Technique
Express
To express a citrus peel is to squeeze it over a drink, skin side down, so a fine spray of its oils lands on the surface.
In practice
Hold the peel between your thumb and fingers about an inch above the glass and pinch it sharply. You'll often see a faint mist and smell it right away. After expressing, rub the peel on the rim and drop it in or discard it, as the recipe says.
Drinks to try it with
Express, in short
What does express mean in cocktails?
To express a citrus peel is to squeeze it over a drink, skin side down, so a fine spray of its oils lands on the surface.