Stir clear, spirit-forward cocktails
Cocktails made mainly with spirits, vermouth or liqueur are usually stirred. This chills and dilutes them in a controlled way while preserving a silky, clear texture.
Shake citrus, juice, cream and egg white
Ingredients with different densities need energy to combine. Shaking also adds tiny air bubbles for a fresh, lively texture.
- Fill the shaker generously with cold ice.
- Shake hard for about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Strain straight into a chilled glass.
- Dry-shake egg white without ice first for extra foam.
Dilution belongs in the recipe
Before chilling, a cocktail is often intentionally too strong. Meltwater brings it into balance while shaking or stirring; that is part of the recipe, not a mistake.