Shaken, Or Stirred? The Boston Shaker Has Your Answer at Winter Classes

UPDATED AT 2:40 p.m. 

If you’ve ever saddled up to a bar and asked for a drink, perhaps the famous James Bond line, “Shaken, not stirred” has popped into your mind. But, have you ever pondered what the difference is between a shaken and a stirred libation?

Pose your conundrum to Adam Lantheaume, owner of , and he’ll have a clear answer for you. Or, better yet, join him as he hosts a cocktail workshop at his Davis Square shop for an evening of informed beverage creation.

Two of the shop’s classic Wednesday night classes; Craft Cocktail Techniques and Introduction to Cocktail Bitters, are being offered again this winter focusing on different aspects of mixology from methods to ingredients.

The classes are open to everyone, from seasoned bartenders, to at-home dabblers and those who may have never mixed a drink before.

“So the goal is to make sure that everybody leaves with the ability to, if there's a cocktail that they had in a bar, or something they read in a book and they have the recipe for it, then they can execute it the same way that the creator of the cocktail intended," Lantheaume said. 

In the Craft Cocktail Techniques class (Jan. 26, and Feb. 23), you’ll learn when to shake and when to stir---as well as the lingo, tools and methods used by the pros to prepare the most delicately balanced and crowd pleasing beverages.

Craft cocktails are not your average two-ingredient, straight from the soda gun and right out of the bottle drinks i.e.: a gin and tonic. But rather delicately balanced creations made with the same finesse as a gourmet dish that strives for balance and uses interesting combinations, Lantheaume explained.

 “What I mean when I say craft cocktails, this is not a high volume easy to knock out thing--this is fresh ingredients, high quality spirits. This is taking that little extra step of care when making that special beverage for yourself or your guest,” he said.

 Through practice, the two-hour hands-on class will help you build up your drink mixing muscle memory, and provide an experience much different from a video or a how-to book, in a format that caters to the needs of participants, Lantheaume said. 

The second class in the line-up is Introduction to Cocktail Bitters (Feb. 9) . Used in mixology as a “spice” Lantheaume said, bitters are used to enhance or offset flavors in a drink. In the class, you’ll learn about the history and varieties of bitters and sample their flavor in different doses.

“We taste the bitters in a couple of different formats to highlight the qualities they have, and then we go through one cocktail, varying only the bitters, and even if it's just a couple of dashes, we look at the impact that those dashes make,” he said.

Concocting thoughtful, well-crafted cocktails is becoming a staple of the Boston restaurant scene. Even since The Boston Shaker’s opening early last year, and well before, Lantheaume said he’s seen interest in the art gaining momentum.

The classes are his way to create a forum for people to start understanding the drinks they are seeing popping up on menus across the area, and the skills behind how they are made.

“Its' going to add a level of appreciation for what bartenders and mixologists do everyday and I think Boston is a great town to [do this]--we're doing a lot of great things in the cocktail movement and a lot of people are moving in our direction now,” he said.

You can sign up for a class at The Boston Shaker by stopping by the store in person, calling them up, or visiting the website. Lantheaume recommends wearing comfortable shoes and having a bite to eat before you attend. Also, please note, these classes are only for students over the age of 21, and they may fill up quickly, preregistration is advised.

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Have you been looking for an opportunity to try out in Union Square?

This week, the restaurant which prides itself on focusing on local, seasonal and fresh ingredients is hosting a benefit for the  on January, 20. Seats are $60 for a three course prix fixe menu. Wine pairings are also available. Seatings are offered on the hour and half hour between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Email SCGCDev [at] gmail.com for more information or reservations.