Types of Cocktail Accessories

Cocktails come in many colorful recipes and enhance our parties and evenings. For a cocktail with or without alcohol to be successful, a good bartender must always have the right utensils. To find out how to use the essentials of mixology like the pros in trendy bars, follow the guide. No jigger and shaker, no strainer will have any secrets for you…

How to use a jigger?

No balanced cocktail without a jigger! This instrument makes it very simple to measure the correct quantities of alcohol to add to the mixture. It generally takes the form of a double hourglass container, the famous "Japanese jigger" (or "Bell jigger" in its rounded version). In order to facilitate the bartender's work, the volume of one of the two receptacles is often twice as large as the other. To gain precision and time, take care to choose your capacities carefully (2/4 cl, 3/6 cl, etc.). The ideal is to buy several dosers or select a model with different measuring features. Whatever the jigger, it is very practical and easy to use.

Place the jigger on a flat surface or hold it between your index and middle fingers.
Pour directly the quantity of alcohol called for in the recipe.
All you have to do is pour its contents directly into the shaker or depending on the type of cocktail into a mixing glass. Its smooth, rounded edges facilitate drainage.
Varied capacities, materials (stainless steel, plastic, etc.), atypical shapes (Angled Jigger, Multi-Level Bar Jigger, etc.) it's up to you to choose the jigger that suits you from the many models on the market.

How to use a shaker?

Who doesn't know the shaker, the emblematic bar accessory, the one that Tom Cruise used to put on a show and ensure perfect service in Cocktail? More than an accessory, the shaker which lives up to its name is an essential for preparing all types of cocktails. The cocktail shaker allows you to mix more quickly and homogenize the different alcoholic or non-alcoholic liquids in the recipe to make a pleasant drink to drink. It also allows you to aerate and cool the mixture by placing the ice cubes in it before pouring the drink into a glass. There are different models that are used in somewhat different ways.

The Boston shaker for professional bartenders

To use this shaker composed of two parts:

Start by pouring your mixture into its lower part (an ultra-resistant stainless steel tumbler).
Fit the upper part (a thick, ultra-resistant glass) tightly onto the timpani.
Shake vigorously, keeping the shaker upright, until the sides of the glass are frosted. The pros' tip is to put your strong hand on the top of the shaker to keep it perfectly closed and to firmly support yourself on the ground with your feet for good balance. Some people bang the shaker on their work surface so that all the ingredients are perfectly distributed in the tumbler.
Serve using a cocktail strainer to filter the mixture and retain the ice cubes.
And for super pros, there are also electric models that “shake” for you.

The 3-piece for cocktail beginners

The 3-piece shaker or "Cobbler shaker", the best known to the general public, is even simpler to use. This "all in one" is made up of a tumbler (stainless steel or plastic) topped with an intermediate part which acts as a strainer and a measuring cap.

Pour all the cocktail ingredients as well as the ice cubes into the timbale.
Place the filter part on top and close the shaker tightly with the cap.
Shake vigorously for at least 10 seconds before serving. To be able to shake hard without getting tired, professional bartenders recommend holding the Cobbler shaker with both hands, slightly above shoulder level.
The 3-piece shaker also makes preparation easier since you won't need to search for a specific jigger and strainer, everything is provided.

How to use a colander?

A cocktail strainer is a sort of large slotted spoon surrounded by a spring. It is used to retain ice cubes as well as all components that may prove unpleasant or impossible to drink (pulp, seeds, large fruits, etc.). The strainer, whose shape (flat, conical, etc.) as well as the size of the meshes/holes may vary, is used just after passing it into a shaker or mixing glass. It allows the cocktail to be perfectly filtered before it is served so that it is pure and evenly colored.

Measuring spoons, ice cube tongs, pestle (round, serrated), citrus press, blender, mixing glasses or measuring cup... the list of accessories is still long if you want to become more professional. But whether you are an amateur or professional bartender, every detail counts, the objective of seducing your customers or guests. The Art of Cocktail Presentation is also part of the fun of partying and enjoying a cocktail. Designer glasses, original straws... will enhance your recipes. Good evenings around a cocktail of course…

Cocktail stirrer set "Neon"

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