It’s easier than you think to create a signature cocktail from scratch.

Pick your spirit

It’s nice to consider your guests’ preferences or crowd pleasers; however, remember that not everyone has to love it. It should represent you (the host) or the guest of honor!

Favorite flavors & seasonal ingredients

Incorporate some of your favorite flavors and seasonal ingredients. Highlighting seasonal ingredients is an easy way to enhance your signature cocktail. Floral-forward flavors like homemade violet or elderflower syrup pair well with herbaceous gin, while unexpected citrus — blood orange, yuzu, satsuma — complements the agave notes in tequila or mezcal. Whiskey’s depth can handle flavor that packs a punch, from a cinnamon-apple shrub to chocolate bitters to muddled jalapeño.

Add liqueurs, bitters & mixers

After selecting a base spirit and seasonal ingredients, you can experiment with adding liqueurs, bitters or simple mixers like club sodas. A good rule of thumb is to think about bitters like the salt and pepper for a cocktail — a pinch of seasoning to help even things out and accentuate flavor. If your cocktail is too sweet, add a squeeze of citrus to cut through the sugar. As far as mixers go, don’t limit yourself to just soda or sparkling water; teas, lemonade or even coffee can work with certain spirits.

Top off with garnishes

Bring it all together with garnishes (more on this below). From classic salt rims to luxe gold leaf appliques, garnishes can help elevate both the flavor and the aesthetic of your signature serve.

Name it

Christen your concoction. When it comes to deciding on a name, the occasion or theme of your event might bring inspiration. But don’t stress too much — the added detail of naming your creation is a fun way to show all the effort you put in.

The art of the signature drink