20 Recipes to Make with a Cocktail Shaker

by Morris Kafif January 27, 2023

A cocktail shaker is an essential tool for any aspiring mixologist or cocktail enthusiast. With its ability to blend flavors, chill ingredients, and create that perfect frothy texture, a cocktail shaker opens up endless possibilities for crafting delicious drinks. In this blog post, we'll present you with 50 tantalizing cocktail recipes that will take your mixology skills to new heights. So, let's dust off that cocktail shaker and get ready to impress your guests with these incredible libations!

Classic Cocktails:

1. Martini:
o 2 ½ oz gin
o ½ oz dry vermouth
o Lemon twist or olive for garnish
o Combine gin and vermouth in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olive.

2. Manhattan:
o 2 oz rye whiskey
o 1 oz sweet vermouth
o 2 dashes Angostura bitters
o Maraschino cherry for garnish
o Combine whiskey, vermouth, and bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

3. Cosmopolitan:
o 1 ½ oz vodka
o 1 oz cranberry juice
o ¾ oz triple sec
o ½ oz fresh lime juice
o Lime twist for garnish
o Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

4. Mojito:
o 2 oz white rum
o 1 oz fresh lime juice
o ¾ oz simple syrup
o 6-8 fresh mint leaves
o Club soda
o Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish
o Muddle mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add rum and ice, then shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.

5. Old Fashioned:
o 2 ½ oz bourbon or rye whiskey
o ½ oz simple syrup
o 2 dashes Angostura bitters
o Orange twist for garnish
o Combine whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Refreshing and Fruity:

6. Strawberry Basil Smash:
o 2 oz vodka
o 3 fresh strawberries
o 4-5 fresh basil leaves
o 1 oz fresh lemon juice
o ¾ oz simple syrup
o Muddle strawberries and basil in a shaker. Add vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with a strawberry and basil sprig.

7. Watermelon Margarita:
o 2 oz tequila
o 1 oz fresh lime juice
o 1 oz watermelon juice
o ½ oz agave syrup
o Watermelon slice for garnish
o Combine tequila, lime juice, watermelon juice, and agave syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed margarita glass filled with ice. Garnish with a watermelon slice.

8. Pineapple Mojito:
o 2 oz white rum
o 1 oz fresh lime juice
• ¾ oz simple syrup
• 2 pineapple chunks
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Club soda
• Pineapple wedge and mint sprig for garnish
• Muddle pineapple chunks and mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add rum and ice, then shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a pineapple wedge and mint sprig.

9. Peach Bellini:
o 2 oz peach puree or peach nectar
o 4 oz Prosecco or Champagne
o Peach slice for garnish
o Pour peach puree into a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled Champagne flute. Top with Prosecco or Champagne and garnish with a peach slice.

10. Blueberry Mojito:
o 2 oz white rum
o 1 oz fresh lime juice
o ¾ oz simple syrup
o Handful of fresh blueberries
o 6-8 fresh mint leaves
o Club soda
o Lime wedge, blueberries, and mint sprig for garnish
o Muddle blueberries and mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add rum and ice, then shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lime wedge, blueberries, and mint sprig.

Tropical Delights:

11. Piña Colada:
o 2 oz rum
o 2 oz pineapple juice
o 1 ½ oz coconut cream
o Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
o Combine rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.

12. Mai Tai:
o 1 ½ oz dark rum
o 1 oz white rum
o ¾ oz orange curaçao
o ½ oz orgeat syrup
o ½ oz fresh lime juice
o Pineapple wedge, cherry, and mint sprig for garnish
o Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a double Old Fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry, and mint sprig.

13. Hurricane:
o 2 oz dark rum
o 1 oz light rum
o 1 oz passion fruit juice
o 1 oz orange juice
o ½ oz fresh lime juice
o ½ oz grenadine
o Orange slice and cherry for garnish
o Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

14. Bahama Mama:
o 1 oz dark rum
o 1 oz coconut rum
o 1 oz banana liqueur
o 1 oz pineapple juice
o 1 oz orange juice
o ½ oz grenadine
o Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
o Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.

15. Zombie:
o 1 oz light rum
o 1 oz dark rum
o 1 oz apricot brandy
o 1 oz lime juice
o 1 oz orange juice
o 1 oz pineapple juice
o ½ oz grenadine
o - ½ oz 151-proof rum (float on top)
o Orange slice and cherry for garnish
o Combine all ingredients (except 151-proof rum) in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Float 151-proof rum on top. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Citrusy Sensations:

16. Lemon Drop Martini:
 2 oz vodka
 1 oz fresh lemon juice
 ¾ oz simple syrup
 Lemon twist and sugar rim for garnish
 Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar. Combine vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into the prepared martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

17. Grapefruit Paloma:
 2 oz tequila
 1 ½ oz grapefruit juice
 ½ oz fresh lime juice
 ½ oz agave syrup
 Club soda
 Grapefruit slice and mint sprig for garnish
 Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed Collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a grapefruit slice and mint sprig.

18. Orange Margarita:
 2 oz tequila
 1 oz orange liqueur
 1 oz fresh lime juice
 ½ oz agave syrup
 Orange twist and salt rim for garnish
 Rim a chilled margarita glass with salt. Combine tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

19. Blood Orange Cosmo:
 2 oz vodka
 1 oz blood orange juice
 ½ oz orange liqueur
 ½ oz fresh lime juice
 Blood orange slice for garnish
 Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a blood orange slice.

20. Mandarin Mojito:
 2 oz white rum
 1 oz fresh lime juice
 ¾ oz simple syrup
 3-4 mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into segments
 6-8 fresh mint leaves
 Club soda
 Mandarin orange segment and mint sprig for garnish
 Muddle mandarin orange segments and mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add rum and ice, then shake well. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a mandarin orange segment and mint sprig.