Bar Term
Dilution
Also known as: water content
The water added to a cocktail from melting ice during shaking, stirring, or serving, which is essential for proper balance and mouthfeel.
Dilution isn't a flaw - it's a critical component of cocktail making. Proper dilution reduces alcohol burn, opens up flavors, and creates better texture. Shaken drinks gain about 25-30% dilution, stirred drinks about 15-20%. The goal is controlled dilution: enough to balance the drink but not so much that flavors become watered down. This is why ice quality, shaking/stirring time, and technique all matter.
💡 Pro Tips
- Dilution is necessary and desirable
- Different techniques provide different dilution amounts
- Large ice cubes dilute more slowly for sipping drinks
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking dilution is always bad
- Not accounting for dilution when batching
- Using too little ice and getting inadequate chill without enough dilution
