How to Make Cocktail Mixers and Bar Ingredients

If you are looking to open a bar, one way to personalize the cocktails on your menu is to use homemade ingredients. By making your own bar ingredients, you can save money for your bar and add a unique twist to simple drinks in order to help your business stand out from the competition. The most commonly used bar ingredients are bitters, simple syrup, grenadine, and maraschino cherries. Keep reading to learn how to make cocktail ingredients for the drinks being served at your bar.

If you want to skip ahead to a specific bar ingredient, click below:

1. How to Make Bitters

Bitters are one of the most popular bar ingredients to have on hand at any establishment that serves alcohol. Some cocktails that use bitters are the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac, Champagne Cocktail, Pisco Sour, a Martini, or even a Daiquiri. These drinks are relatively easy to make as long as you have the right bar supplies. To make your own bitters, you only need a few ingredients, measuring spoons, and measuring cups.

Herbs and Spices for Bitters

Before you make your bitters, think of what kind of drinks you would like to add them to. This will help direct what kind of roots, herbs, and spices you should use to craft your bitters. If the end flavor is going to be fruity and fun, use vodka as your base alcohol with a combination (or all) of a fruit peel, chamomile, lavender, or lemongrass. If you would like to use bitters in a darker, more savory drink, use a type of whiskey as your base alcohol along with herbs and spices like sage, thyme, allspice, and cloves.

How to Make Bitters Video

Check out this video to learn how to make your own bitters:

Bitters Recipe

Follow our easy-to-use recipe to learn how to make bitters for your bar.

How to Make Your Own Bitters

Ingredients and Materials:

Directions:

  1. Gather all of the spices, herbs, and flavorings you would like to use in your bitters. If you are looking to make multiple kinds of bitters that use a few of the same ingredients, it will be best to separate them into small jars during infusion and then later combine them in the dropper bottles. If not, you can infuse all of your ingredients together.
  2. Next, pour your choice of alcohol into the jars and tightly secure the lids.
  3. Label all of your jars with the date and the contents within.
  4. Remember to shake your mixtures daily to distribute the flavors throughout the liquid. Test your mixtures every few days to see if they have reached maximum infusion. The mixture is ready when it smells just like the main ingredient(s).
  5. Strain the contents of the jars through a cheesecloth and into a clean jar or jars (if separated).
  6. Using your small funnel, pour your mixture into the storage bottle that has the eye dropper. If you separated your ingredients, choose which tinctures you would like to combine and pour them into the storage bottle.
  7. If you taste your bitters and think they are too strong, you can add a sweetener or use distilled water to soften the taste.

Many bitters are made to be strong and only need to be added to drinks a few drops at a time to achieve a prominent taste. Have fun experimenting with many different kinds of herbs to develop a perfect concoction and enjoy crafting drinks around the flavors you create.

How to Infuse Bitters

As a common rule of thumb, use 4 ounces of alcohol for every teaspoon of herbs, spices, or roots that you want to infuse. Once combined, the entire infusion process will take about 2 weeks (give or take depending on your ingredients) to come to completion.

2. How to Make Simple Syrup

Like bitters, simple syrup is another main ingredient used behind the bar. Simple syrup is used in drinks like the Lemon Drop, Whiskey Sour, Daiquiris, and Mojitos. Just like the name implies, simple syrup is very simple to make and requires only two ingredients and a few minutes of time. Read on to find out how to create an easy simple syrup that will sweeten up your drinks.

Simple Syrup Recipe Video

Learn how to prepare simple syrup with the help of this video:

Simple Syrup Recipe

You can use the following recipe to make your own simple syrup.

Six light-colored cocktails in various glasses

Ingredients and Materials:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • A sauce pan and spoon
  • A medium sized bottle for storage

Directions:

  1. Pour water into a sauce pan and bring it to a boil.
  2. Add sugar and reduce heat.
  3. Stir sugar continuously until dissolved.
  4. Allow syrup to cool and then transfer to a bottle that can be sealed tightly.

