On The Rocks Cocktails – All You Need To Know | Instacart’s Guide

The term “on the rocks” essentially means “on ice”. Serving your cocktail in a glass with ice keeps the drink chilled and dilutes it slightly as it melts. 

If you’re new to ordering drinks, here’s a key phrase crash course: 

• “On the rocks” is a drink served over ice.
• “Neat” or “Straight” refers to a spirit served alone, without any mixer or ice, in a glass at room temperature.
• “Up” means mixed or shaken with ice and strained into a glass so the finished drink has no ice in it.

Tips for making cocktails on the rocks

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when serving drinks or cocktails on the rocks:

1. Don’t let the drink sit too long. The longer you let an on the rocks drink sit, the more diluted it will get, and this affects the quality and flavors of the cocktail.
2. Choose your spirits carefully. It all comes down to personal preference, but not all spirits are suitable for on the rocks. For example, high-end single malt scotch whiskeys are best enjoyed neat. However, some drinks are dependent on ice, such as frozen margaritas served with crushed ice.
3. Know the classics. An old fashioned or Tom Collins is always served on the rocks. And you shouldn’t stray from this practice unless the drinker requests it specifically. 
4. Use the right type of ice for your drink. Whiskey stones cool the drink without diluting and compromising the taste. Specialty ice slows down the speed of melting, especially ice balls.
5. Serve on the rocks cocktails in the right glassware. A rocks glass is for neat spirits or on the rocks drinks like old fashioneds and negronis. Taller highball glasses should be used for cocktails containing mixers such as mojitos, cosmopolitans, and margaritas. 
6. Learn the phrase “with a twist.” If someone asks for a drink “with a twist,” this comes from the zest or rind of citrus fruit, often hung on the glass as a garnish. 
7. Use distilled or filtered water when making your ice cubes. Freeze away from food with strong odors that could taint your ice. 

Grab it now on Instacart:

High West High Country American Single Malt Whiskey Bottle (750 ml)

Mike's Hard Lemonade Classic Margarita Frozen (10 fl oz)

1800 Margarita, The Ultimate (750 ml)

Daily's Margarita Ready To Drink (10 fl oz)

Cointreau Orange Liqueur Triple Sec (750 ml)

Tanqueray London Dry Gin (750 ml)

Stirrings No Flavor 40 Year Aged Cocktail Mixer, (12 fl oz)

How to make a margarita on the rocks

Margaritas are refreshing, crisp cocktails balanced with the tartness of lime juice and served over ice or frozen with crushed ice.

1. Add 2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz orange liqueur, 1 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz agave syrup to a cocktail shaker add ice, shake until combined and chilled.
2. Strain into a lowball or rocks glass over ice.
3. For a frozen margarita, serve with crushed ice.
4. Garnish with a lime slice and kosher salt on the glass rim.

How to make a piña colada on the rocks

This creamy, tropical cocktail is a mix of rum, coconut, and pineapple. Piña coladas are the original fun-in-the-sun drink that’ll make you feel pool-side any time of year.

1. Add 2 oz light rum, 1.5 oz coconut cream, 1.5 oz pineapple juice, and 1/2 oz lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds.
2. Strain over ice chips into a hurricane cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

How to make a cosmopolitan on the rocks

Cosmos are a zesty martini-style drink that gained popularity in the 90s. Vodka cocktails were at the height of popularity, and the cosmopolitan stood out with its pink hues and citrus-flavored variations.

1. Add 3/4 oz orange-flavored triple sec liqueur, 1.5 oz lemon-flavored vodka, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled.
2. Pour over ice into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge.

How to make a martini on the rocks

Chic and effortless, the martini is one of the most iconic drinks with countless variations–the most classic being the quintessential dry martini.

1. Add 2.5 oz of London-style gin, 1.5 oz dry vermouth, and a dash of orange bitters to a large mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

How to make a whiskey highball on the rocks

Some scotch whiskey aficionados don’t like to add ice but most whiskey enthusiasts agree that serving whiskey on the rocks brings out the flavors. The Whiskey Highball is a simple classic whiskey cocktail with just 2 ingredients. 

1. Pour 2 oz whiskey over ice into a highball glass.
2. Finish with 4 oz club soda, and stir gently to combine.

How to make an old fashioned on the rocks

Old fashions are sophisticated, classy cocktails with classic allure. Suave but simple, this cocktail is just as popular today as it was in the 1800s.

1. Add 1/2 tsp sugar or sugar syrup and 3 dashes of concentrated bitters to a rocks glass. 
2. Then add 1 tsp water, and stir until the sugar dissolves.
3. Add 2 oz bourbon, stir to combine, and add large ice cubes.
4. To finish, express oil from an orange peel over the glass, then drop it into the drink.

On the rocks with a twist

Balancing spirits, mixers, and the right types of ice is paramount for creating the perfect cocktail. Learning how to serve cocktails on the rocks is a must for any aspiring mixologist. 

If you’re hosting a party or just having friends over for cocktails, be sure to stock your bar to impress. Order rum, whiskey, tequila, and your favorite mixers through Instacart, and get your alcohol order delivered right to your door. Just add everything to your cart and choose same-day pick up or delivery at check out.

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