The 4 Finest Cobbler Shakers of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

There’s a sure enchantment to a cocktail shaker, particularly the sound of a very good shake—ice clanking in opposition to steel, signaling a drink is on its method.

The 2 kinds of shakers you are doubtless acquainted with are Boston and cobbler. The Boston shaker (which consists of two items: a bigger tin and a smaller tin or glass) has extra of a studying curve however can craft cocktails faster and in larger volumes. The cobbler shaker is made up of three items: a tin, a built-in strainer, and a small cap atop the strainer. Skilled bartenders are likely to favor Boston shakers, whereas the cobbler shaker is extra in style with house bartenders as a result of it is simple to assemble. So, we examined 12 in style cobbler shakers to search out one of the best ones for making shaken cocktails.

The Winners, at a Look

It was powerful narrowing down our favourite cobbler shakers, however Cocktail Kingdom’s Usagi shaker reigned supreme with its form, sturdiness, and sheen. There are numerous issues to like about this shaker: it has a low profile, high quality end, and enormous capability. We additionally favored that, because it’s manufactured from chrome steel, you’ll be able to actually inform when your drink has been correctly chilled simply by hand really feel.

The parents behind this shaker took all our typical qualms with a cobbler shaker and did a stellar job of fixing them. We love the intelligent design, with insulated partitions and a threaded seal, which made eradicating the lid straightforward. A big, built-in jigger clearly laid out all commonplace measurements, as much as six ounces. And at 28 ounces, it is also giant sufficient to make three or so drinks at a time.

This shaker was skinny and light-weight, however nonetheless sturdy. Whereas we struggled with the seal of another cobbler shakers, this one was fairly straightforward to drag aside. Add in a good-looking design and respectable capability (suppose house for 2 drinks), and this is a wonderful decide.

Whereas a steel cocktail shaker means that you can really feel precisely how chilled (and due to this fact diluted) your cocktail is, for many who would somewhat not have frosty fingers, there’s the Yeti. It options double-walled vacuum insulation that stays impartial to the contact all through shaking and a twist-on cap. In the event you already personal a Yeti Rambler, you’ll be able to even simply purchase the cocktail shaker lid.

The Checks

• Jigger Take a look at: We checked to see if the jigger portion was correct. Did it supply a spread of measurements, in common models of measurement?
• Ramos Gin Fizz Take a look at: We made a Ramos Gin Fizz to see if the shaker may whip up sufficient froth, and to see if it may pressure out pulp and seeds from lemon juice. 
• Dry Shake Take a look at: We made a cocktail that required a dry shake to search out if the insulation sufficiently irritated the components. We additionally thought of how the burden felt in our fingers whereas shaking the cobbler shaker.
• UX Testing: Whereas finishing all of those exams, we thought of the usability of the shaker. Did the cobbler shaker match ergonomically in our fingers? Was it uncomfortable to shake with? When shaking, how straightforward was it to get a full, onerous shake in? Did it really feel clunky? Did the lid match snuggly? When the cocktail was chilled, how simply did the cap come off?
• Cleansing Checks: After each take a look at, we hand-washed every shaker to see in the event that they have been straightforward to wash. On the finish of testing, we additionally ran dishwasher-safe ones by way of a cycle to see in the event that they turned discolored or in any other case broken.

What We Discovered

We Most well-liked a Basic Form and Stainless Metal

Whereas a good-looking cobbler shaker is all nicely and good, consolation can also be essential; you desire a shaker that feels good within the hand. We discovered that classic-shaped cobbler shakers, just like the one from Cocktail Kingdom, have been the best and most comfy to grip. The fabric was additionally essential, and chrome steel took the cake; it allowed us to gauge the temperature of the cocktail (a frosty exterior = a correctly chilled drink) simply. Nonetheless, we do have a high decide, from Yeti, for these averse to chilly.

A Good Seal Was One That Was Straightforward to Break

The seal is among the largest make-or-breaks on the subject of cobbler shakers; nobody needs to wrestle pulling off the lid of a cocktail shaker. Conversely, you don’t need the lid or strainer to fly off, as we discovered with the Rabbit shaker. The fashions we examined ranged from conventional pressure-sealed shakers to threaded twist-offs. With a pressure-sealed shaker, the liquid creates a pure seal. They are often more durable to get aside. (Tip: faucet the heel of your hand in opposition to the facet of the shaker and it ought to loosen the highest.) If the normal seal frustrates you, newer choices (just like the one from Elevated Craft) with threaded, twist-off seals will let you rapidly take away the lid with minimal effort.

We Did not Care A lot About Accoutrements

Many of those shakers supply slight bonuses for purchasing them, like a built-in jigger with measurement markings (like on the Elevated Craft’s The Elevated Cocktail Shaker) or an included citrus reamer for in-shaker squeezing (the Tovolo Stainless Metal Cocktail Shaker). Whereas a few of these are helpful—specifically a built-in jigger—others are good in principle, however poor in execution. We would somewhat have a well-made, high-performing shaker than one with a bunch of doodads (simply purchase a jigger and citrus juicer individually).

The Standards: What to Look For In A Cobbler Shaker

A great cobbler shaker ought to have a watertight seal, but additionally be straightforward to take aside when you’re accomplished shaking. It additionally needs to be comfy to carry, ideally with a barely rounded, jar-like form, which permits for optimum management over the ultimate high quality of your drink. And if there are any added doodads or options, they need to be helpful (and within the case of jiggers, correct). Lastly, the shaker ought to do a very good job insulating and integrating components—nobody needs a glob of egg white of their cocktail.

