Most people, when they first see a bartender they see the shaker right alongside him/her. Unless, of course, it is a bar that doesn’t need to shake at all (uses blenders or just BUILDS drinks like a rum and coke or tequila and orange juice).
The shaker is an integral part of what is needed behind the bar. Whether you are a home bartender, or a career bartender, the shaker is our most trusted friend. We spoke in another post already about the importance of the shaking technique, and why cocktails are shaken, but in this post we will talk about what a shaker is, why it is so crucial behind the bar, and its history.
THE TYPES OF SHAKERS
So out in the world there are a few different types of shakers. Each has its own purpose and undeniably, some are better than others. The shakers we use behind the bar are the most cherished because without them, no daiquiris!
COBBLER SHAKER: this kind of shaker has three parts.
The mixing container, the built-in strainer, and the metal lid. This shaker has been made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Normally, when starting out and not really sure how to mix cocktails yet, this would be the shaker to use. It is easy to handle and even easier to finish a drink. There is no need for an individual, separate hawthorne strainer to complicate things. Just shake, strain, and enjoy!
THE BOSTON SHAKER: the Boston shaker, which origins of name are quite unclear, is a simple combination of a metal tin and a pint glass that fits into the tin. The seal is created when both are placed together. Shake hard with ice, to create dilution and the way to break the seal is to hit with the heel of your hand at the spot that visibly separates the two (at the 45 degree angle of separation).
SIDE NOTE: since then, the “tin on tin” shaker was also created, which is two metal halves to create the shaker instead of using a pint glass. The benefit of using these is the convenience of both lighter weight, and ease of use.
THE PARISIAN (OR FRENCH) SHAKER: this type of shaker was said to have been invented in France to mix cocktails several hundreds of years ago. The story is that a bartender from Europe brought it over to the United States and began to mix with it. Although this type of shaker is uncommon nowadays, it is important to note. This type of shaker is simply a two-piece shaker that looks beautiful. It has the “sexy” curves atop of it that give it a retro feel. It works exactly the same way, EXCEPT… they are a bit harder than Boston shakers to separate after shaking.
HISTORY OF THE COCKTAIL SHAKER
So the cocktail shaker has a foggy history (much like just about anything in the cocktail world, but we do our best!).
It is said that as early as 7,000 BCE, civilizations have been mixing alcoholic drinks in gourds found by archeologists. This was discovered in South America, where Hernando Cortez, a Spanish explorer, wrote about his encounters with “frothy cacao mixtures prepared in golden cylinder-shaped containers.”
However, besides all the romance of cacao and South America, the shaker never really took off or became what is known as today until the 19th century. A man with the name of Jerry Thomas (which we also covered in another post) was responsible for creating the American craft cocktail movement. And while Americans began to drink more and more, the cocktail shakers became more relevant.
As eggnogs and other frothy drinks became the staple in most American taste buds around the 1800s, these metal shakers also became the prerequisite for most any bar that wanted to create properly incorporated and emulsified drinks.
And there you have it, the shaker in all of its glory, came to the rescue for bartenders in the time of need. Some bars do not even use shakers! They might prefer blenders. But, in all, the shaker has most definitely become an essential tool for us to enjoy our everyday libations.
SALUD!
Jonathan Echavarria 