You’ve explored new cocktail territory with exotic (Stirrings) Mixers, hand crafted spirits and luxury glassware. Don’t finish these exceptional drinks with a run of the mill garnish. Here are a myriad of ideas to keep your cocktails from getting common.

From Your Garden
• Basil leaves – great for strawberry cocktails, add a splash of balsamic cream too
• Rosemary stick laid over the cocktail glass – great for gin drinks
• Orchid – great for frozen or tropical drinks
• Rose petals – Use stemless martini glasses and place in bowl. (You can also purchase a chic two-part martini glass at several department stores.) Decorate bowl with rose petals, other flowers, stones or edible goodies

From the Fruit Stand
Note: As a general rule when making cocktail garnishes, always use fresh, washed ingredients. Fruit is not only a decoration, but it also affects the taste of the cocktail if presented properly.
• Thin slice of starfruit – great for tropical creations, or July 4th!
• Floating or speared berries like blueberries, cranberries or even chocolate covered coffee beans – great for various martinis
• Cut circle portions of the lemon or orange peel instead of the traditional twist or wedge
• Burnt orange - To make a burnt orange, cut a 1 ½” by 1” peel off an orange. Be sure to get just the skin and as little of the pith as possible. Holding the orange peel between thumb and index fingers with skin facing out, hold a lit match over the glass and with the orange peel about an inch away from the flame squeeze the peel quickly and firmly between your fingers. When done correctly, a burst of flame will come from the oils being released from the peel, leaving an aroma and adding a note of orange to the cocktail. Simply drop the twist in the drink. This is a great solution for slightly bitter drinks
• Melon carving – take a wedge of a melon, cut off the skin and carve patterns into melon

From Your Wildest Dreams
• Edible silver or gold glitter – great to beautify a Valentine’s Day creation
• Toasted coconut crunch (a.k.a. Stirrings Piña Colada Rimmer Garnish) – floating or as a decoration for the edge of your cocktail
• Tuile Cookies - shape your own right when they come out of the oven or color them with ground, dried fruit (or coloring) to complement your cocktail creation
• Rock Candy - either put into your dessert cocktail as a stirrer or lay it over glass
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