An edible cocktail rim is mainly used for the visual appeal of the cocktail, although salt or sugar is usually used to emphasize the taste of the drink. In addition to these two common ingredients, you can also use cocoa, grated chocolate, coconut flakes, and colored edible sprinkles.
If you want to garnish a cocktail, you have two obvious options. First, you can decorate the drink itself by adding:
- whole berries;
- wedges or balls of various fresh fruits;
- dry fruits;
- herb leaves and stems (basil, mint, thyme, and rosemary are my top choices);
- citrus slices, twists, and peels;
- herb blossoms;
- edible flowers (begonias with citrus notes and lavender with its unforgettable aroma are my favorites);
- vegetable garnishes, like cucumber ribbons;
- Food: skewers with pickled vegetables, olives, different types of cheese. You have not tried Bloody Marry with a Grilled Sausage then you have never had Bloody Mary.
- Finally, object garnishes, like paper umbrellas, origami, feathers, etc.
And your second option is to decorate a cocktail glass itself by rimming it. I find that this method is an easier and quicker way to bring that extra bling to a party. Just keep in mind that the ingredient for the rim is an additional ingredient to your cocktail. Here is the rule of thumb: a salty rim will not go with a sweet cocktail, and a sugar one will not suit salty or vegetable cocktails. Also, make sure that the drink level is below the rim and does not touch it, so as not to dissolve the delicious beauty.
How to Rim a Cocktail Glass with Sugar or Salt
Sugar/salt cocktail rims are a perfect way to make your cocktails pop and the process itself is not so complicated, but a little time-consuming. However, as with any task it has its quirks. To sugar the rim of a cocktail glass use common granulated sugar, alongside brown sugar, cinnamon sugar, or colored sugar. You can also choose any liquid to moisten the rim of glasses; juice of lemon and lime is simply the most common option. Liqueurs, honey, syrups, and simple water will do the trick, too.
Sugar/Salt Rim for Cocktail Glass
Equipment
- A plate, a bowl, and a cocktail glass
Ingredients
- 1 lemon or lime
- Sugar
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice out of the whole lemon into the bowl or a deep soup plate. Make sure to choose, so that the glass will fit inside.
- Take a plate that is wider than the rim of your glass and pour sugar/salt onto its surface.
- While holding the glass by its stem, first, dip it into the juice so that only the outer edge will get moist, and then dip it the same way into the plate with sugar. On the other hand, you can hold the glass upside down at a 90-degree angle, however, with this method, sugar can get inside the glass and it will be more difficult and time-consuming to get rid of it.
- Prepare all the glasses before making the cocktail itself.
- Carefully pour your cocktail into the center of the glass to prevent liquid from getting to the sugar coating.
To tidy up the rim of a cocktail glass use a damp napkin or paper towel.
How to Make Colored Sugar Rim for Cocktail Glasses
You can always buy already colored sugar, which will definitely make the process easier and in the end, you will get the brightest pop of color for the rim of the glass. You can also choose a colored liqueur. However, my favorite option is the pomegranate juice, as it colors sugar or salt into the prettiest rose color.
Pink Sugar Rim for Cocktail Glass
Equipment
- Aplate, a bowl, and a cocktail glass
Ingredients
- Pomegranate juice or syrup
- Common granulated sugar
Instructions
- Pour pomegranate juice into the bowl and dip the entire rim of the glass into theliquid.
- Cover the rim of the glass in sugar by dipping it into the dish with pouredsugar. Make sure to use the common white version, as it will give you vibrantpink color.
- Allow the rim to dry before pouring the cocktail.
How to Rim a Cocktail Glass with Chocolate
This version of the rim can be used for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You can even make on the rims of cups to serve cocoa or chocolate. Choose your favorite type of chocolate (milk, white or dark) to accommodate the drink to your taste. Be careful when choosing honey to moist the rims, as it may not suit all cocktails as an added ingredient, in this case, stick to the ganache option. I have a great 5-minute ganache recipe for you to check out.
Chocolate Rim for Cocktail
Equipment
- Aplate, a bowl, and a cocktail glass
Ingredients
- Chocolate ganache or honey
- Shaved chocolate
Instructions
- Pour a little liquid (ganache/honey) onto the plate and on the other plate spreadout the shredded chocolate.
- Dip the glass into the liquid so that the rim will be moist and then dip it intothe chocolate.
- Gently shake to get rid of any loose bits. Fill glasses carefully with a cocktail.
I hope that the article was helpful and you learned to decorate the rim of a cocktail glass. Please, share it with your friends and give the recipes a star review if you tried and liked them!
