How to Muddle For a Cocktail


Once upon a time, all you needed for cocktail-making was liquor, ice, and a glass. Now, a cocktail isnt complete without freshly muddled fruit and herbs. Michael Cecconi, New York mixologist at Back Forty who also works at the Savoy and teaches at the Insititute for Culinary Education, has paid his muddling dues and wants to share his hard-earned knowledge. He does not think that drinks should have broken pieces of glass within them, for one. He recommends getting the right type of muddler and unbreakable glass, then using your arms weight to help your motion.

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25 Responses to “How to Muddle For a Cocktail”

  1. Vicbartender1990

    @wedacose totally agree, and a mojito doesn’t need to be shaken. Thats just extracting more of the bitter take of the mint leaves but breaking it up that much.

  2. bigshowble

    lol “once the juice is out of lime”..

  3. brandonpringle16

    i want like 5000 of those right now

  4. orientallazyboy

    0:30 WTF IS WRONG WITH HIS FINGER!!!!

  5. wedacose

    This is all correct, however, in my opinion, mint is a delicate leaf and doesn’t require you to pulverize it to get the flavors out. So what i would do here, is just muddle the lime only, then add the mint with cracked ice and shake it. The cracked ice (or better yet crushed ice) will act like shards and cut the mint and release the aromas. Nevertheless, great video!

  6. iRTheUnknown

    the first chow video i like

  7. krakhaid

    Cool, I actually have the exact muddler he’s using in this video, and it’s really good. Since it has the little rubber nodules on it, it means it helps crush the stuff faster, so that means less work for you.

  8. Videotubelord

    @parkeyboi2k6 unless he’s gaybar barman :D

  9. antipro8

    00:12 I want you to gtfo.

  10. Kamohawk22

    this nigga jizzed when he was describing the perfect cocktail at the end

  11. parkeyboi2k6

    @mbanker21
    in the bar i work in i was told to go home and shave one day at work. hence, dirty moustache is a negative!! unless your one of the ymca boys- hence….gay

  12. mbanker21

    @parkeyboi2k6

    negative, he definately, definately, should.

  13. 203207ab

    i usually muddle with my balls.

  14. ameen1one

    ok thank you

  15. DuzztX

    1:44 thats what she said

  16. parkeyboi2k6

    Rule no5: the barman should not have a dirty rats tail moustache!

  17. claresa14

    i officially believe in love at first sight

  18. TheNewJamesDean

    Also they don’t do any of this in cuba, the use lime juice, sugar syrup (white, not brown) and fresh clapped mint. Then lighty shaken with big ice or muddled lightly with the back of a bar spoon.

  19. TheNewJamesDean

    All very true a great muddle is an asset to every bar professional! Although if what he was making was a Mojito then it’s all WRONG! YOU SHOULD NEVER MUDDLE MINT!!!!!!! It makes the drink bitter as you can see if you suck then chew the mint, it’s the same when the oils have been bruised. Please don’t do it, every informed patron will send it back.

  20. dude123321321

    Yes, we have been lied to all these years.

  21. razsao

    Bacrdi i think :-)

  22. rowland2k8

    vodka i think

  23. benmols

    hahaha

  24. 123chuckrds

    I have a question…wouldn’t you want to remove the beaten up lime peel before serving the drink?
    it would aestheticall better if theres an intact lime wedge on the rim…it would seem like a no-brainer to me!

  25. LoneWolfEngland

    What booze did he add to that cocktail? :-/


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