Art Deco Cocktail Shaker

Moscow Mule

Painting by Vicki Smith

My great-grandmother lived in this Hollywood bungalow when she sent a letter to her son, my paternal grandfather, who was residing in upstate New York in the 1930s. The only reason I know this is because I found the envelope with her return address, saved by my father because of the stamps, and tracked it to an online photo, thanks to the wonders of the internet. The picture online was a bit blurry, but it showed enough to capture the charm of a front porch and two welcoming chairs to sit and enjoy a cocktail and conversation at the end of the day.

Coincidentally, my daughter-in-law recently discovered a cocktail shaker tucked away in the back of a cupboard full of dishes. We would not have remembered the history of the cocktail shaker had my dad not left a note and a copy of its original patent from 1934 curled up inside. The note explains that my grandfather purchased the shaker with Kool cigarette coupons. “As a boy, I remember it well and am so glad Mom kept it and passed it on to me!” My grandfather played the saxophone in a jazz trio but worked other jobs to support his family during the Depression. I like to think that he entertained friends with his music and cocktails. It has now been passed on to my son and his wife. There is also a note from Stephen Visakay, author of Vintage Barware (1997), apparently in response to a query my dad had sent him about the cocktail shaker. He describes the shaker as a “piece of history” and “collectible”.

The Chase Chrome Gaiety cocktail shaker was designed by Howard Reichenbach (1901-1959) and is easily found for sale online everywhere from eBay to Etsy with varying price points. The art deco design and clean, simple detail pay homage to the skyscrapers of the era. The cocktail shaker can also be found as part of the permanent collection of the St. Louis Art Museum. Reichenbach describes his intent at the beginning of his patent “….to produce a shaker of superior convenience, appearance and effectiveness, constructed with particular reference to preventing the escape of any fluid, no matter how violently it is shaken.” I took the photo of the cocktail shaker on the roof of my son’s building in lower Manhattan and then borrowed it to try my hand at a cocktail or two.

The purpose of a cocktail shaker is to mix, dilute, and thoroughly chill your drink. Its three parts include a tumbler, a lid, and a small strainer. The Moscow Mules that I made this weekend do not need to be shaken as that would eliminate the bubbles in the ginger beer. I used the shaker to combine, stir, and chill the ingredients. Shaken cocktails generally have citrus, egg, cream or liqueur. A Manhattan, martini or Negroni is stirred. A margarita, daiquiri, or cosmo is shaken. A mason jar works if you don’t have a fancy shaker.

Moscow Mule

Ingredients / one serving

1 1/2 oz. vodka ( hence the “Moscow” in the name)

1/2 oz. lime juice

4 oz. ginger beer (provides the kick of a “Mule”)

wedge of lime to garnish

ice

Directions

Place ice in a shaker or glass tumbler. Add vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. Stir. Add the wedge of lime.

Visit my Etsy shop for Halloween masks: vickismithart.etsy.com

Thank you for reading!

Vicki