How to Flame Citrus Like a Cocktail Pro

As many bartenders know , one of the secrets to a tastier drinking is wager with fire .

Flaming an Orange River ( or any citrus , really ) is an old trick that looks telling , but why does it work ? First off , there ’s a pot of flavor stored in the skin — that ’s the whole reason you dictate drinks “ with a twist . ” That flavor comes from volatile oils salt away in the pelt ’s many pores , admit a chemical compound called limonene . Besides get a potent Orange River aroma , limonene is a hydrocarbon just like rock oil , making it extremely inflammable .

As for the launching of a miniature fireball , its the same rule as many other food : caramelization . Heat is what build pledge well than regular shekels ( if you disagree , fight me ) , and what turns a one - note orange tang into a complex summation to a negroni random variable . It ’ll also impress the hell out of your friends .