When mixing cocktails, herbs and/or fruit are often mashed or ground -- muddled -- with sugar in the bottom of a glass before adding the liquid ingredients to intensify their flavors. You can muddle with a spoon or a pestle-like tool called a muddler.

A classic example of a muddled drink is the Mojito, in which mint and sugar cubes are mashed together before adding light rum, lime juice and club soda.

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