Bartender Bootcamp

In addition to a breakdown of the building-block concepts behind the iconic drink categories -- martinis, simple and complex sours -- Klemm offers terrific insight into how to get the details right, including great garnish ideas:

How To Burn an Orange Peel
Eben Klemm, The Cocktail Primer

Burning an orange peel is a show-offy technique that adds the flavor of burned citrus oil to a drink and imparts an aromatic note with a slight orange nuance.

Cut a thumb-size slice of fresh orange peel, retraining as much of the white pith as possible. Strike a match and hold it one hand. Hold the shorter end of the orange peel between the thumb and forefinger of hte other hand and gently brush the flame against the orange peel.

Hold the still-lit match (or another one, if the first one is about to singe you) about 2 inches above the filled cocktail glass and hold the peel a similar distance over the match. Pinch the peel, releasing the oils. If you've done this correctly, the spray will ignite in a rather satisfying burst. Sometimes there is even a nifty little woosh.