This mixologist teaches how to create perfect food pairings for cocktails

Once a group of ladies at the bar kept asking me for free tequila shots. After refusing them a few times, I decided to do something funny. I rimmed six shot glasses with salt and poured water instead of tequila into all the glasses. To make it more convincing, I even handed them lime wedges. They downed their shots excitedly. It took them a few seconds to realise what had just happened. Looking at their faces, Iâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088burst out laughing. Luckily for me, they found it pretty hilarious, too.

Be trendy with infusions
When it comes to infusions for cocktails, the sky is the limit, and nowadays, bartenders are thinking out of the box to make rare and delicious infusions. At Kode, we're doing six different gin infusions -- sage, vanilla, grapefruit zest, mango skin, pepper, and rosemary -- in order to give the gin more character. Beginners can try making infusions using vodka. It's safe to play around with as it's a neutral spirit.

Host like a pro
Cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Negroni or an Americano are easy to prepare at home, as are favourites like mojitos and bloody marys, as they don't demand unusual or difficult-to-find ingredients. Sangrias, too, are simple enough to put together. Don't forget to throw in chunks of fresh fruit into sangrias and mojitos.

Munch on this
Food pairings depend on the cocktail you're having. For spirit-driven cocktails like an Old Fashioned, Negroni or Manhattan, a cheese platter works well. Tacos or nachos pair well with margaritas. Sushi, on the other hand, is best complemented by sparkling wine or champagne cocktails.