For a more flavorful simple syrup, add in raspberry crumbles, lemon or lime zest, or a few dashes of ginger or cinnamon. These little additions will give your simple syrup a unique edge and bring your drinks to life. Refrigerating your simple syrup will help it keep for about a month.

3. How to Make Grenadine

Instead of giving your customers a dose of red food coloring and high fructose corn syrup in their drinks, delight them with the natural sweetness of homemade grenadine! Learn how to make grenadine for your bar with this recipe.

How to Make Grenadine Video

Use the following video to learn how to prepare grenadine for your cocktails:

Homemade Grenadine Recipe

Brew up the vibrant and delicious cocktail mixer by following our grenadine recipe.

How to Make Your Own Grenadine

Ingredients and Materials:

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cups of 100% unsweetened pomegranate juice
  • 1/2 oz. of lemon juice or to taste (optional)
  • A saucepan and spoon
  • A small funnel
  • A jar for storage

Directions:

  1. Pour juice and sugar into your sauce pan.
  2. Over medium heat, stir mixture to help dissolve the sugar and bring to a boil. Be careful not to over boil.
  3. Turn the heat down and allow the liquid to thicken.
  4. Allow everything to cool and slowly add a few drops of lemon juice.
  5. Continue tasting and add more lemon juice if the syrup needs a little added tartness.
  6. Pour mixture into the jar and screw the lid on tightly.

Enjoy putting this homemade grenadine in many alcohol beverages. Maraschino cherries are often paired with grenadine in drinks. Use our maraschino cherry recipe in the next section to impress your customers.

4. How to Make Maraschino Cherries

Top off your signature cocktails with homemade maraschino cherries! Maraschino cherries and grenadine are the perfect pair needed in many alcoholic beverages. Maraschino cherries may not be something you would first think of making on your own, but they are easy to make. We have the perfect recipe for you to make your restaurant's own maraschino cherries, which are perfect to use as a garnish on drinks like a Tequila Sunrise, a Shirley Temple, and a Cherry Smash.

How to Make Maraschino Cherries Video

Use the following video to learn how to prepare maraschino cherries for your bar or ice cream shop:

Maraschino Cherry Recipe

Prepare fresh maraschino cherries for your bar with the following recipe.

Ingredients and Materials:

  • Large stock pot
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Large container with lid
  • Strainer
  • 6 lb. of sweet cherries (pitted)
  • 4 quarts of water
  • 2 tablespoons of pickling salt
  • Large saucepan
  • 9 lb. of sugar
  • 6 cups of water
  • Juice from 2 lemons
  • 2 ounces of almond extract
  • Red food coloring (optional)
  • Cinnamon stick (optional)
  • Mason jars for storage

Preparation:

  1. Bring 4 quarts of water and pickling salt to a boil. Stir water until salt completely dissolves.
  2. Remove from stove and allow to cool (about 30 minutes).
  3. Place cherries in a large container and pour the salt water mixture over the cherries. Cover with lid and let sit for 12 hours.
  4. Next, strain cherries and rinse with cold water to wash off any leftover brine.
  5. Put cherries back in their large container.
  6. Combine sugar, water, lemon juice, and food coloring (if using) in large saucepan. Over medium heat, bring to a boil, and stir until sugar is dissolved.
  7. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  8. Pour over cherries, add the cinnamon stick (if you would like), seal container, and let them soak for 24 hours.
  9. Drain cherries, but save the juice and put it back in your saucepan.
  10. Bring the juice in the pan to a boil, remove from heat, and stir in the almond extract.
  11. Ration cherries out into their jars, pour in juice (optional for added flavor), label, date, and store in the fridge.

These maraschino cherries will keep for up to 6 weeks when stored in the fridge. If you would prefer to preserve the cherries in jars by canning them, you can sterilize your jars before filling and seal them using a water bath.

Now that you have made four key ingredients to use behind your bar, try incorporating them into your menu to keep up with the latest bar trends! Your customers will be sure to love the homemade bitters, simple syrup, grenadine, and maraschino cherries that you offer. Making your own bar ingredients will not only make your customers happier, but it is also a great way to cut costs for your establishment. Enjoy many different drinks made with these DIY cocktail ingredients!

