The 5 Greatest Cocktail Shakers of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

A part of the enjoyable of going out for cocktails is the theater of watching expert bartenders shake up a drink. The clanking of ice towards steel and the flash of chrome steel being brandished all contribute to the ambiance of the bar. However shaking a cocktail isn’t nearly exhibiting off: it’s an important step for mixing up many beloved libations. 

Whether or not you’re internet hosting a celebration or simply need to shake up a margarita every so often, each dwelling mixologist wants a cocktail shaker. Selecting the proper shaker is a little bit of a frightening process as there are (actually) a whole bunch of shakers in the marketplace.

There are two main types of cocktail shaker: the Boston shaker and the cobbler shaker. That will help you discover one of the best cocktail shaker, we examined each types individually. Beneath, we have rounded up our high picks from every of those critiques.

Issues to Think about

Why Do I Want a Cocktail Shaker?

Shaking cocktails is a vital step in making correct drinks. The rule of thumb utilized by most bartenders is that any drink that accommodates fruit juice, dairy, or egg whites must be shaken. Because of this with a purpose to make good margaritas, daiquiris, or whiskey sours at dwelling, a cocktail shaker is a essential device.

Shaking a cocktail is completed for a couple of vital causes. Firstly, it absolutely mixes the entire elements of a drink right into a homogenous liquid. Many elements utilized in mixology like spirits, liqueurs, syrups, and fruit juice fluctuate in density, which suggests they want greater than a easy stir to turn out to be absolutely built-in. The ice used when shaking a drink chills and dilutes the cocktail, which will increase the general quantity of the cocktail whereas additionally decreasing its alcohol content material. Shaking additionally aerates the cocktail, which mellows among the harsher flavors and improves the drink’s texture by including a bit extra physique. Mainly, some cocktails simply gained’t look or style proper in the event that they aren’t shaken.

What’s a Boston Shaker?

The shaker mostly utilized by professionals is the Boston shaker. These are comprised of two tins, one smaller than the opposite, that match collectively to type an air-tight seal. Boston shakers are sometimes most popular by skilled bartenders resulting from their simplicity and measurement. The 2 tins are simple to scrub and use, they usually maintain sufficient quantity to make a number of servings of the identical drink. It’s additionally simple to separate the tins as soon as the cocktail is prepared—simply give them a strong whack. Boston shakers do require the usage of a Hawthorne strainer with a purpose to correctly separate the ice and some other solids from the completed cocktail. There’s additionally a bit extra of a studying curve with them; it may possibly take some observe to determine precisely the way to get it to seal, after which unseal correctly, however as soon as mastered, this model of shaker is a useful device behind the bar.

What Ought to You Search for in a Good Boston Shaker?

After testing 12 Boston shakers, our high decide was the Trendy Mixologist shaker set. When assessing a Boston shaker, a very powerful components to contemplate are how nicely it seals and the construct high quality. The Trendy Mixologist shaker excelled in each standards. Throughout a number of cocktail exams, the shaker was capable of preserve its seal with none leakage. It additionally boasted a modern design with none welded seams, which means the Trendy Mixologist has little likelihood of breaking over time.

For a barely extra inexpensive possibility, we suggest the Piña Business Boston Tin Set. It’s about $5 to $10 cheaper than a lot of the different Boston shaker units we examined however outperformed among the higher-end shakers. All through our testing, the Piña shaker set maintained its seal simply in addition to our high decide from Trendy Mixologist. Its solely draw back: the weights on every tin are welded on, which suggests there’s potential for them to fall off after extended, heavy use.

However What About Cobbler Shakers?

Cobbler shakers are the second commonest model. They differ from Boston shakers in that they’ve a built-in strainer and encompass three components: a shaker tin, a lid with a built-in strainer, and a cap that matches over the strainer to stop any spills when shaking. The most important upside with cobbler shakers is the built-in strainer. There’s no want for one more bar device, which makes this model enticing to dwelling mixologists and newbies. Nonetheless, the addition of a strainer does complicate the design. The cap is sufficiently small to be simply misplaced, and cobbler shakers are infamous for getting caught—typically completely. The strainers in cobbler shakers additionally are inclined to have wider openings that typically permit for bits of muddled herbs, fruit, or shards of ice to go by way of. 

Must you go for a cobbler shaker, we suggest the Usagi cobbler shaker from Cocktail Kingdom. In our exams, we discovered it to be modern, trendy, and simple to make use of. It had a reasonably large capability and made as much as three cocktails at a time. Mainly, the Usagi delivered on each main criterion that makes a superb cobbler shaker. Nonetheless, for a budget-friendly possibility, OXO’s our best choice. And for an insulated possibility that is obtainable in oodles of colours, try this mannequin from Yeti.

Ought to You Purchase a Boston or Cobbler Shaker? 

The “finest” cocktail shaker actually is determined by your wants. For novice dwelling bartenders, the cobbler shaker is a superb introductory device. The built-in strainer undoubtedly helps hold issues easy and saves slightly effort and time when looking for bar instruments. Those that are a bit extra severe about mixology will most likely discover extra utility within the Boston-style shakers. There’s a bit extra of a studying curve when determining the way to seal and unseal the tins, but it surely’s a tried and true device. 

