As you set up your first home bar, or plan the first of many gatherings for your friends in the comforts of your manor, you may have grand visions of tossing bottles of spirits into the air and catching them perfectly, maybe even getting in a suave swirl ot two as you pour the contents into a cocktail glass. But — hold up. Those fancy cocktails skills take some work, and before we sprint, we must learn to walk. For most of us, it is enough to master the classic cocktails and mix them to perfection.
Thankfully, there is a way to do that without displaying any very complex acrobatic manoeuvres. And it all starts with this, the Bartender’s Golden Ratio. Wait, we see you backing away, wondering why we’re bringing math into what was hitherto a very fun equation. It’s important though, because even those well-practised in the arts of mixology admit that this simple combination “leads to delightful and dependable results” (their words, not ours). So what is this Golden Ratio?
Almost all the classic drinks you know and love, from the Daiquiri to the Gimlet or the Margarita come down to the same basic ratio: 2:1:1. That’s two parts spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour, commonly known as the Golden Ratio.
Understanding The Golden Ratio
It’s a universally accepted rule that cocktails must be mixed in measures of 2:1:1. The 2:1:1 ratio is a way of remembering in what quantities essential ingredients should be added to a cocktail. The “2” is for the base spirit, the actual alcohol that is being used. Making a Daiquiri? The recipe will need two parts of rum to the other ingredients. Mixing a Margarita? The tequila is what you’ll need two parts of.
Next comes the “1”. This represents the sweet element of your cocktail. Generally, this takes the form of a syrup or a liqueur. Simple syrup is a very common ingredient you’ll see listed in cocktail recipes, and it’s a mixture of sugar and water. You can make it at home by slowly dissolving 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in 1/2 cup of water, and then storing in a tightly-sealed jar once it cools. It’s perfect to use for up to one month when stored in the refrigerator, so don’t be hesitant about prepping a batch because it really makes mixing cocktails easy. Keep in mind though that simple syrup is just one of the many sweetening elements you can add to your cocktail. As you grow more confident, you can explore more variations.
The last “1” of the Golden Ratio stands for the sour element. This is where citrus comes in: your lemons, limes, oranges, other tart fruits.
How Does This Rule Help?
Professional bartenders and mixologists may mix many drinks in the course of one evening. Does this mean they have every possible recipe memorised? Well, yes to some extent, but mostly they follow the Golden Ratio and adapt it to their needs. For instance, if the Daiquiri sees them mix rum, simple syrup and lime juice in the 2:1:1 proportion, then swapping the rum for a similar quantity of gin transforms this into the recipe for a Gimlet. If the rum is replaced with tequila in the same proportion, then you have a Tommy’s Margarita. (One standard drink of each of these cocktails would have about 45 ml of the base spirit.) What if you’re mixing a drink with two base spirits? Here, the “2” of the ratio would get split between both of these ingredients.
Cocktail Class: Drink Ratios 101
FAQ
What is the perfect ratio for mixed drinks?
What is the Golden Ratio for drinking?
How much alcohol should be in a mixed drink?
What is the standard for a mixed drink?
What is a good ratio for mixing a cocktail?
The third is the special flavoring, which has a strong flavoring. One classic model for mixing cocktails is the one-to-two-to-eight ratio, which calls for one part special flavoring, two parts modifying agent and eight parts base.
How much red wine can one drink per day?
Despite the popular belief that a glass or two of vine is good for health due to the amount of resveratrol and polyphenols, the amount of these substances in wine is small, making their benefits to be achieved in the long term and difficult to confirm even in large studies. That way, consumption should not be daily, and the dose would be a glass at most 3 times a week.
What makes a good mixed drink?
Creating the perfect mixed drink means nailing the right ratio of ingredients. Popular drinks like mojitos and margaritas are particularly challenging as one has to balance the sweetness, tartness, and spice of each cocktail just right.
What is the golden ratio of a drink?
Almost all the classic drinks you know and love, from the Daiquiri to the Gimlet or the Margarita come down to the same basic ratio: 2:1:1. That’s two parts spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour, commonly known as the Golden Ratio.