Flaming
Also known as: flaming zest, flame cut
In short
Flaming means expressing the oils of a zest through a flame over the drink: brief, hot and with show effect. We explain the technique, the link to expressing and the history up to the Blue Blazer.
In depth
What does flaming mean?
When flaming, a zest gets expressed over a small flame, so its oils travel through the flame onto the drink and give off a lightly roasted aroma. The basis is the express principle from our entry of the same name: the zest releases oils, here it happens through the flame.
The show with history
Flaming is the little sister of a big show: Jerry Thomas, the first star bartender from our bartender entry, is said to have thrilled guests at the bar with the Blue Blazer, a flaming whiskey drink. This scene is passed down historically, but it does not count as a license for home use: flaming at the bar is professional territory.
Safety first
The flame belongs briefly and controlled over the drink: warm the zest over the flame, express the oils through the flame, wipe the zest on the rim of the glass, flame out. Tools away from the face, beards stay out of it, laughing allowed anyway.
Remember this one
"Shaking makes texture, straining makes the finish, the blender makes the frost, flaming makes the spark."
At our lounge
Ask us for a flamed twist on your drink, the spark makes the show.