Lime zest can add intense, eye opening flavor to a cocktail, and makes a great garnish when floated on a cocktail with the consistency to hold the weight.
It’s best used in two manners, getting the flavors and essential oils from the zest through steeping, or added at the end of mixing the cocktail as an additional flavor or garnish . There are a number of tools recommended for zesting limes, but we’ve found the most success with a simple grater.
A fine to coarse hand grater offers the most control. The fine makes an airy and light zest that melts into an infusion easy for steeping, releasing the flavor and essential oils easily due to the additional surface area. The coarse grater gives a better look for garnishing and gives enough flavor to maintain it’s usefulness.
To zest with the hand grater, simply rub the lime in one direction against the blade, turning the lime as you go to avoid the pith beneath the green zest.
