Why keg cocktails ?   Because the ensue beverage are convenient , reproducible , and easy to make . Pouring a pre - miscellaneous cocktail into a glass might lack the theatre of get to it from scratch , but it can also save the Browning automatic rifle clock time during service .

Tapping the Trend

decent now , kegged cocktails are most vernacular in city that have a high demand for craft cocktail . Pre - batching cocktail has some serious advantage : it control ordered dilution , perfect symmetry , and quick function . It can also slightly reduce a stripe ’s barren by eliminating hard pours or likely spills .

During the busy legal community hours , it also reduces strain on bartenders . Anyone who can decant a beer can pullulate a cocktail and garnishee it , making it an easy style to speed up service . Though the idea behind the style is n’t novel , the presentation is still refreshing .

Crossed Lines

Still , kegged cocktails have a few disadvantages . Outside of the obvious going from a poorly mixed batch , a bar must have a tap organization that can accommodate gas other than CO2 . To foreclose corrosion , a Browning automatic rifle must have special course that wo n’t clog or corrode when exposed to sugars and acids .

There ’s also a steep learning curve ball . Before starting to serve a cocktail , the bar has to know how a cocktail ’s flavors alter under pressure and over time . They must also decide on a gas ( normally nitrogen or CO2 ) to help administer their ware , and experimentation to ensure that the result drunkenness has the desired texture . After the initial limiting , the lines must be cleaned religiously to prevent mildew or bacterial growth .

saloon must also take when to dilute their cocktail . Most well - made miscellaneous drink are rough one - fifth H2O after being shake or stir . For pre - batch kegged cocktail , the water can be added to the keg . Judging by the Google results , this is the most rough-cut approaching . However , some bar do opt to mix undiluted cocktail , dispense a located amount , and shake or stir to add body of water .

iStock

Finally , there ’s the legality of it . In some situation , serve up liquor out of anything other than its original nursing bottle may not be OK , so brush up on the booze laws that govern your area .

Hit The Lab

A fate of places have publish solid guide to kegging alcohol ( likehereandhere ) , so we ’re going to give you some steer on batch your favorite drinks .

First , take a cocktail and a recipe . Batches of spirit - heavy swallow like the Manhattan or the Old Fashioned can be made the day ( or two ) before a political party without much variety , but citrusy cocktail like Gimlets or Aviations need to be made the same day to preserve freshness . After batching , refrigerate your cocktail . Vermouth oxidizes at room temperature andfruit juice will get bitter .

Next , reproduce the recipe ’s proportions by the phone number of servings you want to make . Once your number are consecutive , meet around with dilution . Well - made drinks are approximately one - fifth water when they are served . you’re able to either add this much H2O ( if you had four cup of liquidness before , add together one cup of chilled distilled water ) or budge or shake off when you ’re about to serve .

Combine ingredients in a pitcher that has a roof and is great enough to reconcile an total batch .

Thanks to Nathan McMinn for the help with the technical side of kegging !