No extra words – we’ve got only two categories left. Their peak popularity has long passed, but without them, the history of bartending would be incomplete: Snappers and Frozen.
Prohibition Era – Snappers
Dark times, no other way to put it. Everyone was trying to hide alcohol from the ever-present police. This gave us one of the most gastronomic cocktails ever – the Bloody Mary. It belongs to the Snapper category: spirit + tomato juice + spices. The very first was the Red Snapper, served alongside the fish of the same name.
Bloody Mary
- Vodka – 40 ml
- Tomato juice – 100 ml
- Lemon juice – 20 ml
- Sugar syrup – 10 ml
- Worcestershire sauce – 10 ml
- Green Tabasco – 2 drops
- Chipotle Tabasco – 2 drops
- Salt/pepper – to taste
Method:
- Mix all ingredients using the throwing technique.
- Pour into a tall glass over ice, garnish with celery.
Note: This is the most basic Mary. Play with spice and heat levels – e.g., Tim makes his with sriracha and smoked paprika, Rinato adds creamy horseradish. The key is that heat should never overpower the other flavours. It should be spicy, not throat-burning.
New Wave – Frozen
Finally, the fun part – the tiki era and poolside parties. The category is simple: to make a delicious frozen drink with the right consistency, just blend your favourite cocktail with ice.
Let’s use the classic Piña Colada as an example.
Frozen Piña Colada
- White rum – 30 ml
- Pineapple juice – 100 ml
- Lemon juice – 20 ml
- Coconut purée – 30 ml
- Sugar syrup – 10 ml
- Ice – 1 glass
Method: Blend everything until smooth. Serve with a spoon or an oversized straw.
Two important tips:
- You need more sweetness than usual in frozen form.
- For the right ice texture, use exactly as much ice as the serving glass can hold.
And that’s it – our journey through cocktail categories is complete.
Remember: knowing the formulas frees your creativity. You can experiment however you want – swap variables, split them into parts, change ratios, add new touches.
For example: Becherovka is already a bottled cocktail – it has a spirit, sweet, and spice. Add tonic, and you’ve got a portioned punch (tonic provides acidity and acts as a filler). The logic is simple – use it.
Here, you can find final cheat sheet about cocktail categories
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Stay boozy, stay nerds
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