Cocktail garnish

A lime peel "twist" for a garnish adds an elegant touch to this Martini

Cocktail garnishes are decorative ornaments that add character or style to a mixed drink, most notably to cocktails.

A large variety of cocktail garnishes are used. Many rum-based cocktails, especially those with fruit flavors, tend to be decorated with tropical-themed garnishes or slices of fruit. Tequila-based drinks favor limes and other citrus fruits. Gin- and vodka-based drinks tend toward garnishes with a more dignified flair (olives, onions, or possibly a citrus twist or a single maraschino cherry), unless they are variations of a fruity rum-based drink. Whiskey- and brandy-based drinks tend toward minimal garnishment, if any. Restaurant chains and hotel bars tend to use larger and more ostentatious garnishes, and neighborhood bars tend to go the other extreme.

Common edible garnishes

Some people enjoy eating these garnishes, but others consider them to be simply decoration.

• Carrot sticks
• Celery stalks (usually with leaves attached)
• Cherries
• Cinnamon, grated
• Cocktail olives (often stuffed with pimentos)
• Cocktail onions
• Lemon slice, twist, or wedge
• Lime slice, twist, or wedge
• Mint sprigs or leaves
• Nutmeg, grated
• Orange slice, twist, or wedge
• Pineapple slice or wedge
• Pepper
• Salt, coarse (applied to the rim of glasses)
• Sugar, granulated or powdered
• Shrimp
• Strawberries
• Watermelon wedge

• 

  Maraschino cherry

• 

  Cocktail olive

• 

  Lemon slice

• 

  Lime twist

• 

  Orange, mint, and lime

• 

  Pineapple wedge

• 

  Shrimp

• 

  Raspberry

Common inedible garnishes

These garnishes are purely for decoration or dramatic flare. In some cases, the glass is so highly decorative, that it could be considered a garnishment to the drink, too.

• Plastic Animals (attached to the rim of the glass)
• Bead necklaces (especially common during Mardi Gras and Carnival)
• Candles
• Parasols, paper
• Drinking straws (colorful or unusually shaped)
• Fire (see Flaming beverage)
• Flags
• Plastic Swords (also known as a "pilkington")
• Sparklers
• Swizzle sticks
• Other decorations (usually made of paper or plastic)

• 

  Cocktail monkey

• 

  Parasol

• 

  Drinking straws

• 

  Fire

• 

  Sparklers, straws, watermelon and other decorations

• 

  Swizzle stick and straw

See also

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Bartending

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cocktail garnishes.

• Garnish
• List of cocktails

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