Our Favourite Cocktail Shakers

What we favored: The Trendy Mixologist Boston Shaker was simple to make use of and shaped an ideal seal all through all of our testing. It had a pleasant heft and steadiness to it and lacked any welded seams (in contrast to most of the shakers we examined), which suggests there’s much less probability of any items falling off with time. We additionally thought it was simple to interrupt the seal and affix a Hawthorne strainer to its opening.

What we did not like: It is barely shorter than different shakers and thus holds a couple of ounces much less.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome steel
• Capability: 26- and 18 3/4-ounce tins
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Good to know: A mixing glass might be bought individually

What we favored: For a extra inexpensive possibility, we propose the Piña Boston shaker. The construct high quality isn’t fairly as much as par with the Trendy Mixologist, but it surely sealed up simply as nicely in our exams. It additionally incorporates a flared, steady base and we had been capable of unseal them simply. Plus, $25 for 2 tins makes this shaker a straightforward purchase.

What we did not like: The welded base is not our favourite from a long life perspective and a few of us might discover the flared base obtrusive throughout shaking.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome steel
• Capability: 28- and 18-ounce tins
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Good to know: You’ll be able to select between a brushed or polished end

What we favored: We selected the Usagi cobbler shaker as our high decide for its modern, chrome steel development. It additionally has a big capability, which is useful for making a number of drinks without delay (the producer says two, although we discovered it match three positive). It was well-insulated, too, delivering a properly chilled drink whereas protecting our fingers from getting frosty.

What we did not like: Nicely, it is costly. It is also heavier than different cobbler shakers.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome steel
• Capability: 28 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Good to know: Said two drink capability, although we discovered three match positive

What we favored: With a modern design, jigger cap, and good capability (sufficient for about two drinks), we expect the OXO is a superb, reasonably priced ($23) possibility. In actual fact, as we stated in our cobbler shaker overview, “It is one of the best shaker we discovered for its value.”

What we did not like: Whereas the built-in jigger is interesting (particularly for these simply beginning their cocktail-making journey), its slanted sides made it very exhausting to pour from.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome steel
• Capability: 24 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Good to know: Jigger cap, although we suggest shopping for a separate jigger

What we favored: With double-walled vacuum insulation, this shaker mixes up drinks with out making your handles really feel frosty. It has a twist-on cap and lid which are simple to take away and is obtainable in a variety of colours. It is also dishwasher-safe.

What we did not like: Due to how insulated this shaker is, it makes it practically not possible to inform if the cocktail is correctly chilled and diluted by really feel. The Yeti can be expensive.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome steel
• Capability: 20 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Good to know: Is available in a variety of colours; cap obtainable individually

Different Cocktail Gear You may Need

In fact, a cocktail shaker alone doesn’t a cocktail make. To make a wide range of cocktails at dwelling, you may want another tools: instruments that make it easier to measure, combine, and taste drinks.

• A jigger is, basically, a miniature measuring cup that helps you nail the ratios of spirits and mixers. Once we examined them, our favourite was really a miniature measuring cup from OXO. However for a extra conventional jigger, you’ll be able to’t beat this one from Piña Barware.
• Bar spoons are important for mixing drinks. We had been impressed with this one by Fortessa, which has a weighted finish excellent for crushing ice and muddling elements.
• A sturdy muddler is a should for smashing fruit and releasing the fragrant compounds in herbs.
• Y-peelers, like this one from Kuhn Rikon aren’t only for prepping greens. Maintain one, alongside along with your different cocktail instruments, on a bar cart for stripping peel from citrus for the proper garnish.
• Reusable skewers for garnishes—like olives, cherries, and pickled onions—are a surprising improve from wood toothpicks.
• Coupe glasses are versatile and delightful. Purchase them in a set, and you will all the time be comfortable hour prepared.
• An awesome ice scoop is versatile and light-weight, for straightforward dealing with. You may use it extra ceaselessly than you could suppose!
• You may by no means remorse having a bottle or two of bitters kicking round.
• For drinks made with tonic, solely one of the best will do. We predict that is Fever Tree tonic water.

FAQs

How do you utilize a cocktail shaker?

To make use of a cocktail shaker, merely add the entire elements for a cocktail into one of many tins. Then add ice, seal the shaker, and shake vigorously. As soon as the cocktail is correctly combined and chilled, pressure the liquid right into a glass and serve. 

How lengthy do you shake a cocktail? 

A typical drink must be shaken for about 10 to fifteen seconds. Some cocktails that embrace egg white or dairy might require further shaking time or a dry shake (shaking with out ice) to completely combine and emulsify the elements.

What do you utilize if you happen to don’t have a cocktail shaker?

If you happen to don’t have entry to a cocktail shaker however need to combine up a drink, a mason jar or a shaker bottle (like the sort used for protein drinks) ought to work in a pinch.

How do you open a caught cocktail shaker?

Cocktail shakers seal when the inner temperature drops, making a vacuum inside the shaker tins. With a Boston shaker, you’ll be able to launch the seal by smacking the facet of the tins the place the 2 meet. There must be one facet the place there’s a bit extra space between the tins (that’s the place you must smack). With a cobbler shaker, your finest guess is to let the cocktail and tin come as much as room temperature and check out opening it once more.

Why We are the Specialists

• Dylan Ettinger is a author specializing in spirits and occasional. He reviewed Boston shakers for the location.
• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is an affiliate editorial director for Critical Eats. She’s been working for the location since 2021 and has been testing gear professionally for greater than six years.