The next step is to mix together the ingredients, either by building, shaking, stirring, or blending. The method used to put together the cocktail will affect everything from how the cocktail looks to how it tastes, so the mixing method is typically tailored to each recipe. I’ll go more into mixing methods in a separate post, but for now, we’ll cover some basic mixing tools.
A. Cobbler Shaker: Allows you to shake together all of the cocktail ingredients with ice. This shaker comes in 3 separate pieces: stainless steel container, strainer, and lid. The one pictured is an unbranded one, similar to this product from Amazon. I’ve never tried using the 2 piece Boston shaker (what you typically see at bars), but I’ve used the one pictured for more than 3 years and it does the job. I would not recommend using the built in strainer lid since it tends to leak and pour slowly. My usual set-up is to take the strainer and lid off and use the Hawthorne and fine mesh strainers instead.
B. Bar Spoon: Allows you to stir drinks in taller containers or glasses. The one pictured is more of an entry level spoon that doesn’t provide a lot of weight or balance, so it’s difficult to get a smooth stir started. However, the spoon works well for stirring drinks at home where no one is judging. Get the one pictured from Amazon.
C. Jigger: Allows you to measure liquids in two different increments. The one pictured has 1 ounce and 1.5 ounce options. Most of the bars use skinnier versions that can measure 1 or 2 ounces. I personally like having the 1.5 ounce option since you can know how many shots of alcohol are in each drink. Get the one pictured from Amazon.
D. Hawthorne Strainer: Allows you to filter out larger ice chunks and fruits while pouring the drink into the serving glass. The Hawthorne strainer still allows little bits of ice and fruit pulp to get through. I also like to use this strainer to pop open the shaker by hitting the strainer against the edge of where the container meets the strainer lid. Get the one pictured from Amazon.
E. Fine Mesh Strainer: Allows you to filter out smaller pieces of ice and ingredients. The one pictured is a regular kitchen strainer and contains a shallower strainer mesh than the typical cocktail strainers you see at bars. I like to use these regular strainers since I can easily rest it on top of most of my serving glasses. Get the one pictured from Amazon.
Continue to Part 3: Presentation to learn about how to present your finished drink.