who order a fine whiskey a generous 2 fl. oz. pour. How Many Tablespoons in a Shot? There are three tablespoons in a shot. How Many Teaspoons Are in a Shot Glass? There are nine teaspoons in a shot. How Many Shots in a Cup? There are 8 shots in a cup. 8 fl. oz. is a standard volume cup, and a standard shot varies between 1 and 1 1/2 fl. oz. How Many Seconds Is a 2 Oz. Pour? It takes 4 seconds to pour 2 fl. oz. of alcohol. You can gauge seconds passing by counting them out. How Many Seconds Is a 1 Oz. Pour? It takes 2 seconds to pour 1 fl. oz. of liquor. Back to Top How to Free Pour Liquor To free pour, bartenders top liquor bottles with speed pourers. Also known as pour spouts, speed pourers regulate how much air goes into the bottle they’re placed into which facilitates a steady stream of liquor. With a speed pourer on hand, use the following steps to free pour liquor: Place the speed pourer on the bottle. Consider which hand you’ll be pouring with and face the speed pourer’s spout towards the cup. Hold the liquor bottle by its neck. This provides greater control over the bottle. It also prevents heat transfer from your hand to the alcohol. Turn the bottle upside down. Keeping the bottle straight and holding it upside down ensures an even stream of liquor, so you can keep an accurate count while you pour. Count out your pour. Each count should equal 1/2 a fl. oz. of liquor. Count each pour with “one one-thousand". Cut the liquor. Flip your wrist to turn the liquor bottle right side up and stop the liquor from pouring. If you gradually turn the bottle, liquor will continue to pour after you’ve stopped counting. An alternate way to cut liquor: Once you’re ready to stop the liquor flow, jerk the bottle to cut it off before turning. This method increases speed so you can pour more drinks. How to Free Pour without a Stopper While many newly hired bartenders wish they could free pour without a stopper/speed pourer, it is impossible to dispense accurate amounts of alcohol without a pourer spout. You must purchase a speed pourer if you want to count liquor measurements without a jigger. How to Count Liquor To get comfortable counting liquor, practice free pouring into a jigger and counting while you do it. This will give you confidence in how quickly you should be counting. The classic “one one-thousand" is a good way to count liquor, but you must practice your pacing to perfect your free pour. Once you feel confident in your counting cadence, follow these steps to practice counting liquor: Free pour four counts of liquor into your cup, and then cut the liquor. Test your accuracy by pouring the cup’s contents into your jigger. If it reaches the 2 fl. oz. line on the jigger, congratulations, you have mastered free pouring. If the liquor comes under or above the 2 fl. oz. line, continue practicing your counts. How to Count Ounces When Pouring The best way to count fl. oz.'s when pouring alcohol is to say “one one-thousand" for each pour count. Your cadence should allow for a 1/2 fl. oz. of liquor to dispense per each "one one-thousand". Perfecting how fast you count requires practice. Pour Counts for Bartending When calculating pour counts for bartending, keep in mind that each count should equal 1/2 a fl. oz. of liquor. We provide a cheat sheet that breaks down how high you should count to pour popular quantities of liquor below. 1 count pour = 1/2 fl. oz. 2 count pour = 1 fl. oz. 3 count pour = 1 1/2 fl. oz. 4 count pour = 2 fl. oz. 5 count pour = 2 1/2 fl. oz. 6 count pour = 3 fl. oz. 7 count pour = 3 1/2 fl. oz. 8 count pour = 4 fl. oz. Back to Top If you're deciding between getting experience or going to bartender school, practicing measuring and pouring liquor will help prepare you for either environment. Reference back to our liquor pouring guide the next time you want to create the perfect distilled drink.