How To Use A Cocktail Shaker

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

“To master cocktails, you’re going to need to master shakers and strainers,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. And he’s right.

Understanding different shaking techniques and how to properly strain a cocktail will give your drinks that professional touch and take your cocktail-making skills to new heights.

Now, if there was only one bartending tool that every home bartender should have, it’s a cocktail shaker.  And preferably, a Boston Shaker at that.

What is a Boston Shaker?

The Boston Shaker is a favorite among bartenders for chilling, diluting, mixing, and aerating drinks. There are two types of Boston Shakers: one with two different-sized tins and one with a tin and a mixing glass. We prefer the tin-on-tin variety, featuring a larger tin (28 oz/800 ml) and a smaller tin (18 oz/450 ml). This design ensures a secure seal, making it perfect for vigorous shaking.

Do you really need a cocktail shaker? In short, yes. “The purpose of a shaker is literally to combine all your flavors, to blend them into one cohesive flavor,” explains Rico. You could use another household item such as a Thermos, but it’s not built for shaking cocktails like a Boston Shaker.

Now, before we go any further, if you’re new to making cocktails and wondering what other tools you might need to get started, we’ve put together a list of the 7 most essential tools for home bartending, along with some suggestions on how to substitute them with common household items. 

When to use a cocktail shaker 

“Whether shaking or stirring drinks, you’re creating different types of texture,” Rico explains. “When you shake drinks with citrus juice like Kamikazes, Cosmopolitans and stuff like that, when you shake them in a shaker, you create a very crisp, fresh and crunchy texture. Whereas if you’re going to stir drinks, you’re going to create a much more smooth, velvety texture.” 

Should you shake a cocktail shaker hard or soft? “Always shake hard,” says Rico. “There’s a phrase in the industry that says, shake it, don’t tickle it.” 

“When you use a cocktail shaker, you’re going to be doing a lot of shaking, which means there’s going to be a lot of smashing inside the tin of ice and fruits. You don’t want these small particles swimming around in your drink because they’re just going to get stuck in your teeth,” explains Rico. 

This is where cocktail strainers come in. Don’t miss our article where we explore the different strainer types – Hawthorne Strainer, Julep Strainer and Fine Mesh Strainer. We also explain what double straining is and when you should use this technique to make cocktails.

How to shake a cocktail shaker

Firstly, how long should you shake a cocktail for? With a professional shaker like the Boston Shaker, you’ll not only feel it getting cold in your hands but you’ll also see condensation forming. That’s when you know you’re done shaking.

In the video on the top of this page, Rico showcases two different shaking techniques to craft an Espresso Martini, one using power in a back-and-forth motion and the other where Rico merely swirls the mixture. 

The end results not only look remarkably different but also taste very different. See below. “This is an example of why when you shake a drink properly, you get an amazing cocktail and if you want an Espresso Martini, shake hard,” says Rico.

Dry Shake vs Reverse Dry Shake

In the video, Rico makes a Vodka Sour to demonstrate two techniques – the first is known as the Dry Shake and the second is what’s known as the Reverse Dry Shake.

For a Dry Shake, you first shake the mixture without ice. Then, add ice and perform a Wet Shake to chill the drink. In the case of the Vodka Sour, which uses Egg White (or Aquafaba), you emulsify first, then add ice to chill.

The Reverse Dry Shake, as the name suggests, is the opposite: shake with ice first, strain out the ice, and then shake again to emulsify.

So, which technique should you use? “It’s actually a personal preference,” explains Rico. “The truth of the matter is it’s totally up to you. That’s the beauty of bartending – there are strict rules and guidelines, but the truth is they are guidelines. Whichever version you prefer, whichever technique you want to use, they’re both perfectly fine.”

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Now that you know all about shaking a cocktail, it’s time to get shaking and mixing the drinks from the video on your own.