How to Create Your Own Frozen Beverages with a Taylor Frozen Beverage Machine

At Rocky Mountains Distributing, we’re passionate about helping you bring your beverage dreams to life. Whether you're a restaurant owner, bar manager, or just someone who loves hosting the best parties, a Taylor Frozen Beverage Machine is your ticket to crafting delicious and refreshing frozen drinks.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create your own frozen beverages—perfect for satisfying customers or impressing guests on a hot day! With a wide variety of applications, from smoothies and slushies to frozen cocktails, Taylor frozen beverage freezers are a versatile and reliable choice.

1. Understanding Brix Levels

If you want consistently great frozen beverages, understanding Brix levels is key. Simply put, Brix measures the sugar content in a liquid. Why does this matter?

• Taste: Proper Brix levels ensure your drinks aren’t too sweet or too bland.

• Freezing: The sugar content—and the presence of alcohol—affects the freezing point of your mix. Too much sugar, and the drink might not freeze properly; too little sugar, and it could become icy. Similarly, alcohol lowers the freezing point, so adding too much can result in a runny, slushy mix instead of the perfectly frozen consistency you want.

For frozen beverages, aim for a Brix level of 13-15 degrees to strike the perfect balance between sweetness, texture, and freezing stability. This step is crucial whether you’re making a frozen cocktail, smoothie, slush, or frozen coffee drink.

2. Gather Your Ingredients

Creating a delicious frozen drink starts with the right ingredients. You’ll need:

• Base Mix: Choose from fruit purees, cocktail mixes, or a simple combination of juice and water.

• Flavor Add-ins: Syrups, extracts, or flavored liqueurs for added customization.

• Alcohol: If you’re making frozen cocktails, choose your spirit(s) of choice, but ensure your machine, such as a Taylor frozen cocktail machine, can be used for alcohol use.

The versatility of a Taylor frozen drink machine makes it easy to experiment with different beverages, from creamy frozen coffees to refreshing slushies.

3. Test, Taste, and Adjust

Before pouring your mix into the frozen beverage freezer, it’s essential to ensure the flavor is just right. Follow these steps:

1. Create a Single Serving: Start by making a single serving of your specialty cocktail or frozen drink as you normally would serve.

2. Measure the Brix: Use a refractometer to measure the sugar content of your mix. Adjust as needed:

   • Too High: Add water or a non-sugar ingredient to reduce the sugar concentration.

   • Too Low: Add sugar or a sugary base ingredient to increase the sweetness.

3. Taste the Mix: Take a sip to ensure the flavor isn’t overpowered by sugar, alcohol, or another ingredient. Adjust the recipe until it’s balanced and exactly how you want it to taste when frozen.

4. Record and Scale Up: Once your mix is within the 13-15° Brix range and tastes perfect, write down the ingredient measurements. Multiply the recipe for a large batch that fits your Taylor slush machine or Taylor frozen beverage freezer.

4. Prepare the Machine

Taylor machines, including the Taylor frozen cocktail machine and Taylor slush dispenser, are designed for ease of use, but proper preparation is key. Follow these steps:

1. Clean the Machine: Ensure the machine is sanitized before use. Refer to your Taylor frozen beverage machine manual for specific cleaning instructions.

2. Inspect Worn Parts: Regularly check common wear items like o-rings and scraper blades. If they are too worn, replace them before starting to prevent leaks or uneven freezing. Keeping these parts in good condition ensures your machine operates efficiently.

3. Lubricate Properly: Ensure Taylor lubricant is applied to the parts as specified in the machine manual. Proper lubrication reduces friction and extends the life of your machine.

4. Check the Settings: Set the machine to the appropriate freezing temperature for your chosen recipe.

5. Load the Machine

Pour the prepared mix, now calibrated for the correct Brix level and flavor, into the hopper of your Taylor machine.

6. Dispense and Enjoy!

Once the mix is frozen, use the dispensing handle to serve your frozen beverages into glasses, cups, or specialty drinkware. Add garnishes like fruit slices, mint leaves, or colorful straws for that extra flair. This step works equally well for frozen cocktails, smoothies, or slushies.

7. Experiment with Flavors

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Taylor frozen beverage freezers let you experiment with endless combinations. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Matcha Mojito Madness: Combine matcha green tea, fresh mint, lime juice, and a hint of rum for a sophisticated twist on a mojito.

• Spicy Mango Tango: Mix mango puree, lime juice, and chili-infused tequila for a drink with a kick that your customers won’t forget.

• Lavender Lemonade Chill: Infuse your lemonade base with lavender syrup and top it off with vodka or gin for a refreshing floral cocktail.

• Cold Brew Buzz: Blend cold brew coffee, coconut cream, and Kahlúa for a creamy caffeinated treat that doubles as a dessert.

• Pineapple Sage Cooler: Pair pineapple juice with a sage-infused simple syrup and a splash of bourbon for a herbaceous and tropical combination.

• Choco-Chili Bliss: Mix Mexican hot chocolate (spiced with cinnamon and chili powder), milk, and cream for a decadent frozen drink with a spicy kick.

• Cucumber Melon Spritz: Blend cucumber puree, melon liqueur, and sparkling water for a crisp and refreshing non-alcoholic option—or add vodka for an adult twist.

• Ginger Pear Delight: Combine pear puree, ginger syrup, and whiskey for a warm, spicy, and cool frozen beverage.

• Peach Basil Smash: Mix peach nectar, fresh basil, and prosecco for a bubbly, aromatic drink that stands out.

• Berry Hibiscus Fusion: Steep hibiscus tea, mix with a berry puree, and freeze into a tangy, vibrant drink.

Why Choose Taylor Machines from Rocky Mountains Distributing?

As an authorized Taylor distributor in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, Rocky Mountains Distributing is your trusted partner for all your frozen beverage equipment needs. Here’s why customers choose us:

• Expert Support: Our team is here to help with setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

• Access to Our Test Kitchen: Experiment with recipes and refine your creations using our state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring perfect results for any occasion.

• World-Class Service: Backed by our commitment to helping your business thrive.

Whether you need a Taylor frozen cocktail machine, Taylor slush dispenser, or Taylor smoothie, we have you covered.

Come to Our Test Kitchen and Perfect Your Recipe!

At RMD, we understand that getting the perfect recipe takes time. That’s why we invite you to use our state-of-the-art test kitchen. Try out our Taylor frozen beverage machines, slush machines, and other equipment to refine your recipes before putting them into action. This way, you can perfect your frozen cocktails, smoothies, or slushies without any downtime for your business. Once your recipe is just right, you’ll be ready to wow your customers with flawless frozen drinks!

Get Started Today!

Ready to elevate your beverage game? Contact our sales team to schedule time in our test kitchen or to find the perfect Taylor frozen beverage machine, smoothie machine, or frozen coffee machine for your needs. Let’s turn your ideas into frosty creations that everyone will love!