The Art of the Garnish

For every cool cocktail garnish out there--flavored salts, dehydrated fruit slices, airs, carmelized rims--there are 10,000 phoned-in ones. (My biggest pet peeve is going to a cocktail or wedding reception, ordering a gin and tonic and having the bartender just toss in a dried out, no-fruit-to-be-found lime wedge...I've considered bringing my own, but that might just be a wee bit tacky.)

A great garnish adds visual appeal that (ideally) ties into the cocktail ingredients. And edible garnishes mean that your drink is truly good to the last drop--or bite.

Read up on some interesting garnishes in my latest Wine Enthusiast article, and glean some tips on creating your own showstopping drink adornments.