In cocktail terminology, what does "muddling" refer to?

Muddling refers specifically to the technique of crushing herbs or fruits to release their essential oils and flavors, which is an essential step in preparing various cocktails. This method allows for the infusion of the natural flavors into the drink, enhancing its overall taste profile.

For example, in a cocktail like a Mojito, muddling fresh mint leaves with lime and sugar helps extract the minty aroma and taste, marrying the flavors with the simple syrup and rum during the mixing process. This technique is fundamental for cocktails that rely on fresh ingredients, as it enhances the drink's freshness and overall quality.

The other options refer to different mixing techniques that do not achieve the same flavor release characteristic of muddling. Stirring combines ingredients and blends their flavors but does not extract them from whole fruits or herbs. Layering is about creating distinct visual segments of different liquids without mixing their flavors together. Freezing ingredients before mixing can chill the drink but does not inherently enhance or extract flavors in the way muddling does.