The Martini Mixer by former Jaguar designer Ian Callum and Bremont

Jun 19, 2023

Mr Lyan mixing and the Callum Martini Mixer

The Martini Mixer is designed to stir rather than shake, 007 style, a classic martini. The cocktail maker promises to create a martini at the perfect stirring speed by utilizing a precise motorized motion that balances the ultimate combination of aeration, dilution and cooling for a smooth cocktail blend. The stirring isn’t optional, but the choice of gin or vodka, twist or dirty, is entirely yours.

It’s the work of Callum, the British design studio headed by Ian Callum — the former creative boss at car company Jaguar. His designers and engineers worked alongside the luxury watchmaker Bremont and renowned mixologist Mr Lyan (aka Ryan Chetiyawardana) to realize the Martini Mixer.

The mixing paddle rotates at the optimum revolutions per minute (rpm) to deliver a perfectly blended ... [+] and cooled martini in under 15 seconds

The cylindrical form takes inspiration from aviation and aircraft. The Martini Mixer’s main body — or “combustion chamber” as it’s called — is machined from food-grade stainless steel 316 billet, which encases a borosilicate glass vessel resistant to thermal shock for the ultimate iced cocktail.

Atop sits the mixer’s control unit, which also gets a fun auto-inspired name, “turbine,” and inside, a motor and rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers a hollow stainless steel mixing paddle. Mr Lyan was at hand to instruct on the precise martini stirring science. Hence, the bespoke mixing paddle rotates at the optimum revolutions per minute (rpm) — between 120-160 rpm — to deliver a perfectly blended and cooled martini in under 15 seconds.

Ian Callum sketching the cylindrical form which takes inspiration from aviation and aircrafts

Meanwhile, a magnetic start/stop function automatically activates the stirring action when the turbine is tightened and locked into place atop the combustion chamber. It also illuminates interior LEDs, allowing a glimpse of the mixing cocktail through a viewing window. A sealed turbine houses a rechargeable battery with a run time of 120 minutes — enough charge to stir up 500 martinis.

The final touch is an accompanying machined stainless-steel strainer that continues the turbine graphic, featuring multiple apertures for a smooth pour. And it comes in a specially-designed case with instructions on creating the ultimate martini.

Initially made to stir up a Turbine Martini (ingredients: Ryan Reynolds’s Aviation Gin, vermouth, custom bitters and a bespoke garnish) for Gold Card members at British Airways Concorde Room at London Heathrow, for £2995 (circa $3700), the Martini Mixer can all yours to be enjoyed at home.

Intrigued, I contacted Ian Callum to see how a former car designer approached a cocktail maker and why a stirred rather than shaken martini.

Callum worked alongside the luxury watchmaker Bremont and renowned mixologist Mr Lyan (pictured)

From designing cars to cocktails, what made you decide on the Martini Mixer?

The project started with a chance meeting between Bremont’s Giles English and mastermind mixologist Mr Lyan on a flight to New York. Both are BA partners and wanted to propose creating the ultimate Martini for the airline, which required a martini mixer befitting the task. Callum has worked closely with Bremont, so we were asked to collaborate and contribute design and engineering expertise.

Why insist on the classic martini, which should be stirred, not shaken (sorry Bond)?

Through our discussions with My Lyan, we learned about making a martini. It’s quite an art form in itself. Rather than shaking the ingredients, the aim is to get the ultimate combination of aeration, dilution and cooling during the mix for a smoother blend and taste. The best way to do this is through precise mixing, so we set about creating a modern, motorized mixer.

Ian Callum and Bremont's Giles English collaborating on the Martini Mixer design

The design clearly takes from aviation, and I sense a nod to performance cars, which isn’t surprising since you’ve designed your fair share at Jaguar and Aston Martin. What was your initial creative idea?

There is a crossover between aviation and automotive — both seeking sleek, clean, aerodynamic shapes, with form following their important function. We sought this elegant design and worked with the Callum engineering team so that it could be operated without switches that would disturb those clean lines. We were inspired by the turbofan engines on BA’s aircraft. Their beautiful precision is replicated in the decorative turbofan we have within the Martini Mixer’s head unit, complete with a nose cone.

Atop the Martini Mixer is the control unit, which also gets a fun auto-inspired name, “turbine”

What from your automotive background proved valuable in designing and constructing the mixer?

Cars and cocktail mixers are quite a world apart, but taking on this new challenge was a joy. Our first foray into the spirits business was a bespoke whisky bottle for our Callum 529 by Annandale, which we created last year. We’ve learned a lot about the drinks industry during these two projects, particularly around materials.

But ultimately, good design is good design, and engineering principles remain — it’s just tuning yourself into the product’s specific requirements. For example, the striking diagonal indents around the mixer turbine were included to help give extra purchase when tightening and releasing the control unit, which can get cold and have condensation when making a chilled martini.

The final touch is an accompanying machined stainless-steel strainer that continues the turbine ... [+] graphic, featuring multiple apertures for a smooth pour

How do you see the shape impacting on the cocktails?

The shape of the paddle was important. It needed to be hollow to allow it to move freely through the liquid with minimal resistance and strong enough for use with large ice cubes. The speed at which the paddle rotates impacts the taste of the cocktail. Following guidance from Mr Lyan, the paddle was engineered to move at between 120-160rpm, depending on the size of the ice cubes. The aim is to stir the ice cubes through the drink to blend, chill and adequately dilute the cocktail. At this speed, in less than 15 seconds, the ultimate martini has been stirred to perfection rather than shaken.

Do you see this leading to a whole family of cocktail apparatus?

Never say never! Some of our Callum team enjoy an espresso martini, so we may need to work on something for that specific recipe. At Callum, we seek projects that give us joy and stir our imagination. We love the diversity this brings us.

I’m fond of a gin martini, classic London Dry, with just a touch of vermouth, a lemon twist and an added olive, stirred, of course. What is your preferred martini?

It has to be a classic martini, and I prefer mine stirred, not shaken. But I’m also looking forward to my next trip through Heathrow T5 for a Turbine Martini.

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