How to stir a mixed drink or cocktail

Stirring ingredients in a mixed drink or cocktail isn’t an art per se but there has been a technique established over the years. Mixing with a wooden bar spoon is one of the oldest techniques but mostly outdated with the new style barware available worldwide such as the new plastic spoons or metal bar spoons. But stirring is usually practiced with drink mixes that contain only alcohol and are usually chilled with only ice. This technique dilutes the drink about 15% based on the over all stirring time. This is still the preferred method for making classic drinks straight up.

The main purpose of stirring it usually one of two reasons, one for chilling and diluting the drink with ice, the other is to mix the ingredients to a consistency desired.

Most drinks that are stirred are clear liquid and spirits. Drinks that contain fruit juices and creams are normally shaken. But not always there are some drinks made with fruit juices that are still stirred. When you stir instead of shaking it is much cleaner, what we mean by this is shaking makes allot of bubbles and dilutes the drink with the ice in the shaker and can leave a little frothy head. That can change to task slightly and definitely the appearance of the drink depending on the ingredients used. One more thing to remember most stirred drinks are served in a stemmed cocktail glass that has been pre chilled. Stemmed glasses are best so the drink keep chilled when the consumer holds the glass. The best way to do this is to add ice to the glass and then add some water to the glass this will begin the chilling process.

How do you stir a cocktail?

The best way to stir a mixed drink or cocktail is to add your ingredient with ice to a mixing glass, then use the end of the bar spoon and swirl the end in the mixing glass about 6-7 times in a clockwise motion. This will smooth out the flavor and chill the drink. Stain into your chosen glass and that’s it. Most professional bartenders stir but customers always request drinks that are traditionally stirred shaken, in the movies made famous by James Bond 007 you will see 007 asks for his martinior dirty martini shaken not stirred, this trend continues to this day. It is really a matter of preference.