The best cocktails for beginners – Simple & impressive

The most common mistakes when mixing cocktails – and how to avoid them

Even the best cocktails can go wrong if you make a few basic mistakes. To prevent that from happening to you, here are the biggest cocktail fails – and how to easily avoid them!

1. Incorrect proportions – When the drink doesn't taste right

Have you ever tried a cocktail that was either way too strong or way too weak? This is usually due to incorrect proportions.

Mistake:
❌ Too much alcohol → The drink tastes too sharp and overpowers all other flavors.
❌ Too little alcohol → The cocktail tastes watery and boring.

Here’s how to do it right:
✅ Always follow the measurements in the recipe (e.g., 5 cl spirit, 10 cl filler as a general rule).
✅ If you don't have a measuring cup, use a shot glass – they usually hold exactly 4-5 cl!
✅ Always mix according to the recipe on the first try – you can experiment later.

2. Too much or too little ice – The underestimated ingredient

Ice is not just for cooling – it affects the consistency and taste of the cocktail.

Mistake:
❌ Too little ice → The drink warms up too quickly and becomes diluted.
❌ Using hollow ice cubes → These melt extremely quickly and dilute the cocktail.

Here’s how to do it right:
✅ Always fill the glass completely with ice – this keeps the drink colder for longer and dilutes it less.
✅ Crushed ice for Mojitos & frozen cocktails, large ice cubes for short drinks like Old Fashioned.
✅ If you don't have good ice cubes, you can make ice yourself – just boil the water first and then freeze it, which makes it clear and hard!

3. Wrong ingredient combinations – Not every mix goes together

Some drinks simply don’t taste good because the ingredients don’t harmonize.

Mistake:
❌ Too much acidity and too little sweetness → The cocktail tastes too sour.
❌ Too many sweet ingredients → The drink becomes sticky and inedible.
❌ Mixing spirits without a concept → Not every alcohol goes together!

Here’s how to do it right:
✅ Create a balance of sweet, sour, and bitter – test and adjust.
✅ If a drink is too sour, just add some sugar or syrup.
✅ When experimenting, refer to proven combinations (e.g., rum + lime + sugar = classic!).

4. Shake or stir? The right mixing makes the difference

Not every cocktail is shaken! Some drinks should only be gently stirred.

Mistake:
❌ Shake Mojito or Gin and Tonic in a shaker → The carbonation is lost!
❌ Don't shake milky or creamy cocktails → They don’t mix properly.

Here’s how to do it right:
✅ Shake: For cocktails with citrus juice, syrup, or milk (e.g., Margarita, Pina Colada).
✅ Stir: For cocktails without juices, just alcohol (e.g., Negroni, Old Fashioned).
✅ Build directly in the glass: For long drinks with carbonation (e.g., Gin and Tonic, Mojito, Cuba Libre).

➡ Tip: If you don't have a shaker, you can use a jam jar with a lid – it works just as well!

5. The wrong order – Order matters!

The order in which you add the ingredients to the glass makes a big difference.

Mistake:
❌ First the ice, then the ingredients → The ice starts to melt immediately and dilutes the drink even while mixing.
❌ First the carbonation, then the alcohol → The drink overflows or loses carbonation.

Here’s how to do it right:
✅ First alcohol, then juice or syrup, then ice – and finally carbonation (for long drinks).
✅ Always add ice as the last step to the glass to avoid unnecessary melting.
✅ Pour drinks with layers (e.g., Tequila Sunrise) slowly to prevent the colors from mixing immediately.

➡ Tip: If you want to make a layered drink, pour the heaviest ingredient (e.g., grenadine) in last – it will sink to the bottom!

Conclusion: A few small adjustments – and you mix cocktails like a pro!

Making mistakes when mixing cocktails is completely normal, but with these tips, you can easily avoid them. Once you have the basics down, you can start experimenting with your own creations!