Your favorite cocktail would not have been made possible without a cocktail shaker. It’s a device used mainly for mixing (mostly) alcoholic beverages. In it, you add ingredients like fruit juice, syrups, and liquor. Adding ice before mixing allows the drink your preparing to chill faster and be enjoyed just the way you like it.
If you’ve been using the ‘build and stir’ approach for creating drinks like a Dirty Martini, making this cocktail using a cocktail shaker can be a revelation. You’ll find that shaking integrates the ingredients completely. You get that beautiful blend of flavor that’s impossible to obtain by just stirring gin, dry vermouth, and olive brine together.
Indeed a cocktail shaker is the most essential tool for any home bar. Whether you’re shaking a Campari or a Cosmopolitan, you’ll get delicious tasting drinks each and every time.
Best Cocktail Shakers Comparison & Rating
Image | Cocktail Shakers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 96% | |
| 95% | |
| 95% | |
| 92% | |
| 90% |
Want to Learn More?
Cocktail shakers come in different brands and with all sorts of bling on Amazon. That’s why we’ve made selecting the right device to add to your barware collection a lot easier. In addition to the list and rating system above, the rest of this article contains specific information about the top five cocktail shakers on our list. So, read on and don’t hesitate to click the yellow buttons below to get their best deals on Amazon!
Aozita Cocktail Shaker Bartender Set
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 9.9 x 4.1 x 4 inches |
Weight | 1.06 pounds |
Manufacturer | Aozita |
Material | Stainless Steel |
The Cobbler Shaker with this bartender set is as solid as anyone would need. It’s highly improbable that you will damage the device unless you stepped on it sideways. The individual parts seal quite well with each other which guarantees that you won’t have any leaks while your shaking drink ingredients vigorously. Care and thought also went into creating the other components of the set like the muddler.
OXO Good Grips Cocktail Shaker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 3.2 x 3.4 x 9.1 inches |
Weight | 0.6 pound |
Manufacturer | OXO |
Material | Plastic |
Durable might be a word most people would use to describe the OXO Good Grips Cocktail Shaker. However, we’d say intuitive would be a good descriptor of this product as well. For instance, the cap has clear measurement lines for common ounce pours for liquor when making a mixed drink. It's pretty useful when you want to use fewer barware tools so you don’t have to deal with lots of clean-up in between drinks. The texture of the removable parts for the jigger cap and top of the strainer is pretty easy to hold even if one's hands get wet from washing between drink mixes.
LUCKYGOOBO Cocktail Shaker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 9.41 x 3.19 x 3.19 inches |
Weight | 0.64 pound |
Manufacturer | LUCKYGOOBO |
Material | Stainless Steel |
This is truly one of the most leakproof shakers we’ve ever come across. It’s comfortable to grip and feels solid when held by the hands. The metal lid really does not come off while you’re shaking it vigorously. It’s also lightweight enough so your arms don’t get sore. Overall, this product makes you feel like a professional bartender in your own kitchen.
ABarAbove Premium Cocktail Shaker Set
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 3.74 x 3.74 x 6.89 inches |
Weight | 1 pound |
Manufacturer | Top Shelf Bar Supply |
Material | Stainless Steel |
This has the most value per volume of all products on this list. You can mix three, and maybe with a little care, even four cocktails simultaneously thanks to this set. Unlike other Boston Shakers, this one has no glass or plastic parts that will crack or shatter. You also don’t get that rubber seal that tends to warp over time when used way too often. There’s a nice weight to it too so, not too heavy or too light, so your arms won’t get sore from all that shaking and multitasking.
INNÔPLUS Stainless Steel Boston Cocktail Shaker
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 7 x 3.7 x 3.6 inches |
Weight | 0.9 pound |
Manufacturer | INNÔPLUS |
Material | Stainless Steel |
The INNÔPLUS Stainless Steel Boston Cocktail Shaker is a great product overall. Every piece works as advertised. It’s a shaker set that will allow you to mix delicious drinks and try new things with friends at home. It takes seconds and it's great for practicing the perfect formulas. They are really easy to clean. You can see that the set is made of professional-grade stainless steel so you know it will last you for hundreds of cocktails to come.
Cocktail Shaker Buyer's Guide
Do you plan to use your cocktail shaker regularly? Then you’ll want to consider purchasing a Cobbler Cocktail Shaker. This device is easy for beginners to master. The built-in strainer means you don’t have to worry about getting ice into your drink.
Cocktail shakers are usually made from metal and glass. Metal shakers like the Cobbler Cocktail Shaker and the French Metal Cocktail Shaker are usually made of stainless steel. They’re durable so you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping them.
Some cocktail shakers are sold as part of a bar set, which has everything from a jigger to pourers to ice tongs. A fancy bar set is definitely more expensive. So if you don’t want (or need) all the bells and whistles, just stick to purchasing a reliable cocktail shaker.
You don’t really need to splurge on a luxury cocktail shaker as there plenty of mid-priced options that will be able to get the job done.
FAQs
A cocktail shaker is composed of a large metal tumbler and a metal lid of some sort.
There are three basic types. They are:
The Cobbler Shaker consists of three parts — shaker, strainer, and a lid. When fully assembled, it’s very easy to use. The built-in strainer ensures that you don’t have to be afraid of getting ice chunks anywhere in your drink.
The French Shaker is sometimes referred to as the original cocktail shaker. It has two parts — the metal lid and a large metal tumbler that primarily holds your cocktail ingredients together. It looks great but can be more difficult to use than the Cobbler Shaker.
The Boston Shaker is a unique type of shaker in that it has a tempered mixing glass instead of a metal lid. Probably the best thing about this type of cocktail shaker is that it’s easy to separate because the metal and glass react differently to temperature changes.
By shaking a cocktail, you get a better mix of flavors and proper dilution (i.e proper ratio of water to mix). It will take a bit of time to get used to using a cocktail shaker, but it’s definitely worth it.
Metal bar tools, particularly those made of stainless steel, are dishwasher safe. However, it’s recommended to wash a cocktail shaker by hand. Separate the metal lid and the large tumbler. Wash the pieces in warm, soapy water and use a soft sponge to remove any dirt or residue. Rinse with clean water before air-drying the device.