The Best co*cktail Shakers, According to Our (Shaken, Not Stirred) Tests (2024)

Part of the fun of going out for co*cktails is the theater of watching skilled bartenders shake up a drink. The clanking of ice against metal and the flash of stainless steel being brandished all contribute to the ambiance of the bar. But shaking a co*cktail isn’t just about showing off: it’s a crucial step for mixing up many beloved libations.

Whether you’re hosting a party or just want to shake up a margarita once in a while, every home mixologist needs a co*cktail shaker. Choosing the perfect shaker is a bit of a daunting task as there are (literally) hundreds of shakers on the market.

There are two primary styles of co*cktail shaker: the Boston shaker and the cobbler shaker. To help you find the best co*cktail shaker, we tested both styles separately. Below, we've rounded up our top picks from each of these reviews.

The Winners, at a Glance

• The Best Boston Shaker: Modern Mixologist Tin on Tin Shaker
• The Best Budget-Friendly Boston Shaker: Piña Commercial Boston Tin Set
  
• The Best Cobbler Shaker: co*cktail Kingdom Usagi Cobbler Shaker
• The Best Budget-Friendly Cobbler Shaker: OXO Steel Single Wall co*cktail Shaker
• The Best Insulated Cobbler Shaker: Yeti co*cktail Shaker

Why Do I Need a co*cktail Shaker?

Shaking co*cktails is a crucial step in making proper drinks. The rule of thumb used by most bartenders is that any drink that contains fruit juice, dairy, or egg whites needs to be shaken. This means that in order to make good margaritas, daiquiris, or whiskey sours at home, a co*cktail shaker is a necessary tool.

Shaking a co*cktail is done for a few important reasons. First and foremost, it fully mixes all of the ingredients of a drink into a hom*ogenous liquid. Many ingredients used in mixology like spirits, liqueurs, syrups, and fruit juice vary in density, which means they need more than a simple stir to become fully integrated. The ice used when shaking a drink chills and dilutes the co*cktail, which increases the overall volume of the co*cktail while also reducing its alcohol content. Shaking also aerates the co*cktail, which mellows some of the harsher flavors and improves the drink’s texture by adding a bit more body. Basically, some co*cktails just won’t look or taste right if they aren’t shaken.

What's a Boston Shaker?

The shaker most commonly used by professionals is the Boston shaker. These are comprised of two tins, one smaller than the other, that fit together to form an air-tight seal. Boston shakers are often preferred by professional bartenders due to their simplicity and size. The two tins are easy to clean and use, and they hold enough volume to make multiple servings of the same drink. It’s also easy to separate the tins once the co*cktail is ready—just give them a solid whack. Boston shakers do require the use of a Hawthorne strainer in order to properly separate the ice and any other solids from the finished co*cktail. There’s also a bit more of a learning curve with them; it can take some practice to figure out exactly how to get it to seal, and then unseal properly, but once mastered, this style of shaker is an invaluable tool behind the bar.

What Should You Look for in a Good Boston Shaker?

After testing 12 Boston shakers, our top pick was the Modern Mixologist shaker set. When assessing a Boston shaker, the most important factors to consider are how well it seals and the build quality. The Modern Mixologist shaker excelled in both criteria. Across multiple co*cktail tests, the shaker was able to maintain its seal without any leakage. It also boasted a sleek design without any welded seams, meaning the Modern Mixologist has little chance of breaking over time.

For a slightly more affordable option, we recommend the Piña Commercial Boston Tin Set. It’s about $5 to $10 cheaper than most of the other Boston shaker sets we tested but outperformed some of the higher-end shakers. Throughout our testing, the Piña shaker set maintained its seal just as well as our top pick from Modern Mixologist. Its only downside: the weights on each tin are welded on, which means there’s potential for them to fall off after prolonged, heavy use.

But What About Cobbler Shakers?

Cobbler shakers are the second most common style. They differ from Boston shakers in that they have a built-in strainer and consist of three parts: a shaker tin, a lid with a built-in strainer, and a cap that fits over the strainer to prevent any spills when shaking. The biggest upside with cobbler shakers is the built-in strainer. There’s no need for another bar tool, which makes this style attractive to home mixologists and beginners. However, the addition of a strainer does complicate the design. The cap is small enough to be easily lost, and cobbler shakers are notorious for getting stuck—sometimes permanently. The strainers in cobbler shakers also tend to have wider openings that sometimes allow for bits of muddled herbs, fruit, or shards of ice to pass through.

Should you opt for a cobbler shaker, we recommend the Usagi cobbler shaker from co*cktail Kingdom. In our tests, we found it to be sleek, stylish, and easy to use. It had a fairly large capacity and made up to three co*cktails at a time. Basically, the Usagi delivered on every major criterion that makes a good cobbler shaker. However, for a budget-friendly option, OXO's our top choice. And for an insulated option that's available in oodles of colors, check out this model from Yeti.

Should You Buy a Boston or Cobbler Shaker?

The “best” co*cktail shaker really depends on your needs. For novice home bartenders, the cobbler shaker is a great introductory tool. The built-in strainer definitely helps keep things simple and saves a little time and effort when shopping for bar tools. Those who are a bit more serious about mixology will probably find more utility in the Boston-style shakers. There’s a bit more of a learning curve when figuring out how to seal and unseal the tins, but it’s a tried and true tool.

