Directly challenges the idea that shaking should chill without meaningful dilution. Use as practitioner guidance that proof should inform water and mixing time; do not turn it into a fixed numeric rule.
Maloney compares standard-proof and cask-strength spirits and follows with an Old-Fashioned tasting exercise.
The higher the proof of your build, the more dilution it will need to soften and click together into Balance as a drinkable drink. Kinda like when you add water or ice to a dram of Scotch or nip of bourbon to make it more palatable.
PDF sheet 77
PDF sheet 77
Balance — Shake and Stir
Visually verified against rendered PDF sheet 77 on 2026-08-24.
Evidence
The higher the proof of your build, the more dilution it will need to soften and click together into Balance as a drinkable drink. Kinda like when you add water or ice to a dram of Scotch or nip of bourbon to make it more palatable.
Locator
Locator type: Page
Start: PDF sheet 77
End: PDF sheet 77
Source section: Balance — Shake and Stir
Context
Maloney compares standard-proof and cask-strength spirits and follows with an Old-Fashioned tasting exercise.
Annotation
Directly challenges the idea that shaking should chill without meaningful dilution. Use as practitioner guidance that proof should inform water and mixing time; do not turn it into a fixed numeric rule.
Verification
Status: Verified
Visually verified against rendered PDF sheet 77 on 2026-08-24.