The 7 Best co*cktail Shakers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

Read Full Review: co*cktail Kingdom Leopold Weighted Shaking Tins Review

co*cktail Kingdom’s Leopold Weighted Shaking Tins are extremely popular in the bar industry. They're also fan favorites for consumers, too. They're classic and sleek with a nice weight to them, which makes them feel and perform like a higher-end version of a Boston-style shaker.

Isabella Marriott, former head bartender at Brooklyn’s Bar Beau, says, “They are so easy to snap open and closed that you never have to worry about the shakers getting stuck together.”

The weighted nature of these shakers is helpful. You’ll find most experienced bartenders use this type of shaking tin to mix craft co*cktails. “An added bonus is you can stack them and never have to worry about the small tin getting trapped in the larger one,” she says.

These particular tins come in standard 18- and 28-ounce sizes and are made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel. While we found these easy to use during testing because they release easily and don't leak while you shake them, we acknowledge our previous experience with the Boston shaker. A novice bartender will likely experience a learning curve with this type of shaker. You’ll need to know how a shaker feels in your hand to properly seal the tins and avoid spills.

Boston shakers are far easier to clean than the average cobbler shaker, however. This set proves that, as there are fewer nooks and crannies to scrub.

Style: Boston | Material:Stainless steel |Capacity:18- and 28-ounce tins |Dishwasher-Safe:Yes

“A Bar Above started as an incredibly informative drinks podcast,” says Deena Sayers, a beverage strategist at Doña Vega Mezcal. “Now, they have a fantastic line of bar tools that I’ve come to fall in love with.”

Tom Levron, minister of spirits at BHAKTA Spirits in California, likes the brand's Boston shakers, in particular. “These shakers are welded all around and not just in three spots like most shakers, which means they are stronger and will last longer. Also, they are priced competitively with other high-end shakers.”

Sayers notes that these shakers are available in two options: weighted and unweighted. “If you’re a flair bartender or shake your co*cktails extra hard, then you’ll prefer the weighted set that won’t break loose during your co*cktail-making theatrics. If you’re a bartender focused on speed, an at-home enthusiast, or just always have a problem popping the tin off after you finish shaking, then you’ll want to go with the weighted/unweighted combination.” The shaker sets are also crafted from food-grade stainless steel with a copper-coated finish and are very durable. They feel fancy and high-end in your hands.

We found this set to be one of our favorites and the best value by far. The product was a pleasure to unbox—very sleek and modern, with great fonts and marketing. Each product was individually wrapped in plastic, and the products themselves were very modern, sleek, and strong. They were definitely the shiniest of the bunch! The tins kept all ingredients inside and were totally sealed tight.

Although the tins are slightly large, we thought that was a plus—perfect for making multiple drinks at once. The pour was clean and precise, as the strainer did not allow any spillage. Best of all, the product came with an insert that included instructions on how to use the tins and shake a co*cktail—a very big plus for first-time bartenders. It also included care instructions (hand wash only, sadly) and a sample co*cktail recipe to get started.

Style: Boston | Material:Stainless steel, copper |Capacity:18- and 28-ounce shaker tins |Dishwasher-Safe:No

Read Full Review: Rabbit Twist-to-Lock co*cktail Shaker Review

This Rabbit co*cktail shaker is ideal for beginners: it’s incredibly easy to use, as the cap twists and untwists with ease, with a satisfying click to let you know it's locked and ready. The all-in-one design features a strainer, tin, and lid all built into one simple shaker. Flip the lid to build a co*cktail—the top of the cup has measuring lines, so you can easily build co*cktails right in the shaker, no jigger required. Lift open the lid to reveal an integrated strainer.

The unique bayonet lid securely fits into place on the 18-ounce tin, allowing you to shake up co*cktails as vigorously as needed. But no need to shake too hard—the double-walled stainless steel allows the drinks inside to chill quickly, while still keeping the outside of the containers warm to hands. A twist-on lid means you don’t have to struggle to remove a frozen lid. Plus, the co*cktail shaker has a reamer attachment, so you can juice citrus directly into the tin.

One thing to be aware of? The cap doubles as a jigger, but the line measurements can be a little tricky to read. You might be better off using your own jigger as our tester did. It's also not dishwasher safe, but this shaker is really easy to clean. It's simple, effective, and easy to assemble and clean, making it a solid choice for everyday co*cktails or the casual home bartender.

Style: Cobbler | Material:Stainless steel |Capacity:18 ounces |Dishwasher-Safe:Yes

Read Full Review: co*cktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins Review

“The co*cktail Kingdom Koriko weighted tins are very nearly the industry standard for a reason,” explains Cameron Shaw, a bar specialist at New York’s Lot 15, nestled in the back of the Kixby Hotel. “They are durable, and the relatively thin walls of the tins ensure that they form a good, tight seal from day one.”

