Did you know that your kitchen is already a haven for cocktail making equipment? A huge amount of people love the idea of being able to shake up their own Cosmo or stirring a deliciously dry Martini in their own home for dinner parties or even just with your partner on a Saturday night in front of the TV.
When we asked our friends and colleagues what would put them off making their cocktails at home the most common answer was "I wouldn't want to have to spend the money on professional equipment"! The second most common answer was "I have no space for more equipment in my kitchen".
What if we were to tell you that we could teach you how to make delicious cocktails at home without using ANY extra space or even spending a penny on professional equipment? Well that's exactly what we are saying!
We are going to show you several alternatives for cocktail equipment which you already own. The first one is the infamous cocktail shaker!
Now, professional cocktail shakers generally come in 2 types: The 3 piece 'Cobbler' and the 2 piece 'Boston' including glass on tin and tin on tin, BUT, there are so many things you have already in your kitchen cupboards which you can use and will give just as good a result.
Here are our top 7 items:
The Jam Jar - we are sure mostof you will have a jam jar or old pasta sauce jar lying around or one that is almost finished. Simply wash it out (well), fill with ice and ingredients, screw the lid on tightly and shake hard!
Sports Bottle - Sports bottles need to be leak proof so they are perfect as a cocktail shaker - just make sure you close the spout first!
Protein Shaker - It's main use is to shake liquids, so why not use it to shake better liquids!
Biscuit Tin - This one needs a little bit of attention as they aren't always completely water tight. We found the best way is not really to 'shake' but to 'roll' the liquid and ice. Fill the tin with your cocktail and ice, push the lid on tightly, turn to the side and roll away - perfect to get rid of all those choccy tins after Xmas!
Coffee Flask - Another water tight container most of us have - you can fill these with ice and your cocktail ingredients, screw the lid on and give them a really good shake - most even have a little cup for drinking it from!
TakeAway Tub - So most people will have at least one of these lying around at the back of a cupboard and when sealed they are actually really good at staying sealed, just don't get too excited and try to flair with one!
Milk Cartons - We are sure most households will have a carton of milk in the fridge. When it's empty why not wash it out and recycle it as a cocktail shaker!!
So there you have it - no need for any professional, expensive bar equipment! Next wekk we will show you alternatives to jiggers!
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