It’s Happy Hour! Ben & Matthew discuss the methods of cocktail dilution, why stirring is more difficult than shaking, and how to not get punched in the face. Later they discuss if size matters, of your ice that is. Finally they introduce an original stirred cocktail and a modern-ish classic shaken cocktail.

Ben’s stirred Orange and Black is a bold yet balanced cocktail that blends the spice of rye whiskey with the rich, earthy notes of Mr. Black coffee liqueur. The orange liqueur adds a subtle brightness, while the bitters tie everything together. It’s the perfect practice field for perfecting your stirring technique.

Matthew is bringing the shaken Army and Navy, a smooth, citrus-forward sour that perfectly balances gin’s juniper bite with the creamy sweetness of Orgeat. It’s a classic, yet vibrant, cocktail with a luxurious texture and a refreshing finish that is elevated by the shaking technique.

Too Long, Didn’t Listen

(01:28) Building cocktails and mastering dilution

(02:31) Why aeration can make or break your drink

(05:30) How to shake a cocktail like a pro (but only if you listen twice)

(10:11) Does size really matter? Absolutely, when it comes to ice

(13:35) Aeration: the secret ingredient to flavor and feel

(16:56) Stirring cocktails: trickier than you'd think

(21:00) Mastering dilution with consistency

(23:00) Cocktail: The Orange and Black

(26:08) Cocktail: The Army & Navy

Recipes

Orange and Black

1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
1/2 oz Mr. Black coffee liqueur
1/4 oz orange liqueur (I used Cointreau)
2 dashes orange bitters
Garnish with orange twist
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir to your desired dilution, then strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube. Express an orange twist over the glass, rub around the rim, and drop into the drink.

Army & Navy

2 oz gin
1 oz lime juice
3/4 - 1 oz Orgeat
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Garnish: lime wheel
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

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Books & Equipment Links

The links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.

Books

We own and recommend these books:

The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

Imbibe! by David Wondrich

Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

Equipment

Products we own, like and use:

Measuring tools
OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
OXO SteeL Double Jigger
Shakers
This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Large Weighted Shaking Tin
Mixing Glasses/Tins
Viski Crystal Mixing Glass, 17 oz
Pint glass: you don’t need a link for this do you?
Peelers
OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler
Bar Spoons
Crate & Barrel: Bar Spoon with Muddler
Cork Screw / Bottle Opener
True Truetap Double Hinged Waiters Corkscrew
Bar Towels
White Flour Sack Towels
Glassware
Highball
Strauss 13-Oz. Cooler Glass
Lowball
Crescent 10-Oz. Double Old-Fashioned Glass
Strauss 11-Oz. Double Old-Fashioned Glass
Stemmed
Mercer 10-Oz. Coupe Glass

Products we don’t own but would consider buying:

Measuring Tools
Cocktail Farmer Standard Jigger
Piña Barware Bell/Leopold Style Stainless Steel Jigger 2oz. / 1oz.
Piña Barware Slim/Japanese Style Stainless Steel Jigger 2oz. / 1oz.
Shakers
A Bar Above Weighted Craft Boston Shaker Set (Single set slightly less expensive than the Koriko)
Houdini Boston Cocktail Shaker (a well rated pint glass set)
Barfly Double Wall Diamond Lattice Mixing Tin
Knives
Cocktail Kingdom Buswell Paring Knife
Victorinox 3.25 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife (Green - Black seems to be in high demand)
Cutting Board
Jelli Reversible Black Marble 14.5"x11" Cutting Board
Bar Spoons
Cocktail Kingdom Skull (We wouldn’t really buy this but it looks cool)
A metal finger, not a spoon (I could resist linking to this one)
Homestia Gothic Skull Bar Spoon (A cheaper skull)
Viski Stainless Steel Weighted Barspoon
Hawthorne Strainers
Barfly Bar Strainer, Stainless Steel
A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer
Julep Strainers
Cocktail Kingdom Premium Julep Strainer

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