Use a Martini Shaker

A martini shaker contains multiple components that allow you to shake and chill a variety of cocktails and strain them into a glass. The two most popular types of shakers are the cobbler shaker and the Boston shaker. A shaker can hold enough alcohol to make one or two cocktails or multiple mixed shots.

Steps

Using a Cobbler Shaker

The cobbler shaker consists of a mixing tin, a lid with a built-in strainer and a second small lid that goes over the strainer. No further tools are required to make the drink, and the shaker is easy to assemble and to use.

  1. Place your serving glass in the freezer for 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can fill it with ice and water and set it aside for 5 minutes. Discard the ice and water when you are ready to pour the drink into it.
  2. Prepare your cocktail recipe. Pour the ingredients into the mixing tin of the shaker.
  3. Add ice to the mixing tin. Fill so that the container is 2/3 to 3/4 full of ice.
  4. Place the lid with the built-in strainer on top of the mixing tin.
  5. Place the second small lid over the strainer. Tap it with the heel of your hand to seal it. Make sure it’s sealed well.
  6. Hold the shaker in your dominant hand over your shoulder. Holding it over your shoulder ensures that if the lid comes off, your guests won’t get sprayed.
  7. Shake the drink until water begins to condense on the outside of the shaker. The condensation will tell you that your drink is sufficiently chilled.
  8. Remove the small lid and pour the drink through the strainer into your chilled serving glass.

Using a Boston Shaker

A Boston shaker utilizes a thick mixing glass and a larger metal mixing tumbler. Because this shaker does not come with a built-in strainer, you will have to purchase a hawthorn strainer to strain the cocktails.

  1. Chill a serving glass by placing it in the freezer for 5 minutes or by filling it with ice water. Discard the ice water when you are ready to serve your drink.
  2. Pour the ingredients for your cocktail into the mixing glass. Fill the glass 2/3 to 3/4 full of ice.
  3. Invert the tumbler and place it over the top of the mixing glass, pushing tightly to seal the tumbler against the mixing glass. The cooling of the ice in the mixing glass will create a vacuum that will help to hold the seal between the two containers.
  4. Shake the cocktail over your shoulder using one hand to hold each container.
  5. Hold the mixing glass in your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to remove the mixing tumbler. You may need to gently strike the outside of the tumbler where the metal meets the glass with your hand to break the seal. Set the mixing tumbler aside.
  6. Place a hawthorn strainer over the top of the mixing glass and strain the shaken cocktail into your chilled glass.

Tips

  • Some martini purists pour their drink into the mixing container and stir it instead of shaking it. If you’re making a martini for a guest, be sure to ask if the guest has a preference.
  • If you don’t own a cocktail shaker, then you can shake your drinks in a glass jar. Simply pour in the cocktail ingredients, fill the jar 2/3 full of ice and seal the lid tightly. Shake the drink and then pour it through a sieve into your serving glass. Just make sure the jar is clean so that no lingering flavors transfer into your drink.
  • Avoid using crushed ice unless you are planning to serve the drink with crushed ice. Crushed ice tends to break up into small pieces that clog the strainer on your martini shaker.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 or 2 serving glasses
  • Cocktail ingredients
  • Ice
  • Cobbler or Boston martini shaker
  • Hawthorn strainer (if needed)

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Sources and Citations

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