Things You'll Need:
- Cocktail shaker and strainer
- Cocktail glass
- Garnishing tools (grater, paring knife, deep spoon for spirals)
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Step 1
Choose your accessories! The correct garnish, whether it is a lime, lemon, olive or maraschino cherry, always compliments the cocktail. Also, it is visually pleasing.
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Step 2
Add some ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Shakers are generally filled about half way with ice. Leave space so that the ice can be vigorously shaken with the ingredients in the shaker.
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Step 3
Pour the ingredients into the shaker. The ingredients can be free poured into the shaker or measured with jiggers. Add ingredients for 1 or more cocktails, depending on the capacity of the shaker and the number of cocktails to be made. The free pour is 4 seconds of liquor and 1 to 2 seconds of sweet/dry vermouth.
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Step 4
Cap the shaker. Once the ingredients have been added, cover the shaker tightly with the cap. Shake vigorously for about 5 seconds. Hold the shaker vertically or somewhat tilted and shake it up and down. When the cocktail is adequately mixed and chilled, condensation should form on the outside of the cocktail shaker, and the shaker will be cold to the touch.
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Step 5
Remove the cap from the shaker. Carefully remove the top shaker cup or cap and fit the strainer in the bottom cup. Place the metal cup down on the table before removing the top cup or cap. Try to move the glass cup back and forth just a little bit to get it to break free from the metal cup while pulling upwards on the glass cup.
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Step 6
Strain the shaken cocktail into the appropriate glass. Hold your fingers over the strainer while pouring to keep the strainer in the shaker cup. Depending on the cocktail recipe, the drink will be strained into an empty glass or a glass that has been filled with ice. Glasses can be chilled in a freezer or with ice before straining.
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Step 7
Garnish and serve the cocktail. Many shaken cocktails will have a gorgeous froth.
