A good cocktail, much like a good painting, is the product of rule-breaking creativity. – Absolut Vodka
Drinking. Easy, right? You have the usual – scotch, vodka, rum, and so on. We all have our tastes. I had tried them all, except the infamous ‘Vodka Martini’–Mr. Bond’s choice of liquid courage. Perhaps it was his character’s stature that I expected it to be as fabulous as he was, so I searched the internet for the exact recipe. I had most of the required stuff lying around, except one key ingredient (and the glass), so I decided to look for a close substitute. I then understood that the drink itself is a poor combination of two types of liquor because you basically can’t mix anything in any proportion whatsoever. Only experts in this field would know about that. And that’s where mixologists come in.
Type “Mixology” on Google and you get 25,700,000 results in 0.47 seconds, which includes a full blown app for mixing drinks as well as an American television series with the same name (that sadly does not have much relevance to the term). Mixology is the art and style of mixing drinks, mainly cocktails, to form a wild, new – and delicious, we might add- concoction. We think this is nothing less than art!
But the comparison between alcohol and art is not unheard of. They have been compared by several people on several platforms; it is often said that a skilled mixologist is much like an artist – he knows exactly what will complement what and can differentiate between the finer shades of what he uses.
What, then, happens when you combine art and alcohol in the form of mixology? Masterpieces, that’s what.
We’ve brought to you some of the most beautiful creations that came into existence when art and mixology partnered up.
1. MOLECULAR MIXOLOGY
Jamie Boudreau
Most of us have heard of molecular gastronomy–the use of science to understand how food is prepared. But using that principle for cocktails isn’t something many would expect. But hold it right there – it’s real and very much happening! Molecular mixology integrates chemistry and physics to create cocktail recipes that are both artistic and lip-smacking at the same time, in general upgrading the overall look and taste of your drink.
Image courtesy – ViralNova
Okay, so not always lip smacking. Hey, it’s called alien brain haemorrhage for a reason.
Textures and flavours are added using spray, foams, gels etc. Famed mixologist Jamie Boudreau uses ingredients like agar and xantham gum along with the fundamental gin and vermouth to create his own and very popular take on the average martini, which he calls the Martini Sorbet. He says it tastes “just like a martini, alcohol burn and all.”
What’s more, there are now cocktails in different shapes and sizes, including cupcakes!
Let’s not share with kids.
Image Courtesy – Seriously For Real
Interested in making these beauties but the word ‘chemistry’ sends shivers down your spine? Fear not, for these don’t require you to pass tenth grade science exams, only the right ingredients and technique. All you need are molecular mixology kits and your creativity.
2. THROUGH THE (MICROSCOPIC) LOOKING GLASS
BevShots
Are you one of those who pour a drink for themselves and wonder what it would look like under a microscope? No? We thought so too. But we’re sure alcoholic art will still interest you. It was started in the 1990s by Michael Davidson, an expert in crystallisation and microscopy. However, it really saw success and became famous when Lester Hutt, entrepreneur and founder of BevShots, came across the images. BevShots licenses these images from Davidson.
Dry Martini
Irish Stout
The drink is first crystallised on a lab slide and then photographed under a polarized light with a standard light microscope that has a camera attached to it. Only a drop of the drink of choice is squeezed on to the slide, and is allowed to dry completely before the photographing starts. The entire process can take up to three months. It is well worth the time taken – the medley of colours that forms these images is so gorgeous, it’s hard to take your eyes off it.
Pina Colada
Lester Hutt says he always enjoyed modern art but found it difficult to understand what the artist was trying to convey. He says,
What I like about Davidson’s photos is that they are beautiful, and they are easy to understand! You can simply explain, “That’s what vodka looks like under a microscope.”
Wine Rosé
BevShots has also released these prints in the form of wall art which can easily lighten up any room. They also have a range of colourful scarves as well as hip flasks and minimally designed shot glasses.
Canadian Ice Lager
Image Courtesy – BevShots
The images are intoxicating enough in their own right, and we hope you will be more appreciative of your drink as well as savour it more next time!
3. (Red) Heart, Paper, Scissors
RedPaperHeart
The RedPaperHeart is a studio that comprises of artists and coders who work together to combine art and science. They create astonishingly beautiful artworks and say they are “passionate about finding ways to connect objects, spaces and people to create fun, honest experiences”. So when Herradura and UrbanDaddy called them to make an interactive bar, the result was nothing less than a piece of art, quite literally.
Image courtesy – EvanAnthony
The bar was filled with an array jars of cocktail ingredients, and when the jar or even the ingredients themselves were touched, the bottom of the jar would light up through the laser cut surface of the bar. The experience was further enhanced by a projection behind the mixologist that was brought to life by mixing artwork that was made for each ingredient.
As if that wasn’t enough, they also fitted a wireless sensor into the cocktail shaker, so after being shaken, graphics inspired by Mexican masks would emerge and breathed life into the projection, making it even more unique for each guest.
Image courtesy – RedPaperHeart
4. MIXING ART AND HISTORY
Dallas Museum of Art
We doubt many people would think of cocktails and museums together, but the Dallas Museum of Art did just that. When they turned 112 last year in January, they decided to celebrate it in an incredibly grand way – a cocktail contest that anyone above the age of 21 could register for. The contestants (or visitors) had to make a cocktail based on the piece of art that was in the museum that inspired them the most and submit the recipe to the museum.
The museum said they received submissions that had been inspired by art that ranged from Japanese to European, ancient American to decorative and contemporary art.
The armlet that the winning cocktail was inspired by.
Image Courtesy: dmaeducatorblog
The winner, Lori Pasillas, created a cocktail that was a melange of amaretto, club soda, Italian soda, Chambord, mint leaves and a bit of orange peel. It was influenced by their ancient Mediterranean collection.
The contest itself was largely inspired by Tim Federle’s book Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist and Hickory Daiquiri.
If that isn’t a fabulous birthday celebration, we don’t know what is!
These creations have taken forward the idea of something as simple as drinks and alcohol and turned it into something beautiful on a whole new level in a very new way. These epitomise the fact that art can made using any technique in any field. All we need is our own imagination and creativity to unshackle ourselves from inhibitions.