The Best co*cktail Shakers

What we liked: The Modern Mixologist Boston Shaker was easy to use and formed a perfect seal throughout all of our testing. It had a nice heft and balance to it and lacked any welded seams (unlike many of the shakers we tested), which means there's less likelihood of any pieces falling off with time. We also thought it was easy to break the seal and affix a Hawthorne strainer to its opening.

What we didn't like: It's slightly shorter than other shakers and thus holds a few ounces less.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity:26- and 18 3/4-ounce tins
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes
• Good to know: A mixing glass can be purchased separately
  

What we liked: For a more affordable option, we suggest the Piña Boston shaker. The build quality isn’t quite up to par with the Modern Mixologist, but it sealed up just as well in our tests. It also features a flared, stable base and we were able to unseal them easily. Plus, $25 for two tins makes this shaker an easy buy.

What we didn't like: The welded base isn't our favorite from a longevity perspective and some folks may find the flared base obtrusive during shaking.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity:28- and 18-ounce tins
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes
• Good to know: You can choose between a brushed or polished finish

What we liked: We chose the Usagi cobbler shaker as our top pick for its sleek, stainless steel construction. It also has a large capacity, which is helpful for making multiple drinks at once (the manufacturer says two, though we found it fit three fine). It was well-insulated, too, delivering a nicely chilled drink while keeping our hands from getting frosty.

What we didn't like: Well, it's expensive. It's also heavier than other cobbler shakers.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity:28 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes
• Good to know: Stated two drink capacity, though we found three fit fine

What we liked: With a sleek design, jigger cap, and nice capacity (enough for about two drinks), we think the OXO is a great, moderately priced ($23) option. In fact, as we said in our cobbler shaker review, "It's the best shaker we found for its price."

What we didn't like: While the built-in jigger is appealing (especially for those just starting their co*cktail-making journey), its slanted sides made it very hard to pour from.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity:24 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes
• Good to know: Jigger cap, though we recommend buying a separate jigger

What we liked: With double-walled vacuum insulation, this shaker mixes up drinks without making your handles feel frosty. It has a twist-on cap and lid that are easy to remove and is available in a range of colors. It's also dishwasher-safe.

What we didn't like: Because of how insulated this shaker is, it makes it nearly impossible to tell if the co*cktail is properly chilled and diluted by feel. The Yeti is also pricey.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Capacity:20 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes
• Good to know: Comes in a range of colors; cap available separately

Other co*cktail Gear You'll Want

Of course, a co*cktail shaker alone does not a co*cktail make. To make a variety of co*cktails at home, you'll need some other equipment: tools that help you measure, mix, and flavor drinks.

• A jigger is, essentially, a miniature measuring cup that helps you nail the ratios of spirits and mixers. When we tested them, our favorite was actually a miniature measuring cup from OXO. But for a more traditional jigger, you can't beat this one from Piña Barware.
• Bar spoons are essential for mixing drinks. We were impressed with this one by Fortessa, which has a weighted end ideal for crushing ice and muddling ingredients.
• A sturdy muddler is a must for smashing fruit and releasing the aromatic compounds in herbs.
• Y-peelers, like this one from Kuhn Rikon isn't just for prepping vegetables. Keep one on your bar cart for stripping peel from citrus for the perfect garnish.
• Reusable skewers for garnishes—like olives, cherries, and pickled onions—are a stunning upgrade from wooden toothpicks.
• Coupe glasses are versatile and beautiful. Buy them in a set, and you'll always be happy-hour ready.
• A great ice scoop is flexible and lightweight, for easy handling. You'll use it more frequently than you may think!
• You'll never regret having a bottle or two of bitters kicking around.
• For drinks made with tonic, only the best will do. We think that's Fever Tree tonic water.

FAQs

How do you use a co*cktail shaker?

To use a co*cktail shaker, simply add all of the ingredients for a co*cktail into one of the tins. Then add ice, seal the shaker, and shake vigorously. Once the co*cktail is properly mixed and chilled, strain the liquid into a glass and serve.

How long do you shake a co*cktail?

A typical drink should be shaken for about 10 to 15 seconds. Some co*cktails that include egg white or dairy may require extra shaking time or a dry shake (shaking without ice) to fully mix and emulsify the ingredients.

What do you use if you don’t have a co*cktail shaker?

If you don’t have access to a co*cktail shaker but want to mix up a drink, a mason jar or a shaker bottle (like the kind used for protein drinks) should work in a pinch.

How do you open a stuck co*cktail shaker?

co*cktail shakers seal when the internal temperature drops, creating a vacuum inside of the shaker tins. With a Boston shaker, you can release the seal by smacking the side of the tins where the two meet. There should be one side where there’s a bit more space between the tins (that’s where you should smack). With a cobbler shaker, your best bet is to let the co*cktail and tin come up to room temperature and try opening it again.

Why We're the Experts

• Dylan Ettinger is a freelance writer specializing in spirits and coffee. He reviewed Boston shakers for the site.
• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor for Serious Eats. She's been working for the site since 2021 and has been testing gear professionally for about six years.