Pour & Plan.
Flavour

Judge dilution without guessing

Water from ice is part of the finished cocktail, even though most recipes list only the ingredients before mixing.

Amber cocktail with clear ice and orange peel

Step by step

  1. Measure a spirit-led drink before adding ice.
  2. Stir or shake using the recipe's method, then taste once it is cold.
  3. If the alcohol feels sharp and the flavours feel separate, mix a little longer and taste again.
  4. When batching with added water, use a tested single serving as the reference and avoid adding the same dilution twice.

Common mistake

A fixed time or water percentage does not work for every drink, ice shape and room temperature. The calculator is a planning tool, not a substitute for a test serve.

Try it

Note the measured input volume and the finished strained volume from a trial drink. Ice chips and liquid left in the vessel make this an estimate.

Use the ratio calculator for editable starting points or explore cocktail recipes.

All lessonsNext: Choose and handle ice