Cocktail Examiner

Vielleicht erinnert ihr euch noch an Jim "Jimbo" Walker?
Im März hatte ich das Vergnügen ihn zu interviewen.
Seitdem ist ein wenig passiert. Jim hat nun einen neuen Job und kann so sein Hobby (Shaker sammeln) und Beruf unter einen Hut bringen.
Er schreibt nun über Cocktails und alles rund um die Bar für das Internetmagazin EXAMINER.com und das in einer sehr unterhaltsamen und fachlichen Art, die Spaß macht, die Artikel zu lesen.
Ihr findet die Seite in meiner Blog-Roll oder unter:
http://www.examiner.com/x-12183-Dallas-Cocktails-Examiner
Ich wünsche euch viel Spaß und viele neue Anregungen.

Interview with Jim Walker Part 2

Is there still a cocktail shaker or bar item you have heard about but never seen? Something like the Holy Grail of Shakers?
Off the top of my head I really can’t think of any that I’ve heard of but not seen, at least in pictures. Now as far as Holy Grails, that list is long! Of coarse the Manhattan set, Wallace Roster, all the Ladies Legs. Like I said that is a long list.

What do you think about modern bar design; i.e.; the Flip Top shaker by Metrokane?
As far as useful goes they are great. I only own a couple of modern shakers that I use to make cocktails on occasion. Mostly I use vintage shakers though. With over 500 why not?


Do you think reproducing vintage shakers is a good idea?
I think as long as they are not being sold as vintage they are great. I own a couple of the Restoration Hardware shakers myself. Some the shakers they reproduce are very nice and the originals are just out of my price range.


What are your future projects and plans?
I am currently finishing my book “A Recipe for Design”. It covers the history of recipe cocktail shakers, recipe devices, and some of the classic cocktails. I am also putting together a book the Vintage Bar Ware Symposium at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans in July. Stephen Visakay, Mark Bigler, and I will be talking about vintage bar ware and cocktail shakers. We will also be giving away over $1000.00 in vintage bar ware and cocktail shakers. Check out www.talesofthecocktail.com for more info.



Can you tell us a few homepages where we can find further information about shakers and bar ware?
There is Gary Grahams site http://thejazzage.com/ were he sells wonderful shakers and bar ware. Also Mark Bigler has a site http://cocktailshakers.com/ were not only sells cocktail shakers but displays photos from his private collection. Then there is Peter Weissnegger who has photos of his collection online at http://www.shaker-man.at . The Atlanta Antique Gallery has a very good selection of bar ware and shakers http://atlantaantiquegallery.com. Last but not least is my blog Shaken & Stirred. http://shaken-stirred.blogspot.com I talk about shakers, bar ware, cocktails, and the history.

Interview with Jim Walker Part 1

How did you get started collecting?
I started my collection of cocktail shakers and bar ware in 1995. “I just wanted a cocktail shaker to make my own Dirty Martins”. I asked a friend and antique dealer if she could find me one. She invited me over to see her art deco collection of shakers and It was all over. She had a dozen or so Art Deco shakers and I was amazed at the styles and shapes. I asked her were did you get these? She said have you ever heard of eBay? That is were the passion began.

How many shakers do you have and how do you store them?
My collection started with recipe cocktail shakers and soon expanded to all forms of shakers and bar ware. Now with over 500 shakers, 100+ martini glasses, and hundreds of pieces of bar ware, “there is not a flat surface in my house that does not have a cocktail shaker or piece of bar ware on it”. Yes even the bathrooms.


Which is the oldest and which did you buy last?
I really don’t know what my oldest shaker is. I have one that that is in really bad condition that may be from the 1920s. A good number of my shakers are from the 1930s & 1940s. Jim added, that this is his oldest shaker (patent). The other one is his first shaker



The last shaker I bought is a guilt Barman Shaker made by Ghiso in France. It was made in the early 1930s, during Prohibition, for export to Argentina.


Which is your favourite shaker and why? And do you have one with a personal story?
That is almost like asking a parent, “Who is favourite child is?” Out of hundreds of shakers I dozens of favourites but off the top of head I can say I love my Heisey Glass Horse Head shaker. I also really do enjoy the figural shakers. They are unique in form and a whole lot of fun. Also I can not forget the Art Deco shakers. I do love Deco.

Abstimmung bei Shakern-stirred

Jim "Jimbo" Walker sucht noch den richtigen Shaker für seinen Vortrag bei Tales of the Cocktail.
Er hat in seinem Blog verschiedene Shaker zur Auswahl gestellt und bittet um Feedback, welchen er "einladen" soll.
Falls ihr also plant zu Tales zu fahren, schickt ihm ne Nachricht, ber welchen Shaker ihr gerne was hören würdet.