Archive for February, 2009
Types Of Martini Shakers
The perfect Martini can make the perfect evening. Whether you’re entertaining guests or having a quiet evening at home. In order to make the perfect Martini we need the perfect tools and nothing is more essential then the Martini Shaker.
The standard Cocktail or Martini Shaker is a stainless steel container. Besides mixing the ingredients, shaking the ingredients with ice will cool the drink without having to actually have ice in your drink. Martinis aren’t served on the rocks. The longer you shake the drink the colder it will get.
The standard cocktail shaker most of us envision, is the Cobbler shaker. A three-piece stainless steel shaker with a strainer built into it. It consists of the shaker tumbler, a lid with a strainer, and the cap. This is also the easiest shaker to begin with, although sometimes it is difficult to get the cap off if a vacuum seal is formed.
A more advanced but often times preferred Martini Shaker is the Boston Shaker. This shaker has a stainless steel tumbler and a slightly smaller mixing glass. You put the ingredients into the glass and then fill it up with ice. Place the stainless steel tumbler on top of the glass. The tumbler is upside down and you can form a seal between the glass and tumbler by giving the tumbler a whack.
Carefully shake until your drink is properly mixed and chilled. Then find the spot where the glass and tumbler meet and give it another whack to break the seal. To avoid getting ice in your newly mixed martini, you will need a strainer. The preferred strainer is the Hawthorne strainer which has a spring around the bottom so that it will fit any glass or tumbler.
James Bond may have preferred his Martini shaken and as cold as possible, but some people may prefer theirs stirred. The reason some preferred stirred is because they don’t want to bruise the gin or vodka which would mean getting little chunks of ice mixed with the alcohol.
If you will be making a stirred martini then a mixing spoon is essential. This is an elongated spoon with the head about the size of a teaspoon, and the handle is swirled. The swirled handle makes it easy to quickly stir your drink and the length makes it easy to reach the bottom of the tumbler.
Popularity: 48% [?]
How To Use A Boston Shaker
In my previous post I explained the difference between a Cobbler Shaker and a Boston Shaker. That is all well and good, but if you have never used a Boston Shaker you will probably not know how exactly it works.
So I found this great video showing us exactly how to use a Boston Martini Shaker.
How To Use A Boston Shaker
Popularity: 17% [?]
Dress Up Your Bar With Unique Art Deco Martini Shakers
Martini Shakers come in many styles and colors. There are enough choices out there, that we should be able to find a unique shaker for every style and budget.
The most common shakers are stainless steel, but many have leather grips or powder coated surfaces. The powder coated ones are my favorite because they come in lots of great colors. Although I’ve yet to find one in a wild design or paisley pattern.
If you are interested in a unique art deco shaker there are many available at antique and vintage shops. I saw a twist cocktail shaker at Neiman Marcus. It looked like a screw with a bullet on the end. This fluid twist design was part of the Nambe collection. They make unique high end products.
Some cocktail shops have plastic shakers in different colors and designs, such as the poker martini shaker which is white with a heart, a spade, a diamond, and a club emblem on it.
You can also order personalized and monogrammed shakers. Another one of my favorites is the classic crystal shaker with a stainless top. There is something for everyone when it comes to creating your perfect martini or signature cocktail, with a personalized shaker.
Another great place for shopping for unique and vintage shakers is a site called Ruby Lane. They have a rare Currier & Roby shaker made of copper with a silver overlay. There is also a Silver plate version of the sterling shaker.
I also really like the Paden City Glass rooster cocktail shaker. But then I collect rooster collectibles. They also have vintage shakers with recipes printed on the sides and a chrome etched wheat shaker.
If your in the holiday spirit you can find Christmas shakers and shakers with dogs and pheasants on the sides. And there is always the ever popular dial a recipe shaker. I guess these were a hit in the 1950’s.
My two favorite vintage shakers are the green tint with stripes vintage shaker made with depression glass and the ruby cocktail shaker. Cocktails can liven up any party and these unique shakers will liven up your bar and your conversations.
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Popularity: 50% [?]
