Building

I don't want to call this the lazy way of mixing, but it sure as heck is and there's nothing wrong with it. Some drinks are just so easy. Queue up one of the scenes from The Big Lebowski, where The Dude helps himself to a White Russian. In no particular order, the vodka, Kahlua, and cream goes in the glass, and a short stir occurs. That's it. Ingredients go in, a little movement to make them mingle, and up goes the glass. It's not lazy if that's the right thing for the moment. Ingredients and mingle, it is that easy.

And of course, we can make it a little more specific. Unlike The Dude, I like to standardize the order I combine the ingredients. And I like to measure. It just works out better that way. And I like a big piece of ice in my glass.

---

Why build

A built beverage minimizes cooling, dilution, and aeration. A built beverage is intended to be enjoyed over time, and to have an enjoyable flavor as the ice slowly dilutes the drink. Built recipes are often spirit forward, bitter, and with minimal juice/acid components.

---

What you’ll need

A serving vessel. I prefer glass, but with a built cocktail, it really doesn’t matter. Keep it simple and enjoy the drink.

A big piece of ice, like what can be made with a Tovolo 2" Cube Mold. The larger ice, with a consistent surface, will slowly dilute your drink. A good built cocktail recipe presents you with a nice experience, from the first sip through the last, and the right ice is key to this. You can also use more standard sized Tovolo 1.25" Cube Mold, especially for built drinks that include a carbonated ingredient. But I do not like to use plain freezer ice or bag ice for these drinks - that ice dilutes too quickly.

If you’re feeling fancy, buy a Gaz Finger Stirrer.

---

How to build

Measure ingredients into your serving glass, Add ice, as is usually required. Stir 3-5 times, then garnish and serve.

---

My go to Negroni is built. I also enjoy an Old Fashioned that is built with simple syrup in lieu of dry sugar. Which raises a critical question: since built recipes often call for sugar, how do you incorporate the sugar without added in a lengthened stirring process? Replace the dry sugar with syrup. Easy peasy.

Highballs like a Campari and Soda are also typical of the built style. With these, the carbonation takes care of the mixing for you. When adding the carbonated water or soda, there are two approaches you can take. You can either add the carbonated liquid first (as a “base”) or last (as a “top”). Admittedly, I’m new to basing, but I feel it does a more adequate job of mixing and I can control the carbonation release more when I add it to an empty glass.

Remember these two key items when it comes to Built drinks::

1. Of all the methods for mixing a drink - shaking, stirring, blending, and building - building is the simplest and lets the ingredients do most of the work.
2. You should sit back and enjoy the fruits of that effort.