Garnishes for the Home Bartender
List of suggested garnishes that the home bartender should keep in stock for garnishing cocktails. Many of the garnishes listed here, you'll find are used constantly. However, there are a few listed that you'll rarely use on a regular basis; they're included here to give you a heads-up on a few of the possible garnishes you'll need to buy and prepare for your guests.
Garnish Menu:
- Lemons *: Slices, Wedges and Lemon peel Twists
- Limes *: Slices and Wedges
- Oranges *: Slices with a Maraschino Cherry on a pick.
- Maraschino Cherries *: Red and Sometimes Green ones are needed too.
- Celery Salt: For rimming glasses such as Bloody Caesars
- Celery Sticks: For Bloody Caesars
- Cinnamon Sticks: Great for hot drinks
- Cocktail Onions: Small Pearl Onions - used in drinks like the Gibson.
- Cocktail Olives: Used in Martinis, you can get them pitted and un-stuffed or if you prefer; pitted and stuffed with pimento paste, jalapenos, or tomato.
- Fresh Mint: Used with Mint Juleps and other mint drinks.
- Flavored Martini Glass Cocktail Candy: Martini glass rim sugar; it comes in various flavors; makes specialty martinis even more fun.
- Nutmeg: Sprinkling on top of drinks such as the Brandy Alexander.
- Pepper: For rimming around the glass.
- Pineapple: Fresh pineapple with a cherry on a pick for tropical drinks.
- Salt: For rimming around the glass.
- Strawberries: For garnishing strawberry type drinks.
- Sugar: Used for rimming glasses and adding extra sweetness to some drinks.
- Whipped Cream: For various coffees and a few shooters.
* Garnishes marked with an asterisk indicate the garnishes that are most often used.