Filler
Filler, also known as drink mixer, is a collective term for the various non-alcoholic beverages used to mix cocktails. Fillers serve very different functions: on the one hand they reduce the alcohol content by diluting the drink, on the other hand they balance the taste of particularly strong drinks and spirits. In practice, various groups of beverages fall under the broad generic term of fillers:
– Carbonated fillers such as soda, ginger ale or bitter lemon give the drink a tangy note as well as a unique flavor. In addition, the carbonic acid promotes faster absorption of the alcohol into the bloodstream, may be a desirable effect.
– Fruit juices characterize the drink, especially in terms of taste; the sweetness of most juices effectively counteracts the strong taste of spirits, which is possibly the root of the success of most exotic cocktails. Citrus juices, on the other hand, are often combined with syrup or liqueurs to make sours and achieve the same effect. In addition to the taste, the color of the respective juice influences the look of the mixed cocktail and can make it look from colorless to appealingly fresh.
– Dairy products also fulfill different functions; When shaking cream or egg white, the main purpose is to achieve a nice head of foam and an overall creamy texture of the drink. Milk makes the cocktail cloudy while also counteracting strong spirits.
