How to Properly Shake a co*cktail (2024)

The majority of co*cktail recipes call for the ingredients to be shaken using a co*cktail shaker. It is the most enjoyable and entertaining bartending technique, and it's very simple.

Learning how to shake co*cktails properly will significantly improve your drinks. With a few tips and a little practice, you will master it in no time. Once you get your personal shaking style down, your co*cktails will emerge crisp, cool, and have a perfect blend of flavors.

co*cktail Shaker Styles

co*cktail shakers come in three basic styles. All create great drinks, and which you choose will be a matter of personal preference.

• The cobbler shaker is the classic three-piece shaker with a shaking tin, built-in strainer, and cap.
• The Boston shaker has two pieces—a large shaking tin and a smaller tin or pint glass—and requires a separate strainer.
• The French (or Parisian) shaker is a hybrid. It's a two-piece shaker that uses a cobbler-style top but doesn't have a cap and built-in strainer. These are generally more expensive and rare than the other two styles.

Material is an important consideration when buying a shaker. Most co*cktail shakers are made of stainless steel because it is durable, easy to clean, doesn't trap heavy aromas and flavors, and better maintains temperature. You will find cobblers made of plastic or glass, though it's likely that these will not stand up well over time. While it's also common to use a pint glass for the smaller piece of a Boston shaker, many pro bartenders find that two tins produce more consistent co*cktails.

How to Shake a co*cktail

The process of actually shaking a co*cktail is straightforward. It should take just a minute or two from when you begin pouring the ingredients to the time you strain the drink.In most cases, you will follow these six steps to shake a co*cktail:

1. Pour the ingredients into a co*cktail shaker tin.
2. Fill the shaker with ice (some bartenders do this before pouring).
3. Secure the lid or shaker tin.
4. Hold the shaker with both hands (one on each piece) and shake vigorously in a horizontal motion over your shoulder.
5. Shake for a slow count of ten or until the outside of theshaker frosts up.
6. Strain your co*cktail into a chilled glass. Remember to strain over fresh ice when preparing drinks served on the rocks.

How Long Should a co*cktail Be Shaken?

Typically, the advice is to shake a co*cktail for about 10 seconds, or until the (stainless steel) shaker tin becomes nice and frosty. For most people and drinks, this is enough time to produce an excellent co*cktail. However, if you naturally put a lot of force behind your shake, you might shorten that to as little as 5 seconds to avoid overly diluted drinks.

Some drinks should be shaken longer and harder. For co*cktails that have many ingredients or ingredients that don't mix well such as eggs or cream, shake the drinks for at least 30 seconds to ensure a proper mix. Egg co*cktails are often best with a dry shake, so hold the ice and give the ingredients an initial shake, then add ice and shake as normal.

Helpful Shaking Tips

While the basic shaking technique is straightforward, there are simple things you can do to make sure everything goes smoothly and that you get consistent, well-mixed drinks.

• Don't overfill the shaker. Give the ingredients plenty of room to move around (it also helps to prevent spills). The average-sized shaker can handle two or three drinks at once, depending on the volume. If you're using a small shaker, mix one drink at a time.
• Shake to a rhythm. Hum a tune, shake to a beat, and get into the movement. Many bartenders enjoy a good Caribbean drum beat or will shake to the music in the bar. Have fun with it.
• Shake it like you mean it. Shaking a co*cktail is not meant to be gentle. Give the movement some force and power and enjoy the exercise.
• Have a firm grip. No matter the style, hold both pieces of the shaker firmly to ensure they stay together while you're shaking. When using a cobbler shaker, place a finger on top of the lid to hold that in place as well. A co*cktail on the floor is a sad thing, so keep your shaker in one piece.
• Shake over your shoulder. Just in case the shaker does come apart, shake over one of your shoulders (whichever is natural), pointing the lid (or smaller piece of a Boston shaker) to the back. Your backside may get wet, but your guests will not. This also helps add force to the shake because you'll naturally want to hold it horizontally (a vertical shake is less effective and a bit awkward).

Ice Matters

Ice is the often-overlooked co*cktail ingredient, and it's important that you use quality ice whenever you're mixing a drink. Shaking dilutes co*cktails, and that water needs to be as pure and fresh as possible.

• Cubes work out well and should not be shattered but have rounded edges after the shake.
• The smaller the cube, the more water is added, so consider reducing the shaking time.
• Crushed ice breaks down quickly and is rarely used.

There's also a difference between wet and dry ice—"dry" meaning straight out of the freezer, which reduces dilution. Experiment to see what type of ice works best with your shaking style.

Why Are co*cktails Shaken?

Shaking a drink is not done simply because it's fun or flashy. There areexcellent reasons why most co*cktails are shaken. The general "shaken vs. stirred" rule is to shake co*cktails with nonalcoholic mixers, lots of flavors, or heavy ingredients, and the goal of shaking is to:

• Thoroughly mix the drink's ingredients and create a unified flavor.
• Aerate the co*cktail for a lighter mouthfeel.
• Give the drink a good chill.
• Add enough dilution to knock the strength of the drink down, making it more pleasant to sip.

Some drinkers may argue against the last point because they prefer a stiff drink, but water serves a few purposes. After shaking, co*cktails that are almost entirely made of alcohol (like most martinis) can easily be 20 percent to 30 percent ABV (40 to 60 proof). At that potency, two drinks can easily get some people rather tipsy. Undiluted, these can be like taking a four-ounce shot of liquor.

Additionally, many co*cktails simply taste better with a little dilution. The water opens up the flavors, helps them blend into a single flavor, and tames the alcohol to create a more enjoyable drink. This is why many whiskey connoisseurs and experts add a splash of water when sipping whiskey straight.

Don't worry about over-diluting your drinks. That's far more likely to happen if it takes you longer than 30 minutes to finish a rum and co*ke. If you want a drink that gives you a shock, stick to shots. When you want a drink to experience, use your shaker.