Stir or Shake?


We all like to watch Matt, Prime’s Bartender do his “shaker thing” with our Award-Winning cocktails. But did you know there are a few guidelines as to when and why some  of your favorite drinks are either shaken or stirred. This edition of Felix’s facts spells it all out for you!


Some people shake when they should stir, or stir when their cocktail needs to be shaken. The difference changes the entire texture and mouthfeel of the drink. The general rule is that if there's something other than alcohol in the drink, you shake it.

When to shake:
Shake cocktails containing citrus or other juices, as well as those with cream, eggs, or dairy (our Drink your Desserts are an exception, as well as the ever popular Espresso Martinis to “the stir dairy” rule)

How to shake:
Forget about fancy techniques. A basic, straightforward shake is all you need to chill, aerate, and dilute a drink.
One sign of a well-shaken cocktail is a frothy edge in cream or egg-based drinks, or a fine blanket of ice shards on top of a clear cocktail.

To shake, add cocktail ingredients to a pint glass, fill it to the top with ice, then invert the tin on top of the glass and shake vigorously. Strain into a glass, either straight up or over fresh ice.

When to stir:
Stir cocktails made entirely of spirits, including bitters, such as a Negroni, Old Fashioned , or a classic gin and vermouth martini. The exception is a cocktail made with cream liqueurs, which should be shaken.
Soda, tonic, or sparkling wine cocktails should be stirred.

How to stir:
Use a long-handled bar spoon and stir the drink in circles. Around and around, not up and down. Keep in mind that it takes longer to chill a drink by stirring than by shaking.  A good 6–7-second shake is equivalent to a 30-second stir.
Ready to mix up some cocktails? Try the Gin Fizz, Margarita, Hurricane, Old Fashioned, Bijou, Manhattan, or gin & tonic.

Cheers!
Felix
General Manager, PRIME at Sky Meadow

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