The 8:2:1 Ratio, David Embury Daiquiri

There is a time and a place for the golden 2:1:1 ratio — and then there is what David Embury defined as the perfect cocktail ratio: the 8:2:1. This drink ratio is quite different from the standard 2:1:1, or even a "less sugar" variation like 2:3/4:3/4 or 2:1:3/4.

What Does 8:2:1 Mean?

The concept is straightforward: 8 parts spirit, 2 parts sour, 1 part sweet. The fun comes in when you reduce that down to a single serving — since most folks don't want 8 oz of spirit in their drink.

A typical drink ends up being about a quarter of the 8:2:1 ratio. Divide by 4 and you get 2:1/2:1/4. Take a typical 2:1:1 daiquiri — a perfect balance of 1 oz sour against 1 oz sweet — and create something slightly more spirit-forward.

What Does David Embury Matter?

If you've made it this far through our course, you've probably got a real interest in cocktail design. That interest can easily extend to the history of cocktail creation, and David Embury made a difference — he helped define the "modern" cocktail of his era. Today's trends are actually closer to Embury's concepts than the 1980s were, when sugar was the primary driving factor of a cocktail.

Does this mean you need to stick to Embury's ideals? Not at all. You may find 2:1:1 cocktails a bit too sweet and 8:2:1 cocktails a bit too potent. That means your personal golden ratio falls somewhere in between — and experimentation is the next element to success.

Are Ratios That Important?

Ratios are what allow bartenders — at home and at work — to crank out a large array of tasty cocktails without constantly memorizing the nuance of every drink. They fit the base of many of our favorite tastes and give us somewhere to go with our creations.

If someone is looking for a strong drink, 8:2:1 is a good place to start. If they want a well-balanced sour, 2:1:1 is probably better. But that's just the start. A bartender might play down the sugar and use a liqueur like Luxardo for nuanced sweetness, or an orange liqueur for a zesty finish — all while dancing around that basic ratio.

So yes, ratios are important. But all rules are meant to be broken. What rule are you willing to break to make the next most awesome cocktail? Get it done!