The Cosmopolitan, a stylish pink concoction in a martini glass, was the signature cocktail in the 19...
Cooking With Spirits
Jump to
- Don’t use the expensive stuff
- Use in meat marinades
- Liven up your desserts
- Take care when cooking creamy dishes
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy
Most of us are familiar with cooking with wine, whether we are making a delicious red wine sauce to complement our beef, or a white wine sauce to go with chicken, the acidic taste is distinctive and moreish. Beer, specifically ale, is another alcoholic drink that is often used in stews and pies to great effect. But have you ever thought about adding a shot of whiskey to your dinner, or marinating with vodka? When used properly, spirits can help to carry the flavour of a meal, so that it tastes and smells even better than usual. It is rare for a spirit to add any different taste to a meal, so you needn’t worry too much about ruining your signature dish – you are only going to enhance it. Here are some tips when it comes to cooking with alcohol:
Don’t use the expensive stuff
Its potency will be lost as its starts to cook off. But don’t use anything you wouldn’t ordinarily drink either.
Use in meat marinades
Only a little bit is needed so as not to inactivate the protein molecules in the meat, but it is enough to complement the flavours. As a rule, darker spirits taste better with darker meats, and lighter spirits with lighter meats. So whiskey and beef are a great match, while gin and chicken are also a tasty combination.
Liven up your desserts
Add a little flavoured liqueur to your cake mix for a tasty alcoholic twist, or add a little rum to your caramel sauce to pour over fruit or plain sponge cake. If you are making your own sorbet, try adding some gin to it for a smoother texture. Alternatively soak your sweets in bourbon for an unusual but delicious twist.
Take care when cooking creamy dishes
Burn off as much of the alcohol as possible before adding milk or cream to a recipe – preferably right at the end, to prevent curdling.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy
Remember that alcohol is highly flammable, so take precautions when cooking with it. A good tip is to remove the pan from the heat before adding your spirit of choice, and then return to the heat to continue to cook. And keep an extinguisher nearby – just in case!
Something to remember is that alcohol never truly “cooks off” in a dish, unless you plan on cooking it on slow for a few days. The percentage left behind depends on how long you are cooking for, and at what temperature, so just bear this in mind when cooking for children or anyone sensitive to alcohol.
Finally, have some fun and experiment with whatever you have handy in your cupboards. Add a little amaretto to one of your favourite cake recipes for example, or put a splash of tequila in your homemade vinaigrette. The kitchen is your alcoholic oyster!
Pardon the interruption
Did you know that you can become a member for free, taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. You can save your My Bar ingredients, make tasting notes, have personalised Tried and Want to try lists and more.
More to explore
To get your name in the history books, you must have done something wondrous or terrible. To be reme...
Cuban drinks have quite a cult following in the cocktail world. Stunning cocktails including the dai...
Bartender's top tip
Related posts
The Story of the Seelbach
All the best cocktails have a long and fascinating history behind them, and the Seelbach cocktail is no exception. A delicious combination of bourbon, Cointreau, Champagne, Angostura bitters and Peych... read more
History of the Espresso Martini
Before the advent of Vodka Redbull, a different concoction emerged as the go-to drink for those looking to imbibe whilst ensuring they stayed awake to make the most of their night. The Espresso Martin... read more
The History of the Rusty Nail
The Rusty Nail is a potent blend of scotch whisky and Drambuie, a drink that earned a place in the pantheon of classic cocktails during the glamorous era of the 1960s. It was a favorite of the Rat Pac... read more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get tips straight into your inbox.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Create your own cocktail menu!
Use our interactive cocktail menu creator for free, and create wonderful looking cocktail menus for your next party, gathering or bar.
Great looking pre-built designed themes, group your cocktails, choose what to show on them and a host more options.
Get creating