A Sugared Rim
If you want to up your cocktail game? Consider lining your rim with sugar. It is easy to do, and it makes a cocktail feel finished and thoughtful. It adds texture and flavor to your drinks. And if you are serving mocktails, it is a way to add a little fun to drinks without alcohol.
Traditionally you find a little sugar (or salt) on a margarita rim. But most cocktails, mocktails, and some other drinks also can be improved with a sugared rim. In addition to a plain sugared rim, below are three options for upping your sugar-rim game.
Sugar and Herbs
Sugar and herbs add a fresh and light touch to a drink. Work to repeat a flavor already in the beverage. Adding minted-sugar to a rim works great on a hard or soft mint lemonade or mojito. Thyme-and-sugar on a rim is a great addition to a Greyhound. Once you begin experimenting with herbs in your drink, you can add depth of flavor by replicating the herb flavor into the sugared rim.
TO MAKE: Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1/3 cup fresh herb, like basil, mint, or thyme, to create sugar and herbs. Mix in a food processor.
Sugar and Citrus Zest
Citrus zest made with sugar adds sweetness with a taste of sour to your drink. Repeating flavors is an easy way to ensure that these flavors are enhanced and do not compete with one another. Add orange-zest-sugar to the rim of your Tequila Sunrise. Add lime-zest-sugar to the rim of your next Daiquiri. Or add grapefruit-zest-sugar to the rim of a Banker’s Lunch. There is not a way to do this wrong. Get creative.
TO MAKE: Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tbsp. grapefruit, orange, lemon or lime zest, to create sugar and zest.
Sugar and Cinnamon
Serving hot drinks like coffee and hot chocolate, whether served Irish style or not, can be elevated with a cinnamon-sugar rim. In addition, any cream-heavy drink pairs well with this kick of cinnamon.
Most hot drinks are served in the fall and winter, and the spice of cinnamon can be a nice addition to many fall flavors.
TO MAKE: Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp. cinnamon to create sugar and cinnamon.
Each of these sugars can be prepared at home, often with items on hand. Cocktail glasses can be rimmed within 24 hours of a party, so you can do this step in advance of the event and have the glasses ready to go.
This is an easy step that lets your guests know that you find the event important and, by extension, you find them important. Remember, when you are hosting, details matter.
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