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Cocktail shaker (from English shake – shake) – a device for mixing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as their rapid cooling (just add ice).
History
The first prototype of a cocktail shaker can be called a hollowed gourd, used to mix drinks in Mexico and South America 9 years ago. Similar devices were found on the territory of Ancient Egypt, the age of the finds dates back to the 4th millennium BC.
In the middle of the XNUMXth century, a certain innkeeper (name not preserved in history) mixed drinks on duty by pouring from one glass to another. Once he decided that it would be faster and more spectacular if you connect the vessels, then shake them well, especially since one glass was slightly larger than the other and the “junction” did not leak. This almost accidental discovery was followed by a wave of patents:
- 1872 – W. Harnett, apparatus for simultaneous mixing of 6 drinks;
- 1881 – L. Williams, mixer with leakage protection;
- 1884 – E. Hauck, three-part cocktail shaker with built-in strainer.
In the 1920s, shakers of various shapes were made, ranging from penguins to airships, but in the 1940s, during World War II, production declined sharply, as the metal was more needed at the front, and factories retrained to produce shells. The shape of the shakers was simplified as much as possible to the form of a glass (according to another version, a projectile). In the 1950s, alcohol shakers “returned”, but by that time, metal cone-shaped glasses had proven their practicality in bartending, so the need for bizarre shapes was no longer necessary.
Despite the variety of shakers in terms of types, types and shapes, good bartenders today, if necessary, can mix a cocktail even with two tumbler glasses.
Types of cocktail shakers
Boston (American) is a metal beaker with a volume of 800 ml, into which a smaller glass or plastic beaker (~450 ml) is inserted. This results in a two-piece design that is easy to open with a single movement of the hand, which is why Boston shakers are often used by professional bartenders who need to serve customers as quickly as possible.
Each bowl can be used individually as a mixing bowl.
If ice is added to such a shaker, then the finished drink must be filtered through a special bar strainer – a strainer.
Benefits of the Boston Shaker:
- quickly assembled (it takes a fraction of a second to insert a smaller glass into a larger one);
- Easy to clean.
Disadvantages:
- the glass part is too fragile and may break;
- to remove ice, you need an additional accessory – a strainer.
Cobbler (European) – made of both stainless steel and plastic, is a three-part device (glass, lid, strainer). The lid can be used as a measuring cup, replacing the jigger.
The European shaker is well suited for beginners – thanks to the built-in strainer, it is easier to use. The cobbler also looks stylish.
Advantages:
- a huge variety of sizes and shapes available;
- no need to buy a strainer;
- easy to use;
- reliable;
- decorates any bar, including home.
Disadvantages:
- mixing a cocktail takes longer;
- does not open as easily as a Boston shaker;
- it freezes quickly, the metal shrinks, as a result, the structure is difficult to disassemble and unpleasant to hold in hands;
- harder to wash
- too large a strainer-strainer passes the smallest fractions.
French (continental) – a large metal glass with a dome-shaped lid without a built-in strainer.
Advantages:
- stylish;
- reliable;
- easy to use;
- Easy to clean.
Disadvantages:
- difficult to find on sale;
- high price;
- it takes longer to prepare a cocktail than in a Boston shaker;
- when using ice, the metal is very cold, so it is unpleasant to hold a continental shaker in your hands;
- requires a strainer.
Electric alcohol shaker – strictly speaking, does not belong to the classic family of shakers, since only three types are usually indicated in official guides for bartenders. In fact, this is an ordinary blender that does not require the use of physical force, but the process of mixing a cocktail does not look so beautiful.
How to choose a cocktail shaker
The most important thing is how the shaker will be used. The cobbler looks nice and is easy to use, but not very practical when speed is important, so it is more suitable for home bars or small establishments.
The Boston shaker can mix two servings of a cocktail at a time, it is easy to disassemble and wash, so the cooking process itself is much faster.
The French model is the most elegant, but due to the two metal parts and the lack of a strainer, the least practical. In this design, you can mix small portions of cocktails, the work moves relatively slowly, but beautifully.
The cocktail recipe does not affect the choice of shaker. The main criterion is personal preferences and convenience of the bartender.
How to use a shaker correctly
The shaker bowl is filled with ice (if provided by the recipe), then cocktail ingredients with different densities are added – usually strong alcohol, juice, liquor, syrup, etc. Then the shaker is collected (the upper part is placed) and shaken vigorously for 10-20 seconds, after which the finished cocktail is poured into a glass, in the case of Boston and French shakers, through a strainer.
Attention! Do not add carbonated drinks (cola, soda, etc.) to the shaker – when shaken, they foam a lot and exhale.