This week we’re using three different methods to get a rich apple flavor into my Sour: Muddling the apple, Infused vodka, and an Infused Simple Syrup. We held all other ingredients constant – so let’s see what gets the best flavor!
Flavor, Put to the Test! Muddling vs. Infusion vs. Flavored Syrup
Taste Test:
Apple Syrup
The first thing I noticed is the acid – it hits you right up front. I would say the apple taste definitely came through and held through to the end, but the main focus is really the acid. If I were to use this cocktail I would definitely need to re-balance to take the acid down a bit.
Apple Infusion
The apple flavor in this drink is really strong right in the beginning. But unfortunately it dies off quickly. I found this version to be the least satisfying as the apple flavor is only very briefly noticeable.
Muddled Apple
Finally, the muddled apple. This drink definitely presented the best! It preserved the flavor of the acid as well as the fruit. Of course, the drawback with this is how much time and effort it takes to muddle the drink. So you’ll definitely want to take that into consideration if you’re thinking about putting any muddled drink on your menu.
Conclusion:
If I were to recreate the Apple Syrup and Apple Infusion Cocktails; I’d marry the two techniques together. Maybe infuse the apple with vodka and make an apple flavored syrup with ginger or other spices in order to create a very smooth finish and really kick up the “Apple” flavor even more.
What’s your favorite way to incorporate flavor into your cocktails? Let us know in the comments!
Maybe using a puree instead of muddling?
Agreed Thiago. I will be looking at these differences in a future video. I think purees will have a much better result.
Thanks for the comment
Well this article is not helpful, only one fruit was used. What about stone fruits, berries, melons, etc?
That’s a great point – I would imagine different fruits with different textures, acidities and sweetness might react differently to the various methods. We’ll have to consider a follow up video. Thanks for the suggestion!