Cocktail pick

Tool

A cocktail pick is a thin stick, about 4.5 to 5 inches (11 to 13 cm) long, that holds a garnish in or on a drink.

Also called: cocktail skewer

Standard length: 4.5 to 5 inches (11 to 13 cm), including the top
Lengths sold: 2.5 to 6 inches (6 to 15 cm)

What cocktail pick means

You meet a pick wherever a garnish has to stay put. An olive in a dirty drink is the classic example. The pick keeps the garnish where you can reach it. Fishing a garnish out with your fingers is awkward, so the pick is worth keeping in the drawer.

Length matters more than it seems. The standard pick is 4.5 to 5 inches (11 to 13 cm), counting the top, and picks are sold from 2.5 to 6 inches (6 to 15 cm). A pick of the standard size can rest across the rim of a glass.

Material is the other choice. Stainless steel picks last and wash easily, so you can use them again and again. Bamboo and wood picks are usually single-use, and they can snap, so they suit one round of drinks.

How to use a cocktail pick

A pick holds the garnish in place, so choose the right length and thread the garnish on before you serve.

1.Choose a pick that rests on the rim without sliding into the glass.
2.Use a shorter pick for a small coupe or a martini glass.
3.Thread the olive, cherry or fruit onto the pick, and press it on firmly.
4.Lay the pick across the rim so the garnish sits in the drink.

No cocktail pick? Without a cocktail pick, a plain toothpick holds a garnish too, though it may be too short for the rim of a glass.

Cocktail pick compared

ToothpickA toothpick is short and plain. A cocktail pick is long enough to lay across the rim, and metal ones can be washed and reused.
GarnishThe garnish is the olive, cherry or fruit itself. The pick is the tool that holds it in place.

Related terms

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.