If you dabble in the art of mixology then you will need a good martini shaker to add to your bar supplies. The good news is that martini shakers are not only functional they are fun too and can add the right amount of style to your bar.

There seems to be a style for everyone, from the traditional 3-piece shaker to an expensive designer shaker, with colored shakers, Ed Hardy Shakers, and retro and bullet shakers thrown into the mix. Some even prefer to go traditional bar tender style and use a Boston Shaker.

If you are looking to add some color to your bar then this Wild Eye Cobalt Etched Martini Shaker may be the choice for you. No matter which shaker you choose there should be one to match your style.

The traditional 3 piece shaker is what a lot of folks purchase first. These are functional and can create many great cocktails. Although there can be some disadvantages, one of them being the lid can get stuck. When you put your ice in the shaker and shake it chills your drink and your shaker. The cold can make the shaker contract just enough for the lid to get stuck.

So remove the lid promptly after straining so that you will always look on control when making your cocktails. The Boston Shaker is a two piece shaker with a metal cylinder and a glass. When you place the cylinder over the glass and give it a tap a seal forms. Now you can shake your drink just like a professional bartender in the movies.

Then when it is time to pour your drink give the edges another tap and a twist and the glass should lift of of the cylinder and you can pour your drinks. You will also need a separate strainer when you pour so that you don’t get ice in your chilled cocktail. Even though these look hard to use they are actually easier to get apart then the traditional 3 piece martini shaker with lid and strainer. They also look very cool.

Now that you have your equipment down, you can focus on ingredients. The traditional martini was made with gin and ice and garnished with an olive. As time passed many began to prefer the vodka martini. No matter which liquor you choose it needs to be of high quality. Many people would call these two choices the only true martinis. Some only think the gin martini is the only true martini.

These days any thing goes though so you can experiment and make the perfect martini cocktail to suit you and your guests. You can try different garnishes or add some olive brine and make a dirty martini. A cosmopolitan is actually a martini made with vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice. You can also add lime juice and experiment with garnishes such as lemon twists or cherries. A lemon drop is also a martini variation made with lemon juice, chilled vodka, and sugar.

You can experiment and try many different martini recipes everything from appletinis to chocolate martinis are popular these days. I have even heard of different forms of bacon and bloody Mary martinis, although these seem to be more of a novelty, as opposed to a meal in a glass.

The most important things to remember when stocking your bar is utility and expressing your unique style. The most important thing about drinking is to drink responsibly and have a great time.

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.