- The best cocktail shakers are comfortable in your hands, do not make a mess, and are easy to clean.
- Developed by a veteran bartender, the Top Shelf Bar Supply Stainless Steel Boston Shaker Set meets all our criteria, making it the best cocktail shaker you can buy.
- See more: The best wine glasses you can buy
When you want a delicious cold mixed drink during the holidays, after work, or when entertaining, an indispensable part of a good home bar is a top-quality cocktail shaker.
There are two popular styles of cocktail shakers: the Boston shaker and the cobbler shaker. The Boston shaker consists of two mixing tins or glasses of different sizes (usually 28 ounces and 18 ounces). The liquids you are mixing naturally create a seal between the two containers to avoid dripping.
When using a Boston shaker, you need a separate Julep or Hawthorne strainer depending on the drink you are making. A Hawthorne strainer utilizes a spring that fits inside the rim of the shaker tin to filter out ice, while a Julep strainer is bowl-shaped and fits into the tin at a certain angle, allowing your drink to filter through holes while holding back the ice.
The cobbler shaker has three parts: a tapered top with a built-in strainer, a bottom shaking tin, and a cap that can also work for measuring liquids. The biggest complaint about the cobbler is that the top either leaks or is difficult to remove once the ice chills the shaker.
Two of the shakers in our guide are Boston shakers. These are preferred by professional bartenders because of their simplicity, the amount of control they afford, and their fast performance. The other models we include are new takes on the classic cobbler. They are excellent for beginners who are just getting the hang of making mixed drinks.
Our picks for the best cocktail shakers are based on hours of research into reviews from first-time cocktail makers, amateur home mixologists, professional bartenders, and people of all levels in between. We picked our best cocktail shakers based on their ease of use, durability, security (do they leak?), and comfort.
Here are the best cocktail shakers:
- Best cocktail shaker overall: Top Shelf Bar Supply Stainless Steel Boston Shaker Set
- Best cocktail shakers for beginners: OXO Steel Press & Pour Insulated Cocktail Shaker
- Best stylish cocktail shaker: Metrokane Bullet Cocktail Shaker
- Best cocktail shaker with measurements: WMF Loft Boston Shaker
Updated 1/3/2020 by Jen Gushue: Updated prices, formatting, and links.
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