How to Shake a Cocktail - Tip & Tricks from a Bartender

Want to learn how to shake a cocktail like a pro? Top bartender Brian Means from Dirty Habit shares his best tips for shaking cocktails. What are you waiting for? Get shaking!
Don't forget to subscribe for more tips & tricks. For the best cocktail recipes, articles and more click here: liquor.com/

[@Paintplayer1]

This Tips and Tricks series is awesome because even though the videos are short, they go a bit beyond just saying "this is how you shake a cocktail, etc." to provide some background and explanation behind the techniques. Also the narration and scripting is great, and the visuals are cool and well put-together. I really enjoy this channel, and as a 22 year old dude, I now know more than all my friends and even my parents about craft cocktails from watching this channel and others like it. Thanks, guys!

[@paintmedioxazine]

Thanks for making this easy to understand and straight to the point! I'm not as far off the mark as I thought I was when shaking up my margaritas! Great Job!

[@FG-dw9cf]

This was the coolest video I've ever seen...

[@dl1094]

Was? What’s the coolest video now

[@FG-dw9cf]

@@dl1094 the one I made with your mom lol

[@JoeNathan42420]

Hipster

[@ledgergibbs9061]

@@FG-dw9cf your comment is under appreciated and almost a year old hahaha

[@repoman2826]

Good shit. Straight to point with condensed info, visually well put together and narration is spot on.

[@Jetray205]

Great. Thanks man. I add but not necessary if you’ve got the tap to break the seal part down. Helps if you angle the smaller container. And to break the seal after wards tap on side of the middle of the angle where it is most level. Or, do it your own way if there’s a better way! There’s always a better way.

[@brandyb9527]

"There is no one right way to shake a cocktail" I wish you were my bar mentor/director! Mine says otherwise. >->

[@fifalafida]

I think what matter is to have a constant rhythm and shake it for the right amount of time

[@dialava5879]

Brandy Mendoza exactly what my manager says.

[@alexandro5616]

Saaaaame! After three weeks of my coworkers sneering in secret about how I shake, my mentor finally told me I wasnt shaking “right.” 🙊😷

[@hinthegreat7202]

@@alexandro5616 shake it left

[@Ashamedofmypast]

if you pay attention they all follow a set of criteria despite saying there is no right way to shake. In reality there is a wrong way of shaking but no standard of right.

[@ryanirsa3433]

thank you for the advice from your video so I understand the correct whipping technique and looks professional

[@ahapawungshi]

Absolutely great

[@liviemillie6455]

Super easy! Thanks.

[@alejandroworldpeace3212]

This is great subscribed after first 30 seconds for informational purposes

[@cvsop7338]

Short & useful... thanks

[@valentinashappyshow]

DOPE VIDEO KEEP THEM COMING!!!

[@giuseppeverri885]

Thanks 😁​

[@tipstrickscocktails4126]

Nice video !

[@Rocketwm]

Love it ❤

[@omarfoxdie6720]

Brilliant

[@LifeByJazz]

Such a great video thanks guys! I have one question - As a bartender, I am also never able to unwedge the two cups from each other with my hands alone - I often use the side of a bar which I am trying to break a habit of - Do you have any tips for when the cups get stuck together? Thanks!

[@CandyHam]

Life By Jazz Since you're hitting it against the side of the bar I'm guessing both cups are steel? Steel on steel creates a tighter seal than steel on glass, so it will be harder to separate with the technique explained in the video. I find that you must actually hit the larger cup - right where the smaller cup's rim comes into contact. Give it a firms smack right at the seal, on a part of the circumference WITHOUT the vertical straight line created by the cups stacked on top of each other. If you smack somewhere else on the circumference, it may take a few tries when you've got it really cold and the seal is strong. Hope this helps.

[@christinecole330]

If I don't put enough ice in I have a harder time "cracking the egg" ...I don't know the science on it but the more ice I have just a pop of my hand ....I have once broke a glass when I didn't use enough ice...!

