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Mixing cocktails
The ingredients for cocktails are either stirred or shaken together. Traditionally, a cocktail shaker is used for shaking the ingredients, and many of these have built-in strainers, but rather than going to the expense of buying one specially for this occasion, you can easily improvise with a tight-lidded jar and a clean tea-strainer.
To shake a cocktail, put enough crushed ice into the shaker to cover the base to a depth of about 2.5 cm (1 inch). Then add the ingredients, shake and strain into the glass.
Crushed ice is often a vital ingredient of the Cocltail drink — to prepare the ice, either crush ice cubes in a strong blender or food processor, or put ice in a strong polythene bag and crush with a wooden mallet or rolling pin.
A proper cocktail measure is very helpful, but a standard measuring jug and spoon can be used if ingredients are kept in the proportions given in the recipes. As a useful guide remember that 30 ml (1 1/4 fl oz) equals 2 tablespoons.
recipes