Those who enjoy having an at-home get together and hosting friends and family for cocktails or dinner, probably have a few bartending skills and savvy techniques they have perfected over time. But did you know that how you make your mixed cocktails and colorful umbrella drinks really does influence the way they taste?

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That’s right! Our favorite alcoholic concoctions taste even better when they are made according to a little science from our 10th grade chemistry class. Who knew?

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As the super-host you know you are (or longingly aspire to be) when a guest at your next dinner party asks for a sweet cocktail, particularly those with fruit juice, be prepared to ask the age-old question: Shaken or stirred? Here’s why…

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The Real Chemistry Behind Your Favorite Cocktail Creation...

Whether we like to entertain in our home or enjoy getting a drink out with friends, it is likely that we are all aware that some alcoholic beverages are shaken vs. stirred. What we might not all know is why exactly some drinks taste better when they are prepared in a cocktail shaker than they do when they are simply poured in the glass and stirred.  

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To be honest – it is really all about taste…and that’s ok with us! Real science does give us the reason why these luscious libations are even more delightful, though. It has been proven that shaking the cocktail helps to remove some of the organic compounds that can actually affect the taste of the alcohol. This reaction is similar to the reaction wine has of tasting better when it is allowed to breathe before serving.   

Since it is all about how the cocktail tastes, it makes sense that when the ingredients of a drink are shaken, they are blended more thoroughly, giving a more consistent flavor for those who partake in drinking the creation. Shaking instead of stirring also makes a light and frothy drink, without unappealing layers of unmixed various flavors. This, combined with the air bubbles created by the shaking, provides a delicious cocktail on so many levels!

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Know When to Shake vs. Stir

As a general rule, if the cocktail uses any type of citrus juice – it’s best to shake. Also, those drinks with cream such as a White Russian are much better when shaken. When you have a variety of different ingredients together in a single drink, shaking helps them to blend together and create a delicious, frothy libation.   

An experienced at-home get together ‘host with the most’ knows that shaking fruity cocktails instead of stirring them is what truly makes them taste so delish!  So, what are you waiting for? Invest in a high-quality cocktail shaker to make the best concoctions ever and take your at-home hosting skills to a whole new level.