[@maycambridge9481]

Tap the side that is straight with joining cup

[@jesseebsch2959]

Wonderful, helpful, quick and concise.

[@sachinnakarmi9800]

great video

[@yanzhenhe7603]

Dear, this is a newest Boston Cocktail Shaker Set with Stand,everything you need to make cocktails,there is a bamboo shelf that will make your room look cleaner and you won't lose anything. www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Bartending-Professional-Bartenders-Exclusive/dp/B07Y2S9PXH/ref=sr_1_62?keywords=boston+cocktail+shaker+with+stand&qid=1573201090&sr=8-62

[@Ayub_79]

Should we full the shaker with ice? Can we pour the same ice cubes from the shaker to the serving glass?

[@podpodpod6722]

What’s the average amount of time you shake drinks ie an Aviation vs Daiquiri? I want to serve guest drinks that when land the table are approaching their sweet spot

[@akhilmog9705]

I want to know how to Hold the glass probably

[@TuttiHeit]

Love that they get it right here, i can´t stand watching fellow bartendes shaking like they are just awoke from a coma, add some nice air to that drinks!Nobody wants a flat Tom Collins! ;-)

[@MarshallSmith27]

I started a job bartending and we have been making "snow cones" shake ice and see if it stays together when turned upside down to show you broke the ice cubes

[@JamesWilson-qn5ok]

1 question: how long would you shake it for? Also, great video - I love the theme

[@xThunderxWolfx]

Depends on the drink, shaker, and ice used.

[@STON3_X]

Will a cup with a lid do the job?

[@arunkamal8293]

Every one has unique style it like handwriting each one have some thing in their way but not facing the guest

[@Nilay297]

Where we can find shaker in india

[@Pyro978]

Good tip is to relax when you are shaking a lot of drinks.

[@arthurchen2766]

I am wondering how to accurately close the shaker. Everyone I close the shaker dome air tend to pop out and open the upper bottle while shaking

[@AionShanks]

Make a straight line on one side, that locks it

[@filipemira4062]

Thanks

[@callumfreebairn8082]

just like kneading bread dough, it's hard work

[@Jojo242_]

Is there a trick or another way for people like me with smaller hands who seem to have trouble taking the shakers apart when the knock doesn't work ?

[@iamtheteapot7405]

Twist

[@madwood4189]

Ok so build in large or small half? First part of video did both.

[@SwaggysGirl]

I don't think there's a general rule, when you are using tin on tin, I tend to do both. But you are using glass on tin then you build in the glass

[@luismartincavazoslozano3884]

When do I stop shaking ?

[@dancingonmyown2834]

❤️

[@aminesaib]

I can never remove the top part . air suction or something..

[@TheCoffemaniac]

I cannot find the music on the video, any help?

[@omarfoxdie6720]

Me too

[@shufflevids7528]

but knocking it with my palm just hurts after few drinks

[@Paladrink]

There is no right way, but you have to keep the style. For that long arms or proper mirror image is needed, top bars on the world make a difference on the shake.

[@ankitpratap856]

Why we shake n why we stir the drinks.. What is the difference

[@amaterasublack3519]

Why every i shake, is flooding a littke bit water

[@trolluj9432]

At home i'm shaking nonalcoholic cocktails. When i'm shaking,there is some foam in a shaker. When I use strainer,could I remove the foam?

[@Pyro978]

Double strain...either use a hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer or dump some crushed ice after shaking and immediately strain with a hawthrone strainer. The crushed ice will act as the second strainer.

[@mugensamurai]

Try some kind of filter like the ones used for coffee or maybe a cheese cloth in your strainer my friend. I use that stuff all the time at work.

[@Vamps0nic]

many times after the shake is done, the two glasses are stuck losing time and need a lot of effort to separate them.... any trick for that?

[@ChuukeseStink]

Hit the shaker on the side with the palm of your hand. It Will pop out.

