A swizzle stick, cocktail stirrer or more simply; stirrer is a simple device presented when serving a cocktail for the consumer to stir the drink.
In many applications, particularly frozen, blended drinks, its use has been supplanted by the straw.
Design[]
Most commonly, a stirrer is a long stick, its actual length depending on the Glassware being used; longer for Highball glasses and shorter for Old fashioned glassses, with a ball or paddle at the bottom and often with a flat or sculpted top to advertise the bar or restaurant or serve as a form of Garnish.
Most commercial bars and restaurants use plastic swizzle sticks, but wooden ones were common in the past. Elegant glass or metal swizzle sticks are often prized for private drinking sessions, often engraved, personalized or made from precious metals.