Everything You Need to Keg Cocktails!
Serving cocktails on draft is a game-changer for speed, consistency, and that professional "wow" factor. Whether you’re setting up a home bar or preparing a batch for a professional venue, this guide covers the hardware and techniques you need to succeed using the MoreBeer! Torpedo ecosystem.
1. Choosing Your Keg
Not all kegs are created equal when it comes to cocktails. Depending on where you are serving, you’ll choose between two main styles:
The Torpedo Cocktail Keg (D-Style)
This is the "gold standard" for professional environments. It combines the ease of a Corny-style lid (for easy filling and cleaning) with a standard Commercial Sanke D-Style Spear.
Why it’s great: You can fill it like a homebrew keg but tap it like a professional keg of beer.
Pro Tip: It features a Low2 O-ring, which reduces oxygen ingress by 96%, keeping your fresh ingredients (like citrus or syrups) stable for much longer.
Standard Torpedo Ball Lock Kegs
These are the classic all-stainless homebrew kegs.
Why it’s great: They are stackable and use Ball Lock Fittings, which are much easier to swap out if you are frequently changing recipes or cleaning lines. Also includes a wide lid for easy cleaning and filling.
2. Fittings & Connections: Your Bar vs. Their Bar
The most common hurdle in kegging cocktails is making sure your keg can talk to the draft system.
In Your Own Bar: If you use a dedicated kegerator, you likely use Ball Lock Quick Disconnects (QDs). These are color-coded (Grey for Gas-In, Black for Liquid-Out) and snap onto the posts of a standard Torpedo keg.
In a Professional Bar: Most bars use D-Style Sanke Couplers. If you are bringing a cocktail keg to a venue, the Torpedo Cocktail Keg is the best choice because it plugs directly into their existing beer lines.
The "Hybrid" Solution: If your bar has Sanke lines but you want to use Ball Lock kegs, you need Sanke to Ball Lock Adapters. These screw onto the Sanke coupler and allow you to snap on your homebrew-style Ball Lock lines.
3. Gas Types: To Bubble or Not to Bubble?
Your choice of gas depends entirely on the cocktail you are serving:
100% CO2: Use this for carbonated drinks like Gin & Tonics, Moscow Mules, or Palomas. The CO2 provides the pressure to push the drink and keeps the beverage bubbly.
100% Nitrogen (N2): Use this for "still" cocktails like Manhattans, Negronis, or Cold Brew Martinis. Nitrogen pushes the liquid out of the tap without adding carbonation, preserving the intended mouthfeel of the original recipe.
Beer Gas (CO2/N2 Blend): Rarely used for cocktails unless you want a creamy, Guinness-style head (think Espresso Martinis on a Nitro tap).
4. Mixing & Carbonating
Filling and Mixing
Thanks to the wide-mouth lid on Torpedo kegs, you don't need a funnel.
Strain Carefully: Always fine-strain your cocktail before putting it in the keg. Small bits of citrus pulp or herbs will clog your "poppets" (the internal valves) and stop the flow.
Dilution is Key: Remember that a shaken cocktail includes about 20–25% water from ice melt. If you are kegging a "concentrated" recipe, you must add filtered water to the keg to mimic that dilution.
Carbonating
To get a fizzy cocktail, you must "Force Carbonate."
Temperature: Cold liquid absorbs gas much faster. Chill your keg to 34–38°F before adding gas.
Bottom-Up Carbonation: On the Torpedo Cocktail Keg, the gas goes down the spear and bubbles up from the bottom. Set your regulator to 20–30 PSI for 24–48 hours for a quick carbonate, then dial it back to 8–12 PSI for serving.
Quick Hardware Checklist
[ ] The Keg: Torpedo Cocktail Keg (for Sanke systems) or Torpedo Ball Lock (for home systems).
[ ] Fittings: D-Style Coupler OR Ball Lock QDs.
[ ] Gas: CO2 Tank for bubbles; Nitrogen Tank for still drinks.
[ ] Regulator: Ensure your regulator matches your tank (CGA320 for CO2; CGA580 for Nitrogen).
[ ] Draft Line: 3/16" ID beverage tubing is standard for most setups.
Still have questions about your specific cocktail recipe? Reach out to our sales team—we love talking shop (and drinks)!