Grapefruit Mojito

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
1/2 cup of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1/4 grapefruit (peeled and cut into small pieces)
1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
4 tablespoons honey
Ice & Club Soda (Carbonated Water)

Directions
1. Add the pieces of grapefruit and mint leaves to the shaker. Use a muddler to break down the leaves and mash the grapefruit in order to release their flavours.
2. Combine the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and honey together in the shaker. Stir to ensure that the honey is entirely dissolved.
3. Add ice to the shaker and secure. Shake vigorously to ensure that all ingredients and flavours are well combined.
4. Pour into glasses, and top off with a splash of club soda.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves or grapefruit peel or grapefruit slice.


Optional:

• Although this is a mocktail, it can also be a great cocktail by simply adding gin or vodka to the recipe. The measurement of alcohol added to the drink will all depend on the individuals' personal preference.  
• The club soda can also be substituted with ginger ale for an amazing burst of flavour and taste. 

The Cocktail Shaker

This is a device used for mixing drinks. Ice is usually added to this shaker to make the drink chilled quickly before drinking.

There are three main types of cocktail shakers which include:

The French Shaker- This is a two piece shaker consisting of a metal cap and a metal bottom. A strainer is always needed in order to keep the ice out of the drink when pouring into a glass. These shakers are rare but are slowly gaining popularity.

         

                             

The Boston Shaker- This is a two piece shaker consisting of a glass or plastic mixing glass and a metal bottom. Ingredients and ice are added to the mixing glass and the metal bottom is placed over the glass and tightly closed by pressing each other together. The cooling of the ice also forms a vacuum seal which keeps the glasses together. When finished shaking, the two can be separated by using your wrist are pressing against the edge. This may be difficult but with practice, it becomes easy. With this shaker, a strainer is also needed.

The Cobbler Shaker- This shaker in my opinion is the easiest to use. This shaker consists of a large metal mixing tin, a metal lid with a built-in strainer and a smaller metal cap to cover the strainer. These shakers are the most popular of them all since they are so easy to use.

Mixing a Cocktail/Mocktail

With getting familiar with the whole idea of this blog, I took the time to include some important information about cocktails/mocktails that might be beneficial to you in the future. 

There are four most popular methods of mixing a cocktail/mocktail. These include:

• To shake a cocktail/mocktail is to mix it in a cocktail shaker by hand. The average time to properly shake is 10 seconds. 
• Stirred cocktails/mocktails are mixed by stirring with ice in a mixing glass until cold. After it is then strained into a cocktail glass. 
• Blended cocktails/mocktails are mixed using an electrical blender. This method is good for mixing fresh fruits and alcohol or juices together along with ice.
• Building a cocktail/mocktail simply means that the ingredients are floated on top of each other. A tooth pick can then be placed in the glass to allow the ingredients to be mixed. 

Some cocktail/mocktail terms one may encounter include:

• Mulls - hot wine punch
• Flip - a drink made with eggs
• Frappe - to serve a cocktail over finely crushed ice
• Punch - mixed spirits or wines with spices, fruit juices and sugar. They can either be served hot or cold.

Mocktails & Cocktails

When planning house parties, small functions or even just want an afternoon drink, many individuals prefer something that is inexpensive, quick and easy to make. With this blog, all the information you may need to know about mixing drinks will be made available. Also, a wide variety of recipes for tasty cocktails and mocktails using ingredients that are easily available to you the reader. 

Many people assume any mixed drink as a cocktail, but in reality, there are cocktails and mocktails.

A cocktail may be described as an alcoholic drink comprising of a spirit or spirits that is mixed with other ingredients such as fruits, fruit juices or cream.

A mocktail on the other hand, is a derivative of two words. The 'mock' means an imitation or copy of something whereas the work 'cocktail' meaning a mixed drink. A mocktail or in other words, 'Virgin Cocktail' is a beverage that does not contain any alcoholic substances. Mocktails are usually made from multiple beverages such as fruit juices or mixers.