Mixologists behind the sip

Hyderabad: A cocktail sounds exotic and tastes even better but be careful.  Check who is mixing your drinks and just what kind of knowledge he or she has. Wrong proportions of alcohol and syrup or a fruit juice could lead to serious stomach damage, say experts. ‘The right mixing requires talent and thorough training. Major clubs in the city serve fancy cocktails which are made by bartenders and not qualified mixologists. Mixing fancy cocktails is a specialised stream that deals with the deep understanding of alcohol, what it can be mixed with and what are the right proportions. Bartenders serving cocktails at clubs learn the skill through internet classes, cheat sheets and experimentation along with understanding basic ground rules like whisky cannot be mixed with white spirit.

A mixologist is a qualified expert in creating alcohol recipes and concoctions. Only elite clubs who can afford them, have mixologists. “Mixology involves the art of mixing two different drinks and the right chemicals to make one different special drink. The mixture will have a very different taste and smell. Mixology is a method, which best fits in entertainment circles and bars. Mixology is the art of learning how a cocktail is made by a professional”, said a mixologist attached to an elite bar in the city.  

He added, “It is very important to know what cooling agents to use. A drink or food that has used liquid nitrogen should go with guidelines to the consumer. A lot of staff serving fancy drinks across city pubs are not qualified, but have been working from a young age and have therefore learnt the basics. A lot of concoctions are tested and tried by the management before being served. Also, most bars don’t serve real cocktails, though the names like Americano, Margarita, Daiquiri are given just to pull a crowd. Sometimes the formula is a hit, sometimes it isn’t and therein lies the risk factor.”

Another mixologist says, “Not every drink is haphazardly thrown together by eyeballing a few ingredients and then pouring them into a martini glass. Bartending is a craft. It’s not about how many drinks you can make in a minute, but rather, how good can you make one drink. Mixology is exposing cocktails and flavours that many have most likely never experienced before.” There is another stream of learning called Molecular Mixology, which is a science associated with entertainment and refreshment.