How to Use a Cocktail Shaker?

Cocktails Taste Best When Shaken! Learn How

Watching a bartender in action with his cocktail shaker set is purely theatrical. Even so, many find bartending and owning a top-rated cocktail shaker more than just a craze.

People find it to be an art and that the secret behind an effective shaking technique is to uniformly chill the drink by breaking down the ice without diluting the drink with too much water. Shaking also creates tiny air bubbles that impart a frothy and bubbly appearance to the drink, making the texture more palatable. Hence, as a rule of thumb, if your cocktail recipe includes fruit juices, syrups, cream liqueurs, dairy, eggs, or any other thick flavoring agent, then your recipe calls for shaking. Here is a quick guide on how to use a shaker like a pro.

How to use a cocktail shaker?

You would have probably bought the best cocktail shaker available in the market, but to your utter dismay, the very first cocktail that you tried would have slipped right through your hands. What a shame would that be now! Hence, it is equally important to learn how to use a shaker with the very same zeal that you used to browse through hundreds of cocktail shaker reviews online before bringing a shaker home.

Thankfully, the learning is not as daunting as you think. The art of shaking a cocktail shaker is very straightforward, and all you need to do is to remember a few essential pointers, irrespective of the type of cocktail shaker that you own. The steps are the same, even if it is a two, three, or four-piece shaker.

First is the holding position. 

• This step involves both your hands.
• You should always place your dominant hand, which is the right for a majority and the left for a creative few, on top of your shaker.
• In addition, place your thumb firmly on top of the shaker as a precautionary step.
• Next, use your other hand to hold the bottom piece of the shaker and create a tight grip around the shaker.
• You are now set to start shaking. Worry not! With time and practice, you will master your hand movements before you even realize that your hands are working synchronously like those of a clock.

Second is the shaking position. 

• You are not here to sway nor to march. Hence, how you stand matters. Ensure that you have firm ground support by placing your feet steadily on the floor. This position acts as a good base for your body to move while shaking.
• Always stand with your feet facing forward.
• Next, commence shaking over your shoulder in a fluid-like motion. Here again, shake over the dominant shoulder to ensure a better grip.
• If you are not comfortable shaking over your shoulders, then the other alternative positions to try while shaking, shake around your chest or above your head.
• If you keenly notice, you will find that shaking traces the number eight.
• It is up to you to find a position that best suits you and the one with which you are most comfortable with because you don’t want to be pouring drinks directly on your guests rather than serving it in their glasses.
• The critical point to remember while shaking is to maintain a strong grip on your shaker so that it does not slip, glide, or fly from your hands.

The third is the number of shakes.

• There is no hard and fast rule as to how many times or for how long you need to shake your drink but as a common practice, no one usually shakes for more than ten times.
• Generally, you shake until you start to feel the frost in your hands, and stop when the cold becomes almost unbearable.

There you go! A beautiful and cold cocktail is ready to be served. Sit back and enjoy your drink.