[@giovannigen7895]

use a taller top piece. if the top to the shaker is too short it will be harder to knock open

[@liamdavis9756]

With pressure roll the part of the top shaker that's touching, toll it to the open part and it should unlock without hitting it.

[@robertn3685]

Anybody have an idea why liquid may spill out when I shake my cocktail? I have a pretty good seal, didn't overcrowd the shaker, but when I shake, I sometimes get some liquid that seeps out.

[@yungpark6435]

Robert N could be the shakers themselves, possibly got warped

[@ronthebartender]

Yung, that's exactly what it is. The shaker is warped, best to use it for boxing the drink and not as a shaker anymore.

[@yungpark6435]

i recommend a hard elastic band, or even zip ties pulled taut to help keep the shakers form near perfect

[@mugensamurai]

My boss usually makes me wrap it with a towel so that the possibility of having any liquid get on the guest is minimized. Hope that helps.

[@phildean6884]

I can never get the shaker out that’s my problem

[@thefoxcreation3580]

Me shaking my phone from instinct:

[@dnight116]

when i shake too hard, the drink often goes too water is it better to shake gently?

[@JacStance]

dnight116 It depends on the drink but, generally, no. If you're drink is coming out too watery you may be using ice that is too soft or chips too easily. Bigger ice cubes will be harder to break into tiny pieces (which melt faster). If you are worried about your drink being watered down you can try shaking softer, if that seems to help without compromising the flavor or temperature of the drink then go for it, it's all about personal preference anyway, right?

[@tjw_]

dnight116 try shaking hard but instead of straight back and forth add a bit of an arch/triangle motion to your shake. When I shake I start with my hands perpendicular to my torso near my face and end with them parallel near my waist. When you rock straight back and forth your ice gets broken up very quickly, especially if using party/home freezer ice which is notorious for exploding into tiny shards. By adding an extra up and down dimension your ice won't break up as fast but rather become rounded on the corners. This will decrease dilution while still chilling your drink quickly. Next time you shake try looking at your ice after you are finished shaking. If it is smashed into a million bits, you shook too hard.

[@artiak2599]

I know what you mean, i have been bar tendering for 11 years but the place where i am working the ice is very bad so now i dont shake as hard make sure your drink its chilled and make sure you chill the glass before you even start mixing

[@ChuukeseStink]

Then don't shake too hard, genius. Part of being a Bartender is thinking on the spot.

[@BaCoPV]

i would add, shake parallel to your bar, not facing your customer, just in case shaker opens and you will spill the drink on your customer,

[@mirrorjhin]

how do i make a cocktail that contains soda? it just launches the top half off

[@Nebulous1225]

stir it

[@Jesili]

Can you over shake your drink?

[@naimabrown7467]

Yes definitely, you can overdilute (water down) the drink if you shake too long. Different ice breaks down faster.

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

I've never seen a drink be built in the larger tin... You yourself, near the end of the video, show that wyou built it on the smaller tin / glass.

[@connie8299]

i feel like if my cheeks don't jiggle a lil i didn't do it right

[@bartenderzzz]

I came here for the professional tin can shakers comments.

[@davidlautman]

it wouldn’t hurt to smile while you shake (that’s how I was taught) homeboy looks like he’s about to kill somebody... 😄🍸 1:16

[@1983Jacko]

If you smile all the time people will think you're nuts and they would also be correct.

[@fosstar]

I hit myself in the face at work today

[@catthomas3097]

Shaken not stirred 😎

[@aninditasingh225]

Shaking style is too passionate

[@aihembarghathi7679]

bog

[@TheFloatingBartender]

This is so wrong.

[@johnwatson8192]

Why not be positive and tell us what is wrong and then give the "right" method?

[@KS-zl3nu]

What matters most,is the right ingredients for the drink,not how you shake ..... I'm a Bartender and I can "simple" use one hand to shake both mixing containers. All that shaking above head,is clear indication that you wanna wake up your brain,if you have one!!!!!!!!!

[@DISTER141]

Typical tattooed guy🤦🏻‍♂️