Here's how to use everything in a cocktail shaker kit to make the perfect cocktail!

The secret to making gorgeous gin cocktails? Well, firstly it’s using quality craft gin, and secondly… having the right tools to do so!

If you’re on the hunt for the best cocktail shaker, or the best cocktail shaker kit, then we’ve got you covered.

Feast your eyes on this beautiful gold cocktail kit, which comes complete with a five-piece set, (including everything you need to whip up gin cocktails in style) from a gorgeous jigger, to a wonderful shaker, it’s all you need to complete your fully fledged at-home gin bar.

And if that wasn’t enough, Craft Gin Club’s Shake It Up Cocktail Kit comes in a gorgeous gift box, making it the perfect gin gift for Christmas, and any occasion!

Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about cocktail shakers…

How do you use a cocktail shaker?

Good question! Firstly, the good news is you don’t have to be a fully-fledged mixologist or bar tender. Whether you’ve got a Boston shaker or a standard ‘cobbler’ shaker, learn how to use a cocktail shaker here. (It’s easier than you think!)

Are cocktail shakers worth it?

Absolutely!

• It helps to integrate the ingredients, blending your tipple’s flavours and textures.  
• Shaking your drink with ice is a great way to chill it. It’s important if you’re serving your cocktail straight up (i.e. without ice).
• Shaking your drink dilutes it. This isn’t a bad thing at all – it’s crucial. Water helps to open up the flavours in your cocktail and create a more balanced, palatable cocktail. 
• For some cocktails, like those that call for egg white, shaking your ingredients also helps to emulsify and aerate them, so you can achieve a light and foamy texture. Gorgeous gin cocktails like a ginny espresso martini or a Clover Club, we’re talking about you…

It helps to integrate the ingredients, blending your tipple’s flavours and textures.  

Shaking your drink with ice is a great way to chill it. It’s important if you’re serving your cocktail straight up (i.e. without ice).

Shaking your drink dilutes it. This isn’t a bad thing at all – it’s crucial. Water helps to open up the flavours in your cocktail and create a more balanced, palatable cocktail. 

For some cocktails, like those that call for egg white, shaking your ingredients also helps to emulsify and aerate them, so you can achieve a light and foamy texture. Gorgeous gin cocktails like a ginny espresso martini or a Clover Club, we’re talking about you…

Which shaker is best for cocktails?

There are several different types of shakers to choose from. A three-piece cocktail shaker (also known as a standard or cobbler shaker) is a great all-rounder. The Craft Gin Club Shake It Up Cocktail Kit is the perfect cocktail shaker set for beginners, as it comes with everything you need!

It includes a large metal tin, a tightly fitting lid with an integrated strainer and a smaller cap to cover it. A stainless steel shaker is the best for keeping a cold temperature, instead of glass or other materials, for a pleasingly cold drink.

What should you use if you don’t have a cocktail shaker?

We seriously suggest you treat yourself to one, as it makes whipping up professional and tasty cocktails light work. However, if you find yourself somewhere without one, a jam jar with a lid is a great cocktail shaker alternative.

When do you need to use a cocktail shaker?

Depending on the ingredients you’re using, or the number of people you’re making one for, a cocktail shaker may be needed. Popular opaque cocktail ingredients such as cream, egg white, jam, and liqueurs are best when shaken.

And rather than making up cocktails one by one, a cocktail shaker can save you time if you’re whipping up a batch for more than 1 person. So if you love a quick cocktail recipe, time to use some elbow grease!

You don’t need to use a cocktail shaker for every single drink. For some, stirring does the job just fine. But you can use the cocktail shaker as a stirring glass.

This is often true for spirit-forward drinks like the Martini which, which should always be stirred rather than shaken.

As a rule of thumb, if a drink consists solely of spirits, liqueurs and fortified wines, give it a stir rather than a shake. 

Why do you need to use a jigger?

Precision and balance are key when it comes to cocktails. Get the ratios wrong and you can end up with tipples that taste sickly sweet. Jiggers are the most popular tool among bartenders for measuring ingredients. 

How do I use a jigger?

A basic jigger is sometimes also called a double jigger because it has two different sides used to measure different amounts (50ml and 25ml in the UK, or a double and a single).

Once you’ve got your desired measurement, hold the jigger steady between your index and middle finger and pour in your liquid before transferring it to your cocktail shaker or mixing glass. 

What is a bar spoon used for?

When stirring a drink, you’ll need a bar spoon – which is like a teaspoon with a spiralled extra-long handle – plus a mixing glass. 

How do I use a bar spoon? 

Pop the ingredients you’d like to stir into a mixing glass. Add plenty of ice and mix briskly for approximately 15 seconds, making sure the back of the bar spoon is right against the inner surface of the glass. 

You can also use your bar spoon to measure ingredients – one spoonful will give you 5ml. Sometimes bar spoons are topped with a flat circle that can be used to muddle fresh fruit. 

What is the use of ice tongs?

Ice is an important component in cocktails – most recipes call for it when shaking, mixing or serving your drink. For hygiene reasons, you’ll want to avoid picking up ice with your fingers and plopping it into your glass, cocktail shaker or mixing glass. 

How do I use ice tongs?

Ice tongs couldn’t be more straightforward! Simply use them to grasp an ice cube and drop it into your drink or cocktail shaker. 

What is a cocktail strainer used for?

Once you’ve shaken or stirred your drink, you’ll want to transfer it to the serving glass. However, there may be some bits that are best left behind – such as your ice (it’s best to add fresh ice to your final drink) or bits of muddled fruit. By using a strainer, you can make sure that unwanted bits don’t ruin the flavour or texture of your drink. 

How do I use a cocktail strainer?

There are a few types of strainers. The Hawthorne strainer is a good place to get started – it can be used to strain both shaken and stirred cocktails. 

Simply place it atop your cocktail shaker tin or mixing glass, using the strainer’s tabs to stop it from falling in.

Hold the tin with your dominant hand and use your first two fingers to hold the strainer secure. Carefully tilt it to strain your liquid into the serving glass. 

Sometimes a recipe calls for you to double strain your ingredients. In this case, simply pop a fine mesh strainer over your glass and then strain your drink as you normally would with your Hawthorne strainer, so that the liquid passes through both strainers.