We may be an easy sell when it comes to cocktails at a given watering hole, but making them home can see us become a little hesitant.  Making cocktails  though in your own abode need not be daunting says top bartender Thalita Alves – it’s easy once you are armed with a few tricks of the trade.

We’ll take Thalita’s word for it – the Brazilian has worked for some of the nation’s finest bars including Brisbane’s The Gresham and Sydney’s Bulletin Place, with her skills most recently seeing her picked to be one of 12 international bartenders fronting Campari’s new campaign ‘Campari Red Diaries’.

So what exactly does it take to make a top tipple at home? According to Thalita, the below:

1. Use fresh ingredients where you can
   “The fresher the better! No one wants to eat a cake made with fruits that were cut two days ago. Cocktails are no different. Especially when it comes to citrus, egg whites and fruit in general.”
2. Prepare ahead
   “Before you start, create a check list of ingredients and the tools you need. Most of the tools used in bars to speed up the service can be replaced by something we already have in our kitchen, like tongs for example.”
3. Ice is a non-negotiable
   “Don’t go easy on the ice! A common mistake people make when they are recreating cocktails at home is not using enough ice. It helps you to control the temperature and dilution.”
4. Keep sugar syrup on hand
   “Make a simple sugar syrup – Equal parts water and sugar and stir until it’s mixed together. It [makes it] 100 times easier to play with the sweetness of your cocktail.”
5. To be lazy when it comes to presentation
   “A simple trick is to put the glasses in the freezer before you start serving your drinks. A nice chilled glass is a nice touch. Then it’s all about the garnish! Use mint leaves, citrus wedges, berries and even nice straws to garnish your cocktail. If it looks good, it will probably taste good too!”