If you use a cocktail shaker for alcoholic drinks, it is important to learn how to use the appliance effectively.
Cocktail shakers are an indispensable piece to have behind the counter. You may have seen a professional bartender shaking and stirring your drinks at a fancy bar, but do you know you can do it too at home? Just get a cocktail shaker and make those marvellous drinks for your guests at your home party.
It is not just an essential tool for making some cocktails, but looks beautiful and can be a great stress reliever.
What Is A Cocktail Shaker?
A cocktail shaker is a bar tool designed to prepare cocktails and mixed drinks. It is a closed container that mixes ingredients quickly and carefully while keeping your drink chilled. The ice in the shaker will melt as it mixes with your ingredients by adding just a little water.
This is an important step when making your cocktail as it helps soften the stronger flavors and Alcohol content and makes a smooth drink.
Types of Cocktail Shakers
There are three variants with different uses:
- Cobbler Shaker
- Boston Shaker
- French Shaker
All three are used to cool and mix drinks. It also adds a nice foam to cocktails. You can also use the glass side of the mixer as a cup or glass to make stirred drinks.
When To Use A Cocktail Shaker?
You can use the cocktail shaker to mix drinks with alcohol, juices, and syrups that don’t mix well when stirring.
Use the tool when your drink contains:
- Juice and alcohol
- Cream, eggs, or dairy products
- Alcohol only, such as a martini with gin or vodka, or an old-fashioned one, which contains sugar, bitters, water, and whiskey
- Fizzy ingredients such as fizzy drinks or ginger beer
How Do You Use the Cocktail Shaker?
You don’t need to prance around to stir and shake drinks in your cocktail shaker. You need to follow some very basic steps to make a soothing drink:
- Step 1 – If a drink contains mixed ingredients, mix first with mojitos, mint juleps, and fruit cocktails and stir it well in the shaker.
- Step 2 – Place the ingredients to be crushed in the goblet part of the cocktail shaker.
- Step 3 – Add plain syrup, superfine sugar, grenadine, or a sweet liqueur like Cointreau.
- Step 4 – Using a long-handled pestle, lightly press in a circle. With mint and herbs, gently crush a few times to release the aroma. Press harder with fruit, and mash longer for about 10-20 seconds
- Step 5 – Add the other ingredients after mixing. You can add juices, blenders, bitters, syrups, liqueurs, and protein or dairy ingredients. If you’re pouring instead of measuring, use a shaker with a clear cup so you can see the ingredients as you pour them.
- Step 6 – If there is a protein in the cocktail, shake dry. You should only use this step if the cocktail contains protein.
- Step 7 – After adding the ingredients and proteins, put the lid on the shaker. Touch it on the top with the palm of your hand to make sure it is firmly in place.
- Step 8 – Hold the top of the shaker in one hand and the bottom in the other. Turn the shaker, so the lid faces you to prevent drinks from splashing when opening the shaker. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
- Step 10 – Add ice and shake. Cubes are still the best choice for cooling cocktails as they don’t melt as fast and, as a result, cool with less dilution.
- Step 11 – Filter the cocktail passing it through the holes in the top while holding the lid firmly in place.
- Step 12 – Add your carbonated element and mix. If the drink has a carbonated element, such as a fizzy drink or ginger beer, add the carbonated element to the filtered cocktail and stir a few times with a bar spoon to mix.
How Do You Use a Cocktail Shaker to Stir Only?
You need to almost follow the same steps as above:
- Step 1 – Measure your ingredients using a measuring cup, and mix them into the goblet part of the cocktail shaker
- Step 2 – Add ice by filling the goblet part of the cocktail shaker with ice
- Step 3 – Stir with a bar spoon for 1-2 minutes
- Step 4 – Filter the drink using your strainer
Conclusion
Most cocktail recipes require the ingredients to be shaken with a cocktail shaker. It’s the easiest bartending technique, and your drinks will improve dramatically after you learn how to blend cocktails correctly.
With a few tips and a little practice, you’ll have mastered the trick in no time!
And once you have honed your stirring style, your cocktails will become crunchy and fresh with a perfect blend of flavors!
