Garnish
Also known as: decoration
In short
The garnish is a drink's calling card: it shows what is inside, adds aroma and perfects the look. We explain what makes a good garnish and why decoration alone is not enough.
In depth
What is a garnish?
The garnish is everything that completes the drink at the glass: the zest, the mint sprig, the cherry, the rim. It is not decoration simply dropped on top, it is part of the drink. A good garnish fulfils at least one of three tasks, the best ones fulfil all three.
The three tasks
- Look: the garnish is the picture in the glass, the final touch before the first sip
- Aroma: the zest releases oils, the principle is called express, as you know from our express entry
- Announcement: mint in a julep tells you what is inside before the first sip: "The julep brings the mint"
The principles
- What goes on the glass belongs to the drink: it should be edible or at least match the drink
- Less is more: a garnish that hides the drink is no longer one
- The garnish tells a story: it shows what is inside before you drink
Rim and cherry
Two special cases of the garnish have their own entries with us: the glass rim with salt or sugar and the maraschino cherry as the crown of the classics.
Remember this one
"The garnish makes the picture, the rim makes the edge, the cherry makes the crown."
At our lounge
Every garnish we use has a job: it looks good, it smells good or it tells you what is inside. Ideally all three at once.