A cocktail shaker is typically used to shake up most cocktails and occasionally mixed drinks. The art of Cocktail shaking is the most enjoyable and entertaining bartending technique, and it’s straightforward.
Learning to shake cocktails properly dramatically improves your drinks and how they taste. With a bit of practice, you’ll become experienced at preparing cocktails.
Why Are Cocktails Shaken?
A cocktail is not shaken just for fun or to look flashy, but because of the benefits of shaking. Shaking cocktails with non-alcoholic mixers, lots of flavours, or hefty ingredients helps bring out their flavour in just seconds. Airing the cocktail improves its mouth feel. Freezing the drink to a chilly temperature makes it easier for your palate to enjoy. For every ounce of strong or harsh alcohol in the drink, add two ounces of water, seltzer, club soda, or citrus juice before they’re shaken.
Some drinkers may criticize the last point because they prefer a strong drink, but water serves many purposes. After shaking, the cocktails almost entirely made of alcohol can easily be 20 to 30 per cent ABV. Two drinks will get some people rather drunk at this potency while undiluted they can act as one four-ounce shot of liquor.
Many cocktails taste better with some dilution. This is because water opens up flavours, blends them into a more enjoyable combination and lessens the alcohol content for a smoother drink. Don’t worry about watering down your cocktail. You’re far more likely to ruin it if you drink a rum and Coke for 30 minutes straight. If you want an eye-opener, go with shots. When you want to savour the experience, use this shaker
Cocktail Shaker Styles
Cocktail shakers come in three basic styles. Each creates tasty drinks, but which you choose will depend mainly on personal preference.
- The classic three-piece cobbler shaker has a built-in strainer, tin for shaking, and cap.
- The Boston shaker, often used for recipes that require straining, has two pieces—a large metal tin and a smaller pint glass – instead of the single-piece cocktail shaker.
- The French (or Parisian) shaker is a two-piece piece of equipment consisting of elements that resemble the cobbler and glass. These, in contrast to the other two styles, are more expensive and rare.
The material of a cocktail shaker is a critical consideration when purchasing one. Most are composed of stainless steel for durability, easy cleaning, and preserving temperature. You’ll find cobbler shakers made of plastic or glass, though these may not stand up well over time. Though it’s common to use a pint glass for the smaller part of a Boston shaker, many bartenders agree that two metal tins produce more consistent cocktails.
Shaking a cocktail requires some precision and practice. It typically takes 1-2 minutes to thoroughly shake the drink from when you start pouring your ingredients to straining it.
To mix a cocktail, follow these six steps:
- Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Secure the lid or seal the tin with an airtight seal.
- Hold the shaker with two hands – one on either side.
- Shake vigorously in a sideways motion over your shoulder and for 10-15 seconds
- Strain into a chilled glass, and remember to strain drinks served on crushed ice if desired.
Shaker Substitutes
Cocktail shakers can be hard to find, so a tightly sealed jar will do. Some people prefer Mason jars, but any medium-volume jar can work also. It is important to clean your cocktail shaker thoroughly – not only for safety reasons but also to ensure that it doesn’t impart unwanted smells from previous uses.
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How Long Should a Cocktail Be Shaken?
Shaking a cocktail for 10 seconds is usually enough to produce an excellent drink. Ten seconds is the standard time to shake most cocktails, but if you naturally put a lot of force behind your gesture, you might want to reduce that duration down to as little as 5 seconds for an undiluted cocktail.
For drinks with many ingredients, shake the drink for at least 30 seconds to ensure a proper mix. Egg cocktails often benefit from a dry shake, so hold the ice and shake without it first, then add ice and proceed as usual.
Helpful Shaking Tips
Shaking drinks may be an easy task, but there are several things you can do to ensure that your customers receive the best drink service possible.
Be mindful of the size by not overfilling it. Give the ingredients plenty of space to move around and prevent spills. The standard shaker can make two or three drinks at once, depending on the volume. If you’re using a smaller size, prepare one sip at a time.
- Shake to a rhythm. Hum a tune or tap out the beat with your foot, and get into the movement. Many bartenders enjoy shaking to an upbeat Caribbean drumbeat – if you’re able, try it!
- Cocktail shaking takes a firm grip. The art of cocktail shaking involves holding both pieces of the shaker firmly to ensure they stay together during the shake. When using a cobbler shaker, put your finger on top of the lid to keep it in place as well.
- While shaking the cocktail, it’s best to do it over your shoulder. For safety reasons, if a shaker does come apart, you can avoid spraying any mixed beverage around by shaking from behind and pointing the shaker’s lid on that side back towards yourself.
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Importance of Ice
Ice can often be an overlooked ingredient in cocktails, and you must use high-quality ice when you’re mixing a drink. Shaking dilutes drinks, and the water needs to be as pure and fresh as possible if it’s used for this purpose. When shaking a cocktail, you should consider using cubed ice instead of crushed. As the cube gets smaller, more water is added to the liquid ingredients.
There are a few differences between wet and dry ice. “Dry” ice is cold straight out of the freezer, which means less water in your drink and therefore less dilution. Try both types or how each changes the texture of your drink!
