A Fluid Art- The Beauty of Mixology
When you think of the word “art”, mixology probably wouldn’t come to mind. Rather, you would think of a painting, an award-winning film or song. But Mixology is an art because of the passion and care that goes into making one of these liquid delicacies. Mixologists create more than just a “mixed drink”, they create a journey for the palate.
Mixologists pride themselves on making unique drinks where all the igredients combine just right. Every ingredient is important, even the ice. According to Nate McMaster, owner and mixologist at the Blue Door in Old Town, “We have…six different types of ice.” Just as any painter would need the correct paint for one of their works, a mixologist requires the same level of care when it comes to crafting their masterpiece. Each ice variation serves a different purpose. According to the article Expert Mixology Tips for Using Ice, “different shapes, sizes and densities melt and cool liquids at different rates,” thus allowing the mixologist to control the flavor profile over time (winemag.com).
Ice isn’t the only ingredient that goes into making that cocktail pop, syrups are also a pivotal part of the tasting experience. Just as musicians design their own beats to make their track their own, a mixologist does the same with syrups. McMaster says that at the Blue Door they have 16 different syrups “…that we have and make in house.”
A master-filmmaker would frame the perfect shot with extreme detail, a mixologist must use that same precision to bring the correct flavor-profile through. There we can start with some basics of a cocktail, the liquor and a syrup. If you add too much liquor you get that unwanted bite, but too much syrup and its too sweet.
They hand-pick the freshest ingredients to finely tune the drinks aromatics, but as McMaster puts it,
“Just like art you have to know when to stop, because it’s really easy to just flood a canvas with paint and then suddenly you’ve lost what you were going for initially.”
Also, as a film would entertain the audience with a show, a mixologist conjures a cocktail right in front of your eyes with a brilliant performance. As shown in the video below a mixologist is a true performer who has a passion for their art.
As any other artist would experiment with a current genre to add their own twist on it, mixologists use classic drinks, such as a Manhattan, and as McMaster says “…to do just a slight twist on it…” to create a whole new take on a classic experience. The Blue Door offers the Satin Manhattan, which takes the base of whiskey from the orginal recipe and switches out the Angostura bitters for Cherry bitters.
Now next time you’re out at a cocktail bar and see that someone behind the bar creating your drink, remember the passion and care that went into the process. Don’t just guzzle down your drink. Sip it. Enjoy it. Appreciate the flavor combinations and how they compliment each other. And, as always, drink responsibly.