History Of The Cocktail Shaker
Contributed by: News Canada
(NC) - As the lazy, hazy days of summer settle in, more Canadians can be seen enjoying two popular warm weather activities: people gazing from bar or restaurant patios and, of course, sipping colourful cocktails. One of the essential tools to creating some of the more popular cocktails, is the shaker.
The first mixed drinks were probably made by the resourceful Ancient Egyptians who added spices to their grain fermentation to make them tastier. In his book, Vintage Bar Ware, Stephen Visakay outlines the rise, fall, and resurgence of this venerable bartender's tool.
By the late 19th century, the cocktail shaker became a staple in every barman's kit. However, it wasn't until the Prohibition years that shaker makers became more elaborate with the cylindrical design and bartenders became craftier with cocktail concoctions. To make bathtub gin easier on the taste buds, mixers started adding fruit juices to their spirits. Shakers in shapes of anything from women's boots or baby rattles became increasingly popular as the drinking public searched for ways to hide their illicit moonshine from the authorities.
Today, however, thanks to the success of shows like Sex and the City and Queer Eye, the shaker has made a comeback twisting up such classic drinks such as Remy Martin cognac and mixing it with shaker pleasers like ice and juice. Two summertime patio favourites are Jasmine Iced Tea, a variation on the classic summer thirst-quencher, and the Remy Stinger.
Jasmine Iced Tea
In a shaker:
- 2 shots of Remy Martin V.S.O.P.
- 1/2 shot of Galliano
- 4 shots of iced jasmine tea
- 1 dash of sugar syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a long drink glass filled with crushed ice.
Between The Sheets
In a shaker:
- 1/2 shot Cointreau
- 1 shot Remy VSOP
- 1 shot Mount Gay Rum
- 3/4 shot freshly squeezed juice
Shake with crushed ice, strain into cocktail glass
