Shaking vs. Stirring Cocktails

A question that comes up often is: when do I shake a cocktail and when do I stir? The basic rule of thumb is this:

Shaking Cocktails
You shake any cocktail that contains juice, cream, eggs or other cloudy ingredients.

Stirring Cocktails
You stir a cocktail when the ingredients are all spirits.

I think this video from Imbibe (featuring Jeffrey Morgenthaler) demonstrates the difference well.

Sometimes I break the rules and shake my Manhattans or Martinis if I want little ice shards floating in my drink.

About Dennis Hahn

Dennis Hahn is a cocktail enthusiast living in Portland, Oregon. My focus is on inspiring the average person who appreciates good cocktails to make them on their own at home. Dennis is the publisher of Viva la Cocktail, as well as the President of ID Branding.