Why you should Garnish your drinks at home

Garnishes.

I’d argue this is the hardest thing for people to wrap their heads around.

“Why do I need to garnish my own drink in my own home?! I’m not sharing it on socials or writing a blog — I’m literally just going to sit on my couch and drink it.“

We hear you. At face value, garnishing looks wildly unnecessary. Especially if your idea of a garnish is a piece of pre-cut fruit that’s been marinating in germs for several hours in a plastic bin on the bar.

You deserve better! So let’s talk about why you should garnish — even in the privacy of your own home — and which garnishes are worth your time.

Which garnishes are worth it?

First things first — studies have been done: “bar fruit” is disgusting. Those cesspools shouldn’t count as garnishes.

Even if we ignore the germs and set aside any existential-ish argument like “what makes a garnish?”, we agree that some garnishes aren’t mandatory in a simple home bar. We are not here to demand a fresh lime wedge in every single gin & tonic.

But if you’re going through the effort to treat yo’self with a thoughtful, time-honored, classic cocktail — a recipe that has withstood decades, even centuries, with almost zero changes…

By god, don’t skip the garnish.

The garnish of a classic cocktail is as much a part of that drink as the alcohol. Why? We’re glad you asked…

Because it adds Flavor

It’s typical for classic cocktails to have only 3-4 ingredients — see the Negroni and Old Fashioned — which makes them perfect for simple home bars. But when you skip the garnish, you’re actually skipping an integral flavor of the drink.

It’s more than looking pretty. Drinks with limited ingredients are (unsurprisingly) very liquor-forward. So adding cherries, oranges, etc. introduces lighter, more delicate profiles to the alcohol’s heavy-handedness.

Plus, garnishes add different scents to your drinks that prime your taste buds before you take your sip, enhancing the overall experience.

So while garnishes do make your drink insta-worthy, they serve a very important purpose.

Because vibes matter

If you’ve ever watched a cooking show or competition, you’ve heard the phrase “we eat with our eyes first”. In this case, we drink with them.

Presentation is a major part of the customer experience. It’s part of the vibe of an establishment. Imagine how confused you’d be to be served a chef-driven 7-course meal on styrofoam. Or to eat McNuggets off of fine china (though that sounds great, tbh)…

The environment and visual cues influence your mood and experience. Your brain begins to make judgements long before you taste anything.

So if you’re aiming to replace your upscale cocktail nights with a cozy night in, that means examining more than just a drink recipe.

While we’re all about simple, we encourage you to set up your well-deserved cocktail hour with a good vibe that helps you feel relaxed, energized, and mindful. Even if you’re in your PJs and your date is your dog, don’t compromise on:

• Good Music
• Soft Lighting
• Comfortable seating
• Complete cocktails with garnishes

Because you deserve an upgrade

As a reformed Bar Rescue addicts, we would get unreasonably defiant any time Jon Taffer explained to a failing-bar owner that they could charge more for the same menu item after changing the presentation. But it’s true! Adding a garnish or finishing touch is the difference between basic and upscaled.

You’re taking the time to curate a high-quality experience for yourself in the most comfortable place in the world — your home. Don’t skip the final step!

Skipping the garnish is like doing your laundry, but never putting your clothes away. Sure, they’re clean, usable, and within reach, but you wouldn’t invite people over to see your clothes out everywhere. Why? Because it’s not a nice experience for them. It’s not welcoming or put-together. It doesn’t remind them of your thoughtfulness or care. It’s just…incomplete.

You wouldn’t give a not-so-great experience to guests, so why would you give that to yourself?! You deserve a COMPLETE, thoughtful, carefully-curated cocktail.

Stop cheating yourself!

Garnishing essentials

Now that you know why garnishing is crucial to our philosophy here at Simplehomebar.com, it’s time share our top simple garnishing essentials

Here’s what we always have on-hand in our simple home bar:

• Orange — for spritzin’ & twistin’ the peel
• Cherries — for our beloved Old Fashioneds & other whiskey-forward faves
• Lemon — because martinis deserve twists (and we think olives* are bleghhh)
• Lime — because they cover a lot of cocktail ground
• Vegetable Peeler

*get olives, if you must.