Three Easy Cocktail Garnishes

When it comes to cocktails, a cocktail garnishes are the the cherry on top. Today I’ve got three simple orange peel garnishes that are easy to make and bring a professional touch to your drinks.

Collage of three glasses with ice, each featuring a different orange peel garnish. Top glass has a twisted peel on a skewer, left glass has a straight peel, and right glass has a spiral peel. Text reads 3 Easy Cocktail Garnishes.

You don’t have to stick to oranges by the way. Other citrus fruits work beautifully as cocktail garnishes too! Lemons and limes are perfect for smaller garnishes like twists, while grapefruits give you larger peels to work with and a bittersweet flavor. Pick fresh, firm fruit with smooth skin, as they’re easier to work with.

A simple strip

This garnish is all about minimalism and clean lines. It gives your drink a modern, sophisticated vibe.

How to make it: Use a vegetable peeler to cut a strip of orange peel, taking care not to peel off too much of the white pith. Trim the edges into a clean parallelogram shape using a sharp knife.
Pro tip: Pair this garnish with cocktails that let the garnish shine, like a gin and tonic, vodka soda, or a spritz.

On the left, a hand holds a strip of orange peel on a wooden surface. On the right, a glass of clear liquid with ice is garnished with a similar orange peel strip, placed on the same wooden surface.

The Classic Orange Twist

The orange twist is a timeless one and still nice and easy.

How to make it: Use a vegetable peeler to slice a long, thin strip of orange peel. Twist it gently over the cocktail to release its fragrant oils, then rest it on the rim of the glass or let it curl inside.
Pro tip: For a little something extra, cut a small slit in the middle of the twist so it can perch on the rim of your glass. This helps keep it in place.

This garnish is perfect for classics like martinis, Old Fashioneds, or whiskey sours.

A glass of clear sparkling drink with ice cubes is garnished with a twist of orange peel. It sits on a wooden surface with a blurred white tile background.

Split image: Left shows a hand holding a yellow citrus peel on a wooden surface. Right shows a glass filled with ice, garnished with a citrus twist on a toothpick.

The Orange Fan

The orange fan is a bit more intricate but it’s still nice and easy, and looks great!

How to make it: Use a vegetable peeler to slice a long, thin strip of orange peel. Cut a wide, leaf-shaped strip of orange peel. Lay it flat on a cutting board, then use a sharp knife to make thin, parallel slits down the center of the peel, leaving the top and bottom edges intact to hold the shape together. Gently bend the peel outward to fan it open.
Pro tip: Secure the fan on a cocktail skewer for stability and rest it across the glass.

The orange fan is a stunning choice for cocktails served on the rocks, like Negronis, Old Fashioneds, or spritzers.

Two images show a hand carefully slicing orange peel into thin strips on a wooden cutting board. A knife rests nearby. The left image shows the inside of the peel, and the right highlights the outside.

A glass filled with ice cubes and a clear liquid, garnished with a curled orange peel on a metal skewer. The glass is placed on a wooden surface.

TIPS

Always wash your oranges: Especially if they aren’t organic, to remove any wax or residue.
Use fresh peels: Fresh orange peel is more fragrant and easier to work with.
Prep just before serving: These garnishes look and smell their best when made fresh, so try to prepare them right before serving your drinks.