Raise the Bar Q&A
David Wolowidnyk A Certified Specialist of Spirits and a founder of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association, David is an influential veteran in Canada’s cocktail culture.
Email taste.magazine@bcliquorstores.com for the opportunity to have your questions answered.
How can a hot drink cool you down?
How do you turn a cocktail into a frozen masterpiece? To transform a traditional cocktail into a frozen masterpiece, follow these simple steps. First, use crushed ice in your blender instead of cubed to speed up the freezing process and create a smoother consistency. Second, because cold temperatures dull sensation and flavour perception, slightly increase the sweetness or bitterness. Third, alcohol has a lower freezing point than water, so using as little as half the alcohol the recipe calls for will achieve the desired slushy consistency. These small tweaks will ensure a smooth, well-balanced frozen cocktail.
How do you spice up a cocktail with chili heat? Chili heat varies, even within the same plant. To achieve consistent heat for cocktails, use one of these methods to infuse the spice: 1. Infuse a spirit with thinly sliced chilies, with or without seeds, tasting frequently until the desired heat is reached. Strain, then mix your cocktail. 2. Flavour simple syrup by gently heating chilies in liquid before adding sugar. Strain, then continue making the syrup. 3. Create a tincture by steeping chilies in alcohol for 12 to 36 hours. Strain, store in an eyedropper bottle and add a drop or two to cocktails.
Drinking a hot beverage on a warm day may seem counterintuitive, but it activates your body’s cooling system. When you consume a hot drink (or spicy food), your body sweats to release the heat. As the sweat evaporates, it removes the heat and lowers your body temperature. Heat also causes blood vessels near the skin’s surface to dilate, increasing heat loss. Though the drink initially warms you, your body’s cooling mechanisms restore balance, leaving you cooler once the sweat evaporates. This ancient method remains an effective way to stay cool in hot, dry climates.
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