The Finest Cobbler Shakers

What we favored: This cobbler shaker checked all of our bins. It had a low profile, a shiny end, and a large-ish capability (max three drinks, although the producer says two). It made fast work of a chilly shake and was well-insulated, leading to a properly chilled cocktail.

What we didn’t like: It’s a heavier possibility, and the single-walled design means if you happen to drop it, chances are you’ll dent it. It isn’t low-cost.

Key Specs

• Capability: 28 ounces
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 0.85 lbs
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

What we favored: As an alternative of a pressure-sealed lid, it makes use of threads and gaskets that will let you twist the highest somewhat than muscling it off. A double-walled design saved the drink insulated, and a big, built-in jigger clearly (and precisely) laid out commonplace measurements, as much as six ounces.

What we didn’t like: It is a bit giant and it’s nearly foolish to make a single drink in. It is also costly.

Key Specs

• Capability: 28 ounces
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 1.46 lbs
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

What we favored: The shaker was skinny and light-weight, however nonetheless sturdy. We discovered its seal straightforward to drag aside and favored its somewhat spacious capability, which was giant sufficient to for 2 to 3 drinks. At $23, it is one of the best shaker we discovered for its value.

What we did not like: The built-in jigger was a pleasant contact, however it was far too slanted to maintain liquid in successfully. We advocate simply shopping for a separate jigger.

Key Specs 

• Capability: 24 ounces
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

What we favored: This vacuum-insulated Yeti shaker prevents your fingers from getting chilled whereas shaking a cocktail. The cap twists on, the shaker has an honest capability (lots sufficient for 2 cocktails), and the lid simply and securely affixes onto the shaker’s physique. It’s additionally value noting that it’s out there in a number of colours and is dishwasher-safe.

What we didn’t like: As a result of the cocktail shaker is so nicely insulated, you’ll be able to’t inform how chilled your cocktail is by really feel such as you’d have the ability to do with a steel shaker. After all, it’s costly. Nonetheless, if you happen to already personal a Rambler, the cocktail shaker lid is offered individually for simply $25.

Key Specs

• Capability: 20 ounces
• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 1.1 kilos
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

The Competitors

• OXO Good Grips Cocktail Shaker: Whereas OXO’s Metal shaker was top-notch in our books, the entry-level possibility was not. The shaker itself was far too gentle to regulate the shake, and the seal of the shaker got here aside too simply.
• Rabbit Double-Walled Twist-to-Lock Stainless Metal Cocktail Shaker: This was a good-looking shaker, however there have been a couple of design flaws that took it off our high listing. First, the strainer tended to let lemon seeds sneak into drinks. Our primary qualm was the strainer wasn’t tightly hooked up to the remainder of the shaker, so it got here off if you pulled off the lid.
• Oggi Groove Insulated Cocktail Shaker: This labored, however it was clunky in comparison with extra basic cobbler shakers.
• Easy Fashionable Cocktail Martini Shaker: This was a superbly serviceable shaker, however it was powerful to open, and the outside end began to peel after washing.
• Tovolo Stainless Metal Cocktail Shaker: One other strainer that was good in idea—who doesn’t desire a two-in-one equipment, with a built-in citrus reamer? However there have been minor flaws that made this cobbler shaker extra bother than it was value, specifically the too-tight seal and poor ergonomics.
• Williams Sonoma Encore Bar Double Wall Cocktail Shaker: This shaker nearly made it into our winners, however the strainer wasn’t securely sunken into the bottom, that means it tended to leak, and nicely, we’d wish to drink our drink, not put on it.
• BrüMate Shaker: Whereas we’re eager on the BrüMate Shaker for its built-in ingesting lid, it wasn’t precisely helpful in a real-world utility; who must take a whole cocktail shaker to-go? It’s basically a journey mug with a shaker high. It is good, however not as sensible as a shaker meant for at-home cocktail making. 
• Tablecraft Cobbler Shaker with Measurement Information: The glass base for this shaker made it heavy and fewer versatile than different fashions. 

FAQs

How do you utilize a cobbler shaker?

It’s comparatively easy. Begin by including your components to the tin. Then, add ice (or skip this step if you happen to’re dry shaking). Place the lid on high and securely seal it—a powerful smack ought to do. 

Then, place your fingers on the highest and backside of the shaker and pull it up beside your ear. Shake vigorously for about 10 to fifteen seconds—longer if you happen to’re fluffing an egg white cocktail. Until the shaker is double-insulated, you must have the ability to inform the drink is prepared when the edges of the tins are extremely condensed and chilly to the contact.

As soon as the cocktail is prepared, pull off the highest cap of the strainer and pressure the drink into your most popular serving vessel. Alternatively, you’ll be able to take away all the lid and affix a separate strainer to the highest of the tin to carry again the ice and another components as you pressure it right into a glass.

Why is it referred to as a cobbler shaker?

The identify stems from a Sherry Cobbler, a basic shaken cocktail that requires a base spirit, sugar, and citrus, shaken onerous and served over crushed ice.

How do you correctly clear and take care of a cobbler shaker?

It will depend on the shaker! A stainless-steel cobbler shaker is usually dishwasher-safe, although it will fluctuate from model to model. If a shaker is plated—maybe gold or copper—hand washing is really useful to protect the end. So far as care, we advocate not letting components sit too lengthy within the shaker to keep away from build-up.

Why We are the Specialists

• To search out one of the best cobbler shakers, we examined 12 fashions. We evaluated their efficiency when shaking a cocktail, how straightforward they have been to make use of, and the way easy they have been to wash.
• We just lately examined the Yeti cocktail shaker and favored it a lot that we added it as an extra high decide.
• Kate Dingwall is a author and editor and is a sommelier.
• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior editor for Severe Eats and has been working for the location since 2021. She’s been testing gear professionally for about six years.