What’s Your Favorite Martini Recipe?
My all time favorite Martini is the Lemon Drop. In fact for years I just thought it was a great shot in a cool glass. I was ecstatic when I found out it was actually a variation of the Martini.
Oprah’s favorite Martini is the Pomegranate Martini. How can one complain about anti-oxidants and Vodka? Sex and the City fans helped spread the popularity of the Cosmopolitan.
I have a friend who took a week off of work just to try and create the perfect Martini. She ended up being an Appletini fan. Many hip restaurants feature a Chocolate Martini. And now the latest Martini craze seems to be the Espresso Martini.
Modern Martini Recipes
Lemon Drop Martini
2oz Lemon Vodka
½oz Triple sec
4 – 8 squeezed lemons (Add used Lemons to tumbler)
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously
Rim Martini Glass with Sugar
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)
Garnish with lemon twist
Pomegranate Martini
3oz Citrus Vodka
3oz Pomegranate juice
lemon rind
ice
place 2 martini glasses in freezer for about 5 hours
add ice vodka and juice to martini shaker
shake thoroughly and pour into chilled martini glasses
garnish with corkscrew of lemon rind
Cosmopolitan Martini
1½oz Vodka
½oz Triple sec
2 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz Lime juice or 2 fresh squeezed lime wedges
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)
Garnish with lime or cranberries or both
Apple Martini
1oz Vodka
1oz Sour apple
2-3 oz Lime juice
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass No Ice (Up) Preferred* or Over Ice (Rocks)
Garnish with Lime wedge or dried apple chip.
Chocolate Martini
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Crème de cacao
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass – No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)
Garnish with cherries, cranberries or chocolate sprinkles
Espresso Martini
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua or Coffee Licquer
1 Shot of Espresso
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass – No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)
Garnish with 3 Espresso beans
Popularity: 24% [?]
Classic Martini Recipes
It’s easy to be creative with new Martini recipes from the fun to the classic the Martini is a versatile drink. While the quest for the perfect Martini is still ongoing you can’t go wrong with these classics:
Gin Martini
2oz Dry Gin
1 dash of dry vermouth
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake (Shaken will bruise the gin making it cloudy)
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker
Garnish with 2 olives or a twist of lemon
Vodka Martini
2oz Vodka
1 dash of dry vermouth
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker
Garnish with 2 olives or a twist of lemon
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Dirty Martini
2oz Vodka or 2oz Gin
1 dash of dry vermouth
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker
Add 1-2 teaspoons of Olive Brine. The more Brine you use, the dirtier the martini
Garnish with 2 olives
Gibson Martini
2oz Dry Gin
1 dash of dry vermouth
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake (Shaken will bruise the gin making it cloudy)
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker
Garnish with pickled Pearl Onions
Popularity: 12% [?]
Dirty Sue To The Rescue
I love the way a martini looks in a glass. But sometimes the alcohol taste can be a little strong, then I discovered the dirty martini. A dirty martini is a martini with a little olive juice added and some extra olives.
Once I discovered the dirty martini, it has become my favorite. But where does the olive juice come from? Usually the bartender just pours some of the brine from the jar of green martini olives into the mix. This can leave you with jars of dry olives in your refrigerator. It can also be expensive, and if you have ever watched a bartender stick his fingers into an olive jar, and strain the liquid into your drink, you probably would prefer not to relive that.
Then I discovered Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice. Dirty Sue is twice filtered olive brine made from premium olives, created by bartenders, to make the best dirty martinis available. If you enjoy dirty martinis then you will definitely want to try Dirty Sue. It has a nice olive flavor, smells wonderful and is a staple for any martini bar.
To make a Dirty Sue Martini just shake 3 ounces of gin or vodka and 1/2 ounce Dirty Sue with ice and strain into a martini glass. I prefer to use a small bit of vermouth and make mine dry with gin. I also use 3 olives or blue cheese stuffed olives. I also enjoy the hot variation with a couple added drops of tobasco and jalapeno olives.
Popularity: 27% [?]