The most important tool a bartender has when mixing drinks is most likely the cocktail shaker. It's a relatively simple construction, consisting of a couple of parts that connect after filling some of the drink's various ingredients.
History of the cocktail shaker
A precursor to the cocktail shaker was used in South America as early as 7,000 BC. There is also evidence that the Egyptians in the 3rd century BC used something similar when they flavoured their drinks with various spices during the fermentation process.
But it wasn't until the mid-19th century that the shaker began to look like the one today's bartenders use. It is said that it was accidentally "invented" by an innkeeper. The man in question usually used two glasses when mixing drinks, but discovered that on one occasion he had used a glass that was larger than the other. This worked well because the contents did not spill out and he did not have to worry about the openings of the glasses slipping apart when he shook the contents. In addition, he could shake the drink with a completely different force than before, which affected both the taste and appearance of the drink.
This trick spread, and eventually companies began patenting the development of what became known as the "cocktail shaker". By the end of the 19th century, there were several variants, some of which included additional parts such as a strainer or filter.
Although the 1920s saw the beginning of the so-called Prohibition era in the US, when it was illegal to sell, possess or import alcohol, many different types of shakers were produced, some designed to resemble, for example, penguins, lighthouses and zeppelins. The shaker came to symbolise style and elegance, a perception that persisted even after the end of Prohibition.
But in the early 1940s, as the United States became more involved in World War II, companies focused on making grenades and similar types of war materials, rather than shakers. Only after a few decades did the shaker make its big comeback. This was timely as bartenders' creativity became a trend and many new drinks, with different flavours and contents, became more popular.
Different types
Today, the cocktail shaker is one of the most important tools a bartender uses when mixing drinks. There are many different variations, and below you can read briefly about them.
1. The Boston Shaker
The oldest equivalent of the boston shaker was already produced in the 1870s, then with a sieve built into the metal part.
Today, the boston shaker consists of two parts, the larger part is made of stainless steel and usually takes a content of 800 ml. The other part is made of glass, with a capacity of 450 or 570 ml. You connect the two parts and shake the contents to the desired consistency, this should take no more than 10-20 seconds, depending on how hard you shake and how well mixed the contents should be. Thanks to the fact that one part is made of glass, the bartender can see the entire mixing process. In addition, because the shaker can hold so much, it is useful to mix up to three drinks at the same time. To remove unwanted ice and pulp, for example, the contents must be strained before being poured into the cocktail glass. Strainers are available for shakers, both flat and bowl-shaped.
2. Cobblershaker
The cobblershaker was invented in 1884, and looks much the same today as it did then. It consists of three parts - an elongated lower part, a smaller upper part with a built-in strainer and a cork-like top, which can be used to measure out the contents. This shaker is smaller in size than the boston shaker, so you can only mix one drink at a time.
Some bartenders argue that because of its small size, the shaker can be controlled in a completely different way than the boston shaker, making it considered more effective. It is also said that due to its bottle-like shape, the contents are better mixed with a cobblershaker, however it takes longer. In addition, the vacuum created inside the blender can 'stick' the different parts together, making it difficult to open. To avoid getting the drink on your hands, you can rinse the shaker under hot running water before opening it.
The cobblershaker is considered ideal to have in the home, partly because it is small, but also because the design is often very varied and stylish. It simply looks good on the bar cabinet or bookshelf.
3. The French cocktail shaker
The French cocktail shaker has been around for centuries, but has never really had a "breakthrough". However, it has been blessed with the finest qualities of the two aforementioned examples. With its two parts, it has acquired the efficient and convenient functions of the boston shaker, while at the same time bearing the hallmarks of the cobblershaker's beautiful design. In appearance, it consists of a long, narrow lower part and a smaller, cork-like upper part. Both parts are made of stainless steel.
Of the shakers on the market, this is the one that is considered the most retro and stylish, and it is also usually the most expensive and hardest to find.
Which variant is preferable?
Of course, it varies from person to person and from bartender to bartender. In Japan, the cobblershaker is generally the most popular, but otherwise bartenders seem to prefer the boston shaker. The French cocktail shaker has many of the best features of the Boston version, but like the cobblershaker, you can only make one drink at a time. In a crowded bar, the bartender needs a shaker that can mix many drinks at once, and here the Boston shaker is the only one that delivers. But bartenders who favour the two smaller variants are happy to flip the coin and claim that the drink mixed with a small shaker is one that has the bartender's full attention. It's simply made with love.