How to Use a Drink Mixer

Use a drink mixer to make a cocktail.

A drink mixer, also known as cocktail mixer, is used by bartenders to make mixed drinks. The drink mixer helps to strain, mix and chill the drink all in one process and without using several containers or utensils. Drink mixers are simple to use, clean and maintain and can make the at-home bartender's experience with mixing drinks more successful. Once you know how to use your drink mixer, you can focus on learning how to mix new drinks.

Things You'll Need

• Cocktail strainer

Instructions

1. 

   Start by pouring your main alcohol into the drink mixer.

   Pour liquor into the open drink mixer. Add other ingredients, such as juice, liqueur, soda or bitters.

2. Screw the cap onto the drink mixer. Shake the mixer to combine the ingredients. If your shaker is chilled it will also chill your beverage.

3. Open the mixer and pour the cocktail through a cocktail strainer into a glass. European cocktail mixers have a built-in strainer but American, or Boston, mixers do not. Garnish your cocktail, if you like, and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• In the absence of a drink mixer you can stir your ingredients together but a mixer does a better job of combining the ingredients and flavors.

• Choose a metal or glass mixer over a plastic one.

• Set your drink mixer in an ice bucket between uses so it's ready to mix and chill the next drink.

• Drink mixers were initially used to help flavor alcohol that was home-brewed in a still.

References

• Drink Street: Tending Bar: How To Mix Drinks