How Long to Shake a Cocktail (and How to Know)
How long to shake a cocktail, in seconds, plus the signs that tell you the shake is done: frost on the tin, the sound of the ice and the feel of the cold.
Articles
Practical guides from the Mixologix team: the situations the job throws at you and what to do about them, in plain English.
London Dry vs Old Tom Gin: The Difference in the Glass
London Dry vs Old Tom gin explained for the home bar: how each tastes, why one is drier, and which to pour in a Martini, a Collins or a Gin and Tonic.
Best Mixology Apps to Learn Cocktails: What to Look For
Not every cocktail app teaches. Learn how recipe libraries differ from learning apps, what to check before you choose, and which kind fits you.
A Bar Above Alternative: Mixology Lessons on Your Phone
Comparing A Bar Above with five-minute phone lessons? See how a long video course differs from short daily practice, and which suits you.
BarSmarts Alternative for Five-Minute Bar Lessons
Looking for a BarSmarts alternative you can use on your phone between shifts? Here is what each one offers and who should pick which.
Classic Cocktail Families: Sours, Stirred, Highballs, Tiki
Stop memorising recipes. Learn the handful of templates behind the classics (sours, old fashioneds, martinis, highballs, tiki) and make hundreds of drinks.
Cocktail Flow Alternative: Recipes Are Not Lessons
Cocktail Flow is a big recipe library. If you want to learn why drinks work, here is what lessons add, and when the recipe app is the right pick.
Spirits for Cocktails: A Guide From Gin to Brandy
A plain guide to the spirits behind every cocktail: how to read a label, and what gin, vodka, rum, tequila, whisky and brandy bring to a drink.
Shake, Stir, Build: Cocktail Technique Explained
Learn what shaking, stirring and building each do to a drink, and how to repeat them the same way every time, with counts, grips and a worked example.
Drinko Alternative: Learn Mixology, Not Just Recipes
Drinko gives you recipes, a smart cabinet and some lessons. Here is how structured five-minute mixology lessons differ, and who should pick which.
European Bartender School Alternative: Learn at Home
Thinking about European Bartender School but not ready to travel or commit weeks? See what a self-paced path covers, and what a school gives that it cannot.
How to Set Up a Home Bar That Makes Every Classic
How to set up a home bar without wasting money: the three tools you need, six glasses, the right ice and the first six bottles.
How to Create Your Own Cocktail From a Classic Template
A method for inventing a drink that works: balance the five levers, start from a template, pick a pairing, make syrups and write a spec others can follow.
How to Host a Cocktail Party at Home Without Stress
A plan for hosting a cocktail party at home: pick three drinks, buy the right amounts, prep early and keep your guests safe, so you enjoy it too.
The New Bartender's Guide to Your First Shifts
New bartender tips for your first shift: set up your station, move faster without spills, stay clean and safe, read guests and learn the numbers.
ServSafe Alcohol vs a Bartending Course: You May Need Both
Told to get ServSafe Alcohol for a bar job? Learn what it certifies, what it leaves out, and where your drink-making skills come from.
TIPS Certification vs Bartender Training: What Each Covers
TIPS certification teaches responsible alcohol service. Bartender training teaches the drinks. Here is what each covers, and how to use both.
Vermouth, Liqueurs, Bitters and Amari: A Modifiers Guide
What the bottles beside the spirit do: vermouth, sherry, liqueurs, bitters and amari explained, with how to use them and keep them fresh.