Post #738057 by AdOrAdam on Mon, Feb 23, 2015 2:44 PM

Inspired by this post & others like it, I picked up a spindle drinks mixer.

My main blender for blending (eg chopping fruit & ice) is a Kenwood kMix BLX54 - when I first got it, it was a step up from the supermarket own brand blender I had - drinks were just that much easier to make.

I picked up a Hamilton Beach 729 spindle mixer (I got that one mainly because it was the same colour!)

Here's a pic of the two side by side:

For stronger drinks (Zombies etc), the spindle mixer definitely dilutes them easily without the problems of clogging the blenders blades with ice - it's not hard to get good dilution. To quote Swanky (I think - from another thread I can't seem to find):

'You can't go wrong!'

One point to mention, it does something to fresh squeezed orange juice & pineapple juice - it make homogenises them (I think that's the right word - it some how makes it thicker & slightly sweeter). You may want to reduce the amount of them if using a spindle mixer.

Here's a pic of the Atomic Grog's Mai Kai SOS with fresh squeezed orange juice, to my mind it exhibits characteristics (texture & flavour) of regular orange juice:

The difference between using the 2 bits of kit is subtle but overall, for a drink you want to 'mix' (i.e. not chop fruit or ice) it's a good addition to my bar - it's like the conventional blender but when you've done it right. The conventional blender remains on hand for blended drinks.

I'm pleased with the spindle mixer & would recommend one :)