Can someone tell me why "stirring" vs. " "shaking" makes a big difference for cocktails?

[DuaneBidoux]

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Shaking mixes drinks with thick ingredients better than stirring does...

For example...it is better to shake when the drink contains cream or heavy liqueurs.

Stirring is better for drinks that contain lighter, more "watery" ingredients.

[DuaneBidoux]

3. Thanks!

[JBoy]

2. Depends on the type of cocktail

If it's got any "thick" ingredients, like fruit juice, shaking is probably preferred, as it will be better at both cooling and mixing the drink.

If the ingredients are less viscous, like a martini, the jury is out. Shaking will cool the dring more quickly, will chip off some ice and therefore dilute the drink slightly, and will oxidize the drink more - imparting a subjectively better/worse flavor to the drink.

Myself, I shake all my cocktails, unless I make them in big batches in a pitcher (which I can't "shake").

[DuaneBidoux]

4. ...and thanks.

I just made the kind of drink Rachel Maddow showed on her show. A Manhatten with rye whisky, sweet vermouth, and bitters.

She said it was good to stir it and I wasn't sure why.

[JBoy]

6. Huh. I prefer to shake my Manhattans. It's a matter of preference.

Actually with a Manhattan, unless it's after dinner, when I'm OK with a sweeter drink, I like a "perfect" Manhattan - which uses 1/2 dry vermouth and 1/2 sweet vermouth in place of the "sweet" vermouth. You can also try substituting Bourbon for the Rye - I find the Bourbon works better with the sweeter version, and Rye works better with the "perfect" version.

Again, all personal preference - the best drink is the one you like!

[UTUSN]

5. What's amazing is that just because of JFK the 007 crap is *such* a continuing francise n/t

[HopeHoops]

7. It ONLY matters with gin because it bruises.

That's why you gently stir a martini rather than shake it because the latter will bruise the gin, turning it cloudy. With a vodka martini it doesn't make any difference.

James Bond just liked his martinis cloudy.

[bif]

8. Supposedly shaking a Manhattan makes it cloudy

That's what I heard anyway.