There are four basic ways to make cocktails, and by mastering these four basic methods, you can easily mix a variety of cocktails. Here are the 4 basic methods with our friends at bar.com:

① Shake (Shake)

That is, put the ingredients and ice into a shaker bell and shake it to make it mix. This allows hard-to-mix ingredients to be blended together and also cools them quickly with ice. In addition the high alcohol content rubs off the edges of the ice during the shaking process, resulting in a crisp flavor.

Order of ingredients into the shaker

Opinions do not differ as to whether to put in the basic ingredients first and then the auxiliary ingredients, or the auxiliary ingredients first and then the basic ingredients, but it is important to follow the order of the recipe. Put in the ingredients and then the ice cubes to reach 80% or 90% of the pot (you can put in 4 or 5 ice cubes about 4 times the size of your thumb.

Fitting the Ice Strainer and Top Lid

The operation is a two-step process: after putting in the ingredients and ice cubes, fasten the ice strainer and then the top lid. If you put on the ice strainer and top cover at one time, the ice strainer may fall off during shaking due to the increased air pressure inside the shaker, so don't mind the trouble and put on the ice strainer and top cover separately.

Holding the shaker

The thumb of the right hand holds down the top cap, the middle finger and ring finger hold the shaker, and the index finger holds down the body of the pot. Then press the bottom of the pot with the middle finger of your left hand from the first knuckle to the tip of the finger, and hold the shaker with your index and ring fingers. For those who are used to using their left hand, hold the jug the opposite way. This time also pay attention to the palm of the hand and the shaker not too tightly, so as not to heat transfer so that the ice melts too quickly.

Shaking the shaker

First, place the shaker on your left chest (between your shoulder and nipple). There are two methods of shaking, one is a two-stage shaking method that is repeated from diagonally upward → original position → diagonally downward → original position, and the other is a one-stage shaking method that is repeated from the ready position to the front, and then back to the original position to do the piston movement. Regardless of which shaking method, as long as the material can be quickly mixed together again on the line. The main point is to vibrate the wrist at the mother of pearl buckle, so as to feel a rhythmic sound, as far as possible to maintain the beauty of the body generous. If you are not yet skilled, it is best to put rice into the shaking pot and practice in front of a mirror while feeling the rhythm. The shaking time is calculated by the number of times you shake it, and 15 to 16 times is enough when the fingertips touching the shaker are cold and a white frost appears on the surface of the pot. If you are using ingredients that are not easy to mix, such as eggs or whipped cream, or if you are using a large shaker to mix double the amount of ingredients, about 20 shakes should be the standard. Once shaken properly, you can open the top and pour into the glass by pressing down on the ice strainer with your index finger, when it's best to hold the lower part of the glass with your other hand.

The bartending basics guide describes the first basic method of making cocktails - the shake method. I will continue to introduce you to the other three basic methods:

② Stir (Stir)

It is the meaning of mixing, that is, put the ingredients and ice into the mixing glass, and then use the bar spoon to quickly stir. It also serves the purpose of chilling the ingredients. It's good for mixing ingredients that are easy to blend, or when you want to be flexible with the original flavor of an ingredient.

How to use and stir the spoon

Grip the spoon by the spiral and stir. Hold the spiral part of the spoon with the middle and ring fingers of your preferred hand, and hold the top part of the spoon with your thumb and index finger. While stirring, gently hold the spoon with your thumb and middle finger to prevent it from tipping over, and turn the spoon in a clockwise direction with the belly of your middle finger and the back of your ring finger. Place or remove the spoon into or from the glass with the back of the spoon facing upward. When stirring, keep the back of the spoon facing the outside of the glass so that it does not touch the ice. Keep the back of the spoon facing the outside of the glass so that it doesn't touch the ice. Stir the glass 7-8 times, paying attention to the rhythm of the wrist clasp. At the end of the stirring, gently remove the spoon with the back of the spoon facing up.

Steps for Stirring

Place the ingredients in the mixing glass in the order of the recipe, then add the ice. Add slightly more ice than you put in when shaking until you have filled the mixing glass to 60% of its capacity. It is best to use a mixing glass that has been chilled beforehand. Once the ingredients have been added, use your other hand, not holding the bar spoon, to press down on the lower part of the glass and start stirring. If the ingredients are small, use the pinky finger of the hand holding the glass to tilt the glass so that it is easier to mix. After a quick stir, snap the ice strainer onto the mixing glass and hold the strainer down firmly with your index finger while your remaining fingers pick up the mixing glass and pour into the cocktail glass. At this point, the other hand with the fingertips to press the lower part of the cocktail glass, you do not have to worry about the cocktail glass tipping.

3 Direct Pouring (Build)

Pour the ingredients and ice directly into the glass you're using. With very few failures once you get the hang of it, this is one of the easiest ways to have fun making cocktails.

Steps and tips for direct pouring

With direct pouring, it's important to chill the soft drink and the glass beforehand. Because the ice used for direct pouring always stays cold, if the ingredients are not chilled they will turn into a light cocktail. This is done by putting the ingredients and ice directly into the glass and then stirring the mixture. Stirring 2 or 3 times is enough. Be careful when you add a fizzy drink such as soda water to the ingredients. In this case, if you stir more than twice, the gas will escape and the flavor will be lost. This is also true for cocktails made from a variety of ingredients such as Cascade Coffee, which should be poured gently with the back of a bar spoon, and the relative densities of various liquors should be understood, and similar liquors may vary depending on the manufacturer.

4 Blend

Blend with a blender. It's mainly used for foozan-type cocktails and cocktails that require the mixing of fresh fruit. Add fruit and crushed ice to the blender and blend. By adjusting the amount of crushed ice, it's fun to blend these ingredients into a fruity, dewy liquid.