ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: less vodka

Goodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:20:29 GMT

Hi Avangi,
There is always new drinks being invented by creative bartenders but someone has to make it popular. A blender does two things:
1) to aerate the chopped iced (adding air to it)
2) Making it slushy so that it goes down easy and appear to be a bigger drink. Like strawberry Daiqueri and Mai Tai. which are a lot more expensive than a reular
coaktail
In calif. Margaritas is very common and people drink it parties like soda.

To you Vodka in a blender ..I would call it Vodka-ritas

Re: less vodka

Avangi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:56:17 GMT

Goodman
the main reasons for shaking a Marinti is to chill it and mix the ingredients thoroughly without diluting the flavor which happens in a blender.

Hi Goodman, Would you consider the blender a third way of preparing a Martini, or is it a variation of "shaken," or a variation of "stirred"? I should think if the ingredients spent much time in a blender, it would then be difficult to strain out the ice.

Which brings up the subject of Margaritas - not popular in New England in the 50's and 60's, but a main staple in this neck of the woods. One associates them with the blender, as in the song, but I never knew if the ice is supposed to be left in or removed.

Thanks, - A.

Re: less vodka

Goodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:45:15 GMT

<<<.>>>I just drink the various components and then jump and down a bit.

Hey, I like to see you make a "chocolate milk shake"

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:21:03 GMT

LOL... That's so funny. You've got a built in shaker!

Re: less vodka

optilang — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:16:20 GMT

I just drink the various components and then jump and down a bit.

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:15:30 GMT

Cool. Thanks Goodman. I've learned another new word from you. Goblet.

Thanks, Avangi.

Re: less vodka

Goodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:10:02 GMT

I am not the expert and I don't have the techniques down. But to be a good bar tender, knowing how to perform and shake up for a good Martini is a required skill which can add dollars to your tips. Many bartenders today don't have this technique as it takes time to make a good Martini. They just pour the Jin or Vodka from the bottle into a glass with ice and add vermouth and
other ingredient, then stir it a couple of time before straining into a Martini goblet such as this

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:51:26 GMT

Goodman, Cool. Does it matter how it's shaken? I've seen some cool techniques in the movies. Do you toss and juggle it ?Could you teach me how to shake?

Re: less vodka

Goodman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:34:47 GMT

Your assumption is not quite correct for Martini but perhaps for other drinks. I remember my old coworker bartender friend told me that the main reasons for shaking a Marinti is to chill it and mix the ingredients thoroughly without diluting the flavor which happens in a blender. The amount of ice in the shaker, the time and the frequency of shaking all play into the taste of a Martini. It looks like anyone can do a Martini on the other side of a bar but not every Martini can taste good!

Re: less vodka

Avangi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:30:18 GMT

I suspect if the drink were shaken violently enough it would become aerated (like carbonated, without the bite.) Perhaps Goodman could advise.

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:21:01 GMT

I see. Thanks!

Re: less vodka

optilang — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:17:35 GMT

New2grammar
This question is off topic. Does it make any difference?

(By the way, I'm having Vodka. ;p)

It does if your name's James Bond. I don't mix my vodka with anything, so I can't say if it makes any difference to the taste.

I suppose it's a bit like the tea argument. Do you put the milk in first and then the tea or, as some do, the other way round. Is there any difference in the taste?

Enjoy the vodka!

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:13:05 GMT

This question is off topic. Does it make any difference?

(By the way, I'm having Vodka. ;p)

Re: less vodka

optilang — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:53:23 GMT

New2grammar
Thanks everyone. Avangi, could you explain what it means? shaken not stirred?

It is how James Bond orders his drink

"Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred".

The drink can be mixed either by shaking or stirring it. He prefers it to be mixed by shaking, not stirring.

Re: less vodka

New2grammar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:29:08 GMT

Thanks everyone. Avangi, could you explain what it means? shaken not stirred?