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The Best Cocktail Shaker

Last updated on March 7, 2024

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If you buy nothing else for making cocktails at home (besides liquor), you’re going to need a cocktail shaker.

Its purpose is fairly simple. It’s a container specifically made for combining cocktail ingredients in all the fun and showy ways they can be mixed: Stirring them, muddling them, and of course, shaking them. As such, it doesn’t need to be fancy. Some professional bartenders would argue that the less fancy it is, the better. But the design does matter and has a lot to do with what kind of drinks you’ll be making — and how often you’ll be making them.

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There are three basic types of shakers, and the most common for home bartenders is the “cobbler” style. For cocktail newbies, this is the most failsafe and easy to use. It’s a tall tin (typically made of stainless steel), topped by a smaller lid that incorporates a strainer. Add the ingredients, pop on the lid and a well-made shaker should ensure that you don’t get any spillage out of the sides as you shake. And of course, the strainer makes it easy to filter out solids like mint leaves or fresh citrus.

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If you want to make drinks like a professional (or at least look like one), most working bartenders use a Boston shaker. This type is deceptively simple, being just a tall, steel cup. Bartenders top it off and make a seal with another glass as they shake drinks, and pull them slightly apart if they need to strain ingredients. It’s trickier by far to learn, but faster once you get the hang of it. The fact that there’s one less lid to clean between drinks makes it ideal for high-volume drink slinging.

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Less common is the French, or Parisian, style. This is essentially a two-piece version of the Boston shaker comprised of a steel tin and a smaller, tapered lid sans strainer. They work together the same way a Boston shaker does, though some users say the metal makes a tight seal that’s easier to open.

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Our Picks For The Top Cocktail Shakers

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best Overall

A Bar Above Water-Tight Balanced Cocktail Shaker

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

A Bar Above

Water-Tight Balanced Cocktail Shaker

If you have a bar space and enjoy entertaining friends and family, this cocktail shaker is a must-have tool. It's constructed from a durable and rust-resistant stainless steel and is weighted just right. You'll find it does an excellent job of creating everything from margaritas to martinis.

Overall Take

Great for Home BarsIncluded with this cocktail shaker is a jigger and strainer.

 Simple Set

Top Shelf Bar Professional Dishwasher Safe Cocktail Shaker

Top Shelf Bar

Professional Dishwasher Safe Cocktail Shaker

Impress your guests with a refreshing daiquiris made in one of these stylish cocktail shakers. The set includes both a weighted and unweighted shaker. Each are made using a 304 food-grade stainless steel and circle welded for added strength.

Overall Take

Easy to CleanThis cocktail shaker is dishwasher safe for easy clean up at the end of the evening.

 Comes With Recipes

Cresimo Cocktail Shaker Bar Set, 24-Ounce

Cresimo

Cocktail Shaker Bar Set, 24-Ounce

This cocktail shaker is a solid budget bartending kit that's built to last. The tools are easy to handle and the stainless steel shaker is protected against rust or leaks. The included recipe book is a great help for the amateur barkeep.

Overall Take

Affordable, Compact KitThis cocktail shaker set comes with a rustproof shaker and recipe book.

 Multiple Finishes

Barillio Rust-Proof Cocktail Shaker Set, 24-Ounce

Barillio

Rust-Proof Cocktail Shaker Set, 24-Ounce

This cocktail shaker kit comes with everything a budding drink maker needs. The shaker and accessories are rustproof, easy to wash and come with a handy velvet carrying bag. The built-in strainer on the shaker is a helpful touch.

Overall Take

Stylish Bar ToolsThe shaker and all accessories in this kit are durable and easy to wash.

What to Look For

  • It’s possible to find cocktail shakers made out of plastic or other materials, but most decent ones are made out of stainless steel. There’s a good reason for that. As the name implies, stainless steel is rustproof, and it’s easy to clean between drinks. It also won’t hold odors or flavors from the last cocktail you made with it.
  • Just because it’s a shaker doesn’t mean you need to shake every drink in it! Yes, shaking up a concoction is fun, but it’s going to ruin simpler, boozier drinks like a Manhattan. If your drink involves juice, eggs or dairy, you’re typically safe to shake away. Otherwise, double-check the drink recipe.

More to Explore

You might pride yourself on fixing a tastier drink than your local bartender once you’ve had some practice. But when it comes to making them quick, there’s no higher bar than the one set by Arizona native Sheldon Wiley. He’s the current holder of the Guinness World Record for fastest bartender, serving up 1,905 drinks in a single hour.

More to explore