Contrary to what James Bond might have you believe, some cocktails should be stirred rather than shaken, including 007's own beloved vodka martinis and my own favored Manhattans. The basic rule: if a drink involves fruit juices, you shake it. If not, you stir it. We have a fine stirring glass but, to this point, have made do with iced tea spoons which are not quite long enough for the job.
Bar spoons are long indeed. The one I just got is 12 inches in length. The more skillful bartenders I've watched set the tip of the spoon on the bottom of the glass, then swirl the stick. The trick in stirring, you see, is to do so without chipping the ice. The OXO SteeL Spinning Bar Spoon I've acquired has a swivel handle so one can simply set the back of the spoon against the side of the glass, then stir without having to change the grip. Observe:
And here, with the ice and booze:
Ideally, one shouldn't touch the ice at all with the spoon. That'll take some practice!
Squid on the Vine
Fratelli Antonio & Raimondo, Piemonte Dolcetto 2017
My Rating: 8.0
Cranberry
Astringent
Fratelli Levis, Piemonte Barbera 2018
My Rating: 8.3
Floral nose
Berries
Starts sweet, finishes bitter.
Touch of spice
wow...I should try the different between stir and shake....fun to see the result...
ReplyDeleteMy wife has suggested a side-by-side comparison but I'm pretty well convinced. I don't know if the taste is superior but the drink looks nicer - less cloudy. And to be honest, mixing is easier, especially with the new spoon.
DeleteAnd, my smart aleck responses: “if you don’t mix anything in but ice, you don’t have to worry about it.” Merry Christmas, I do enjoy this series and have tried a few of the drinks. Lately, been fighting a cold and have drunk plenty of Hot Toddies before bed.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Well, yes. But you don't want any ice shards slipping through the strainer into the glass. The perfect drink: it's a worthy pursuit!
DeleteFeel better, Rev!
I never knew about the artistry involved in preparing a drink. My knowledge extended to Tom Cruise in Cocktail. This looks mighty delicious.
ReplyDeleteMr. Cruise's style is definitely a bit flashier than mine.
DeleteI didn’t know that about the fruit juices and I would be an epic fail in stirring.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how particular I'm ever likely to become about the ice-chipping business but the "practicing" is fun.
DeleteReally?
ReplyDeleteI have one of those spoons, but I didn't know any of that stuff.
I'll have to learn more about this.
Apart from reading, I've learned a lot simply by sitting at bars and watching. Most bartenders shake everything - less fussy. But a few will stir and it's fun to watch them do it.
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