Classic Cocktails – Shaken Not Stirred

One of the most important parts of making the perfect cocktail is shaking. The action breaks up the ice, dilutes, and chills the drink real fast so it can be poured into a chilled cocktail glass and enjoyed.

Types of Shakers

The cobbler is a three-piece cocktail shaker. It was invented in the US in 1884 and named after Sherry Cobbler, one of the first alcoholic beverages to need shaking. This shaker is popular among Japanese bartenders and consists of a mixing tin, an inbuilt strainer, and a cap.

The French shaker is a two-piece shaker that consists of a standard shaker tin and another tulip-shaped tin. It is also referred to as the Parisian and is a cross between the Boston and the Cobbler. This shaker is easy to use and clean and has a sleek design. It is the perfect shaker for home use.

The Boston-style cocktail shaker is made up of a mixing glass and a metal tin. Because of its size and simplicity, multiple drinks can be shaken easily at once, making this shaker popular among bartenders.

Bee’s Knees

This is another Prohibition-era gin-based cocktail. It is a variation of the Gin Sour, substituting sugar syrup with honey syrup. It is a mix of gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup.

Shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice and poured into a rocks glass over ice.

Cosmopolitan

According to legend, the Cosmopolitan was invented in 1988 by a bartender named Tony Cecchini, working at The Odeon in Manhattan. The drink quickly became popular and made its appearance as the favorite cocktail of the four beautiful ladies on the TV show “Sex and the City”.

The Cosmopolitan consists of vodka, lime juice, triple sec, and cranberry juice. Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until chilled, strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Daiquiri

This cocktail is a summer favorite and one of the best classic shaken cocktails. The drink was invented in 1896 by an American engineer named Jennings Cox. While working in Cuba and entertaining guests at a part he ran out of gin. So he grabbed rum, which is the most popular drink in Cuba, added sugar and citrus to make punch, and it turned into a classic cocktail.

The classic Daiquiri consists of white rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled glass.

French Martini

This cocktail is among the newest that are shaken not stirred. It dates back to the 1980s in New York when bar owner Keith McNally created the drink, with the key ingredient being Chambord, a black raspberry liqueur made in France.

This elegant French Martini consists of vodka, fresh pineapple juice, Chambord liqueur, and a pinch of fine-grain sea salt. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish to taste.

Last Word

Last Word was one of the first Prohibition-era drinks that was served at the Detroit Athletic Club around 1915. It was one of the strongest shaken cocktails that combined equal parts of gin, Maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse, and lime juice.

The potent cocktail was forgotten after WW II and then rediscovered in the Zig Zig Cafe in Seattle, Washington by Murray Stenson in 2023. Soon, Last Word became the cult drink in Seattle and then became popular in the rest of the world.

The ingredients are poured into a cocktail shaker with ice, shaken vigorously, poured through a strainer into a chilled cocktail glass, and served straight up.

Margarita

This cocktail is a delicious blend of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. The ingredients are measured and poured into a shaker with ice, then shaken and strained into a chilled margarita glass over ice or straight up and garnished with a wedge of lime.

Sidecar

This classic cocktail was served in London and Paris in the years following WWI. Sidecar was named after the motorcycle sidecar that was still a novelty at the beginning of the 20th century. Its original recipe combines equal parts of cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice. It’s served mainly as a digestif or aperitif, but can be served at anytime.

The ingredients are poured into a shaker filled with ice and shaken well. The chilled cocktail glass can have a sugar rim. It is garnished with an orange twist.

Whiskey Sour

The story behind the Whiskey Sour goes back to 1872, when a former ship steward named Elliot Stubb created a drink in a bar in Iquique, part of Peru.

It is a delectable combination of bourbon whiskey, fresh lemon juice, egg white (optional), simple syrup, and an orange wheel for garnish. Pour into a cocktail shaker and shake for 20 seconds, add ice, and shake for another 15-20 seconds. Strain over ice into an Old Fashioned glass and garnish with an orange wheel.

White Lady

The original White Lady cocktail was created by Harry MacElhone at the Ciro’s Club in London in 1919. At first, he used crème de menth and triple sec but later substituted gin and Cointreau years later at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris.

This elegant cocktail is a popular refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day. It consists of lemon juice, Cointreau, and dry gin. The ingredients are shaken well in a shaker with ice. Then served straight up in a coupe glass and garnished with a lemon zest twist.