If a cocktail recipe calls for you to "stir with ice and strain", use a bar spoon and a mixing glass. Place the ice and the ingredients into the mixing glass (or base of shaker) and stir for 20 seconds. Strain the drink into a glass using a Hawthorne strainer - or the top of a standard shaker if you are stirring in a shaker.
When a cocktail recipe calls for you to "blend with ice", place the ingredients and then the ice into a blender and blend until a smooth, even consistency is achieved. Ideally you should use crushed ice, as this lessens wear on the blender's blades.
· One indication as to the quality of a cocktail bar is whether the menu mentions 'Sour Mix', a powder replacing lemon or lime juice. The best bars use fresh citrus juice which makes better drinks.