thefizzycoupe
Let's talk technique! Stirred cocktails
Stir it up! đ¸
You might have heard people talk about why James Bond was wrong when he wanted his martini shaken, not stirred. And even worse, that shaking will âbruiseâ the alcohol. Letâs put this myth to rest: shaking a spirit is not going to hurt it -- physically, or its feelings!
As we discussed earlier in our shaking post, shaking a cocktail mixes, chills, and dilutes the ingredients. Stirring has the same function â itâs just to a lesser degree. So when you donât have heavy ingredients (such as cream, eggs, and juices), then you donât need to aerate your drink to the same extent. Hence, the delicate magic of a stirred cocktail.
Usually, you can stir your cocktail for about 30 seconds. Youâre gonna want to take that spoon for a nice, smooth ride around the edge of the glass. Donât just jam it in there and start whacking it around all willy nilly. Youâre NOT try to agitate it, remember?! Stir it with love and I promise the recipient of your drink (or you!) will taste the difference! đđĽ°
So why not shake a martini like Mr. Bond requested? First, the shaking will cause extra dilution in a drink that doesnât need it. Second, youâll remember that shaking causes aeration and bubbles -- so, your smooth, still drink will get bubbly and cloudy. You want stirred cocktails to be crystal clear and blissfully bubble-free. Is this part mostly about aesthetics? Yes. But is drinking all about pleasure and aesthetics? Definitely yes!
If youâre the experimental type, make two martinis: one shaken and one stirred. Compare the difference and report back!
Whatâs that? Now youâre thirsty for a martini? đ¸ Me too, my friend! Letâs give it a go with a classic recipe:
Classic Dry Gin Martini
2 1/2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. dry vermouth
1 dash orange bitters
Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until bracingly cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Sip & enjoy!
Show me those gorgeous martinis! Tag me on Instagram @thefizzycoupe and #thefizzycoupe. Cheers! đ¸