The 2:1:1 Rule: How to Balance Any Cocktail

Master the 2:1:1 golden ratio and the four flavor components — sweet, sour, bitter, strong — plus simple fixes to rescue any cocktail that tastes off.

A bartender pours a cocktail into a glass from a shaker, set in a cozy home bar. The 2:1:1 Rule: How to Balance Any Cocktail