However, he doesn't recommend banging the ends of the tins together to seal them when double shaking—otherwise, this will cause the weighted caps to come off prematurely.Amy Wong, of Portland’s King Tide Fish & Shell, notes that while these tins are industry favorites, they take a while to get used to. “They can be hard to seal the first few times, but that means they will last longer,” she says. “It’s like breaking in quality leather shoes—they are hard and cause soreness at first, but they eventually mold, and you never want to get another pair.”

During testing, we loved the weight of these shaking tins and felt like we had more control than a traditional cobbler shaker; it was easy to grip. Each tin (large and small) holds two drinks and is made from weighted stainless steel. We love that this set comes in classic silver or a glamorous option of sleek rose gold, gold, or black. We also noted these were good for making batch co*cktails while entertaining.

These shakers tend to show every drip of liquid, so if that bugs you, our tester has a suggestion: Buy a microfiber towel to dry them off with, which will help keep them nice and shiny. Ultimately, our testers felt these shakers were heavy, well-made, and worth the price.

Style: Boston | Material:Stainless steel |Capacity:18- and 28-ounce tins |Dishwasher-Safe:Yes

Take your bartending skills to the next level by investing in this high-quality co*cktail set from Crafthouse by Fortessa. Designed by renowned bartender Charles Joly, this four-piece set comes with everything you need to make co*cktails: a two-piece Boston shaker, a 2-ounce jigger, a Hawthorne strainer, and a muddler. The 15-ounce shaker, strainer, and jigger are made of stainless steel and are dishwasher safe, while the 11.5-inch muddler is made of rich black walnut and should be washed by hand.

During testing, we found this set to be one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, and aesthetically pleasing of the lineup. We found that the tins were well constructed and beautiful, although the strainer looked a tiny bit flimsier than some of the others. The tins felt great in the hand, separated easily, did not leak, and the strainer poured just fine. The muddler was simply an added bonus.

One thing our tester noted, though, was that the construction wasn't quite up to par. The tapered foot base of the bottom part of the shaker was aesthetically pleasing, but it was so poorly attached it came apart after only three uses.

Style: Boston | Material:Stainless steel |Capacity:15 ounces |Dishwasher-Safe:Everything except the muddler

“For the home enthusiast, I am also loving the design and construction of the Coley shaker,” says Escalante. “[It will] get the job done while also bringing some style to your home bar.”

Its design is inspired by co*cktail historians David Wondrich and Greg Boehm’s private collection, though the name is a nod to Ada "Coley" Coleman, a trailblazing female bartender from the turn of the century. The two-piece co*cktail shaker is also made to an exacting standard and has an 18-ounce capacity.

“The Coley can be a bit more expensive than the brands we use daily, but it comes back to design and construction,” continues Escalante. “Not to mention the silver-plated finish that will surely impress those you plan to entertain.”

While we agree with Escalante on the design and style factors, we had a particularly hard time separating the two tins from one another. There’s no doubt that the design is sleek, and unlike the design of other co*cktail tins, these two pieces didn’t have much overhang; the two pieces nearly almost clicked together. However, the fit was sealed pretty tight, and we had a hard time separating the two tins from each other.

The design and packaging of this product are stylish, and it will look beautiful on your home bar. That said, this may not be the best choice for the novice at-home bartender.

Style: Boston | Material:Silver-Plated EPNS |Capacity:18 ounces |Dishwasher-Safe:No

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For Nate Fishman, the two-piece Boston shaker from Barfly is his go-to co*cktail shaker set: “I recommend them to bartenders for their weight and durability—not to mention that they are cheaper than many of the other shaker sets on the market.” The shakers are plated in 18/8 stainless steel to keep pitting and corrosion at bay and come in various finishes, including copper, antique copper, vintage black, and gunmetal black.One drawback of such finishes is that these pieces need to be hand-washed.

Each set includes an 18- and 28-ounce shaker set, as well as a Japanese-style jigger designed with an elongated shape to give smooth, easy pours. Each jigger has a dual-side ounce and two-ounce pourers. Also included is a 13-inch teardrop-end bar spoon and a heavy-duty Hawthorn strainer—all you need to churn out a co*cktail or four. And as far as a set goes, this one is affordable.

In terms of functionality, this kit was easy to use, and the tins were very durable. There was no leakage, and the product was sturdy. We found the addition of the bar spoon to be a nice touch. The packaging and design were simple, but we appreciated the utilitarian quality of the shaking tins and other tools included.

Style: Boston | Material:18-8 Stainless steel |Capacity:18- and 28-ounce shaker tins |Dishwasher-Safe:No

All of the products featured in this list of co*cktail shakers were carefully chosen by our editors and writers and then fully tested.

We also talked to experts to get their input and expertise, including Brandon Lockman, bar manager at Oswego Lake Country Club, Isabella Marriott, former head bartender at Brooklyn’s Bar Beau, Deena Sayers, a beverage strategist at Doña Vega Mezcal, Tom Levron, minister of spirits at BHAKTA Spirits in California, Cameron Shaw, a bar specialist at New York’s Lot 15, and Amy Wong, of Portland’s King Tide Fish & Shell.