Posted in: Bars & Breweries|Recipes|By Angalena Malavenda
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.

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Clear any debris the might have collected overnight outside your building, on the sidewalks, in the doorways, or on the windows Once inside, check for odors, trash, spills, or items out of place Decide if the floors need to be vacuumed Empty and reset pest traps 2. Polish and Sanitize Surfaces To make a good impression on your customers, you'll want to make sure your bar is sparkling clean, from the counters to the glasses. Wipe down countertops with a sanitizing solution Wipe down stool seats and tabletops to clear away any dust that may have collected overnight Polish the glassware that was air drying from the previous night Polish any silverware you plan to use during the day, including barware Dust any alcohol bottles on display Clean faucets and taps with sanitizer 3. Take Inventory of Beverages Once you make sure everything in your bar looks in order and presentable, it's time to ensure that your beverage stock is ready for day's service. 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Locking up should be the first step because you want to make sure everyone is out before you start cleaning and counting the money. Ensuring every patron is out of the bar at the end of the night keeps your customers safe and protects your staff and business. Ensure the dining area is clear of customers Check the restrooms for any lingering guests Check that the kitchen is empty Check accessible closets to ensure no one is hidden in them Lock up patio furniture Lock the entrances; set any alarms before leaving for the night Turn off televisions, radios, LED signs, and additional lights 2. Count the Money Once you've locked up, you can begin counting the money and cleaning up for the night. Along with counting the money, you'll also need to distribute the night's tips. You should have an established tipping system, such as working on an individual basis, daily pools, or other ideas that distribute the money fairly. Distributing tip pool Balancing cash registers Securing money in safes 3. Store Perishables Storing and refrigerating perishables is an important way to save money at your bar. Every drink or ingredient that you save overnight is money going toward profits. Store fruits and garnishes in plastic bags or containers to prolong their freshness Refrigerate any pre-made mixed drinks such as sangria or punch Refrigerate cocktail ingredients such as soda and juice Lock up expensive beers and liquor bottles Put bar snacks back in the pantry 4. Organize and Date Organizing your bar and kitchen is an important task, and it ensures that opening will run smoothly on the following day. Additionally, dating your food and alcohol lets you know when it was opened and if it's still good to use. Practicing proper dating and organization is essential for passing health inspections.. Date newly opened bottles of wine and liquor Clean menus and recycle old ones Label all of the fresh ingredient containers 5. Clean Everything Cleanliness is one of the prime indicators of a professional and well-managed bar space, and whether it's dust on the shelf, rings on the countertop, or a napkin that didn't make it to the trash, unclean appearances can speak volumes about your business, particularly to health inspectors. Cleaning is probably the most labor-intensive part of the closing checklist, but if your staff all works together, it can go quickly. Here is a short list of important cleaning tasks that need to be completed every night: Wipe down countertops Wipe down the soda gun Clean out soda gun holsters Remove clogs from floor drains Wipe down your speed rails Clean the outside of liquor bottles if any product has spilled Load the dishwasher and clean glassware with bar glass cleaners Drain off dirty dishwater and scrub down your sink Wash other smallwares like muddlers, jiggers, and stirrers Wipe down beer taps and thoroughly clean them once a month Sweep the floors in the front- and back-of-house, then mop Clean out blenders Clean the bathrooms thoroughly Leave all of your glassware, smallwares, and equipment out to air dry, ensuring they're clean for the following day 6. Refill Disposables Refilling disposables behind the bar can help save time when opening the following day and keep your bartenders quick on the draw during service. Any single-use product should be stocked for the next day, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Here is a list of a few bar disposables that need to be refilled every day: Toothpicks Drink Umbrellas Stirrers Straws Napkins A bar opening and closing checklist is imperative to maintaining the sanitation, organization, and streamlined operation of your business. Having written bar opening duties ensures your staff has constant access to the established protocol while a bar closing duties list can make closing up go smoothly every time. Whether you're training new hires or providing a refresher for seasoned veterans, bar checklists are great tools for making your bar more efficient.

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