Mixing up the batch
Nonetheless, you'll need to create a protocol for preparing cocktails in a convenient economy size. The first step is to find a way to scale your recipe efficiently and accurately. The easiest approach is to convert ounces to cups. For instance, if a single drink recipe calls for one ounce of vodka and you want to make eight drinks, you'll need 1 cup of vodka for the batch, since 8 ounces equals 1 cup. You can scale each ingredient in the cocktail using this method.
Once you have the essential alcoholic ingredients in the pitcher for your batched cocktails, add water. As a general guideline, incorporate 20% water relative to the alcohol if you won't be serving the drinks right away. If you're planning to serve them immediately, use 15% water. When it's time to add ice, aim for one cup of ice for every 10 drinks.
Combine the ingredients in a pitcher or a Mason jar with a lid. This allows you to store the drink mix in the refrigerator in the same container used for mixing. This not only reduces cleanup since you won't be using additional pitchers, but it also helps prevent any odors from the fridge from affecting the drink mix. Think of it as avoiding martinis that taste like last night's lasagna—this is the point being made here.
Other tips for batching
The concept of batching isn't restricted to straightforward stirred beverages. Take the French 75, for instance, which includes gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. The fruit juice and Champagne are not ideal for pre-batching. The quality of juice in cocktails deteriorates when pre-batched. If you mix in the Champagne and store it in the fridge overnight—or even for just a few hours—the fizz will vanish in no time, leaving you with flat Champagne.
Logically, you might think this drink should be excluded from your batching plans. However, you don’t have to completely abandon it. Instead, you can pre-batch the gin and simple syrup. On the day of your gathering, simply add the appropriate amounts of Champagne and lemon juice to finish off the drink.
As a final tip, if you're uncertain about which ingredients to include in a pitcher of cocktails, adhere to the bitters-sugar-booze formula. Ingredients like juices and carbonated drinks are too delicate to maintain their quality once mixed and stored in the fridge. Additionally, it’s quick and easy to incorporate these ingredients into a pre-batched base, but it can be time-consuming and costly to recreate a batch of cocktails if the ingredients spoil in the fridge overnight.
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