Explaining How Mixing Matters.

Mixing and how you mix actually matters when it comes to making great tasting cocktails. In fact, shaking or stirring creates different results. Here is the difference between shaken versus stirred.

Shaken versus Stirred

Both mixing techniques cool and dilute the cocktail while blending flavors. And yet, each technique provides its own taste and texture. And dilution? It is not a rip off – quite the contrary, dilution in mixing helps to bring the flavors together, cuts the harshness of the spirit, and balances everything together.

Shaken
Shaking provides quicker results when it comes to chilling and bringing the flavors together. In fact, to get to the same temperature, shaking takes 15 to 20 seconds, whereas stirring would take 90 to 120 seconds.

The quicker results mean a more ice-cold temperature and also more dilution. At the same time, shaking changes the texture of the drink because the movement creates aeration which results in tiny air bubbles and a cloudy appearance.

Cocktails that are shaken, like margaritas, typically have mixers like juices, milk, cream, egg white, etc.

Stirred
Stirring simply chills and dilutes a drink. And you do not have to stir for as long as 90 seconds. With this technique of mixing, it normally takes 30 to 45 seconds to make a drink that is not as cold or not as diluted compared to shaking. This gentler blending creates a better balance of the concentration of spirits.

Cocktails that are stirred, like negronis, typically contain only spirits and are clear – as in, James Bond should really have his martini stirred to maintain the clear appearance and for a less diluted taste.

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