modern mixologist | By Tony Abou-Ganim

Let’s muddle

it over Tony Abou-Ganim is the proprietor of the Modern Mixologist, a beverage consulting fi rm that specializes in -staff training, product education, and It wasn’t that long development. He and his recipes have been featured in ago that the only time a variety of magazines and books and on television and reached for their trusty muddler was radio shows. He is presently at work on his fi rst book, to make the occasional old-fashioned The Modern Mixologist. or to whack an unruly patron across the knuckles. But today, with mucho libations with strong Latin American combinations of fresh fruits, vegetables, and perfect for the job. You can purchase infl uences getting mixed up in the and herbs (e.g., berries, pineapples, excellent hardwood muddlers from Dave and the quickly grapes, peaches, melon, apricots, Nepove at mistermojito.com. Treat your becoming the hottest drink sensation cherries, cranberries, lemons, limes, muddler with respect: oil it regularly since the margarita fi rst crossed the kumquats, blood oranges, tangerines, with food-grade mineral oil, keep it dry, border, muddled seem to be clementines, ruby red grapefruits, and never put it in the glass washer. Take everywhere. And I could not be more rosemary, lavender, hibiscus, pepper, care of your muddler, and it will take excited! and ginger—to start with) can be care of you—and any unruly customers muddled with a host of different who might sneak into your bar. Stick Skill sweetening agents such as simple or The practice of infusing a libation with gomme ; ginger, mint, vanilla, or fresh fruit, herbs, vegetables, and spices cinnamon ; maple syrup; agave through the process of muddling is far nectar; cane syrup; or honey. Or how from new and is an art all bartenders about substituting a liqueur such as Cucumber-Ginger should strive to master. Many popular blackberry or apricot for the sugar drinks are muddled—, smashes, syrup? And what about the base spirit? Crush old-fashioneds, juleps, , Choose from any spirit that tickles your and caipiroscas, to name a few. In fancy, from fl avored to complex 4 thick slices English cucumber, deference to bar terminology of old, I rums, rich bourbons, and rye whiskeys. peeled affectionately refer to these cocktails The options are limited merely by 4 pieces, 1/4-inch slices as “stick drinks,” the muddler at one produce availability and your sense of gingerroot, peeled time having been referred to as the adventure for combining fl avors. 1/2 lime, quartered “muddling stick.” 1 ounce simple syrup The muddling stick, or simply the Stick Care 11/2 ounce 10 Cane Rum muddler, is invaluable for unlocking Before you begin your sensory journey, Chilled ginger ale or ginger innovative fl avor combinations, and as I have a few words about the muddling Cucumber slice for garnish a mixologist basking in the bar-chef era, stick. Consider the muddler as one of I have been more and more inclined to your most important bar tools. Invest Muddle cucumber, ginger root, promote its use. Unlike the rum-based in a good solid hardwood muddler lime, and simple syrup in a mojito or the cachaça-based , a that has not been stained or lacquered. mixing glass. Add ice and rum. stick drink can utilize any spirit you fancy (Have you ever noticed the muddlers Shake the ingredients until well and feature any fresh fruit you desire. at most bars with pieces of varnish blended and strain into an ice- missing, and do you wonder where fi lled 14-ounce goblet. Spritz Stick Adventure these bits end up?) with chilled ginger ale or ginger If there ever was a perfect opportunity I became so frustrated with the beer and garnish with a slice of to stretch your mixology wings, it is inferior quality of muddlers on the cucumber. Yummy! now, and the muddler is the instrument market that I decided to design my to help you take fl ight. Any pleasing own—big, made of dense cherry wood,

32 SEPTEMBER 2006 | SANTÉ

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