Last Updated on December 3rd, 2018

Get your party into full swing with the best cocktail shakers going. Looking for something stylish yet understated? Have an eye on something retro or as a novelty talking point? Our reviewers have had the tricky – but pleasurable – task of trying out many of the latest cocktail shakers to select the best Boston shakers, cobbler shakers, French Shakers, and much more besides for you.

Boston shakers

The popular Boston shaker is a two-piece shaker comprising of a tin and a glass. They need a Hawthorne to sieve out ice, herbs and other ingredients that you don’t want in your drink. Their main advantage is the ease at which you can mix cocktails then crack the shaker open to pour your delicious ice-cold beverage.

Crafthouse Boston Cocktail Shaker (Editor’s Choice)

The Crafthouse range from Fortessa is designed by the World Champion bartender, Charles Joly. His take on the classic Boston shaker incorporates prohibition-era design cues and modern-day ergonomics to produce stylish and functional barware. This 11” shaker is beautifully made from heavy gauge stainless steel and feels great in your hands, the ribbed design and foot being great for grip. It’s also a really stable design and not going to be easily knocked over on the counter.

It’s a substantial size at 11’ x 3.5” and it’s marked with two, four and six-ounce measurements making light work of gauging mixing volumes. This shaker looks and feels every bit the mixologist’s best friend, a professional’s vessel. The stainless steel grade of the body is reassuringly high and rust-resistant. It’s a good-looking, handsome shaker with a polished finish that keeps it shine with the minimum of polishing. Both tins have been fabricated from one-piece of extruded stainless steel so there are no seams or welds to cause leaking or separation. We would advise against using it in the dishwasher though unless you can ensure it won’t catch on anything else in there which may scratch it. Having said that, the steel will take a bit of punishment but avoid too much rough handling and it’ll last you a lifetime.

Boston shakers are usually a glass and a tin; this one being of two metal components gives you more confidence as there is always a risk of the glass breaking. The accompanying negative – there always is one – is that you don’t see the cocktail taking shape as you add ingredients. In our tests the metal on metal shaker comes apart more easily than the metal on glass type.

Editor’s Choice
This Boston shaker ticks all our boxes – design, practicality, engineering and quality. This Crafthouse shaker is a great choice for beginners and professionals alike.

 

Top Shelf Bar Supply Boston Shaker

Among the top quality Boston shakers comes this offering from Top Shelf Supply – one of our favourite manufacturers. Suited for home and professional bars this shaker is a two-piece metal set that is dishwasher-proof and has no fabrication joints or seals that will perish with time. The SS304 food-grade stainless steel is rustproof and, from seeing it in action, we think this claim is well-founded; it’s a great-looking Boston shaker with a polished outer surface and a brushed metal inner. The tins are 18 oz unweighted and 28 oz weighted.

As with the Crafthouse shaker, this all-metal shaker forms an easy seal without needing a forceful tap. A smart tap will give you a watertight vessel that you can shake without fear of spills and drips. Our reviewers found it came apart easily too, which is always a good sign of a long and happy relationship! Our top tip for this is to simply squeeze where the two tins meet. This shaker’s tins stack inside each other which makes for easy cupboard stowage should you be tight on space. It’s a good pourer too, you can be confident that your finished cocktail will all end up in your glass and not over your counter top.

It’s good for beginners thanks to its ergonomic design and appearance which gives the amateur the confidence to shake a mean cocktail. Compatibility is superb, the Top Shelf Supply will fit all standard Hawthorn strainers. This point is often overlooked when purchasing Boston shakers. Additionally this shaker is a great size, its volume easily making two cocktails at a time. During our review we used it regularly for a week and, aside from getting merry, we found this to be a shaker we would heartily recommend.

Piña Barware Stainless Steel Commercial Bar Boston Shaker

The Piña is a gorgeously designed all-metal shaker set. This company prides itself on always striving for aesthetic perfection and releases new products regularly. This shaker is the 2017 edition which incorporates complete circumference welding for both tins’ weight caps. And speaking of weight, the 28 oz and 18 oz tins have a good, solid feel to them that inspires a certain assuredness of their quality. In fact they are nearly 40% heavier than their competitors’. The outer finish is beautifully shiny and the inner is a fine-looking brushed stainless steel. These feel like they’re built to last for years. And by then your biceps will be really pumped!

We found them a breeze to seal and unseal with just a little tap. Throughout testing we didn’t encounter any leakage or drips. They’re stable too due to their weighted bases and the diameter of the 28 oz shaker is a wide three and five eighths of an inch.

Customer service is top notch with this company. They quickly respond to any issues you might have and they really stand by their quality guarantee. The one thing the company doesn’t do is its own branded accessories so you will have to look elsewhere for these. OXO’s Hawthorne strainer is just one we would recommend.

The cocktail shaker is a breeze to use, really user-friendly and is well-manufactured; comfortably taking knocks without sign of damage. You wouldn’t be disappointed having this as your shaker of choice in your home bar.

Cresimo Stainless Steel Weighted Boston Shaker

The Cresimo Boston shaker is an all-metal 18 oz and 28 oz affair with a mirrored outer finish and stylish brushed steel inner. It’s got a reassuring 24 months guarantee but we don’t think you would need to call on it. This shaker has a good feel to it and it’s very unlikely to rust or lose its shape. On test our shaker stayed leak and drip free and multiple cocktails later it still looked brand new. It came apart without drama after a smart tap to break the pressure seal. This shaker also comes with a handy, illustrated recipe booklet to help get you started with some of the most popular cocktails.

It’s certified as dishwasher safe although we still prefer cleaning ours by hand. It’s a personal choice with us. It’s robust yet stylish and takes little dings without a mark. No wonder this is used in bars as well as in the home.

Kotai Cocktail Boston Shaker

Our first ‘traditional’ tin and glass Boston shaker is this attractive offering from Kotai. Available in four vibrant finishes: gold, copper, silver and black, this thick-gauge 28 oz tin is excellent quality and will be a talking-point in your home bar. It sports a seamless design which exudes a simplicity and elegance. The accompanying 16 oz glass is rim-tempered which makes for a durable product unlikely to crack or chip in use.

We would advise hand-washing the tins with an abrasive-free cloth to preserve their finish. As with all of the shakers on test the Kotai doesn’t leak and pops open easily. If you are just starting out on your mixology journey, you’ll find this an excellent cocktail shaker to accompany you!

Cobbler Shakers

Cobbler – or three-piece – shakers are a great alternative to the Boston. They have a built-in strainer which can help speed up the process as they can omit the use of a Hawthorne. They aren’t without their issues however as the strainer can be awkward to clean and the seal can be difficult to release. But their convenience and range of good-looking designs continue to make them an excellent choice.

Savora Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker (Editor’s Choice)

Our first cobbler shaker is this sophisticated, polished steel beauty with fin-shaped perforations revealing the crimson inner wall. The vortex swirl promotes a suave air that makes this shaker a talking point in any home bar.  And if crimson isn’t to your particular taste then it does come in snow (white) and noir (black). Even the packaging looks good – this is an ideal gift for the mixologist in your life.

The integrated jigger has perfect-pour markings that make it easy to measure out quantities ensuring you get your cocktails spot-on. The strainer does an excellent job of keeping ice chips from entering your drinks. The Savora needs hand-washing to avoid scratches appearing on it shiny surface. It’s also the only way to clean the strainer satisfactorily – the bane of cobbler shaker owners’ lives. Savora does a good job of making access to the strainer easy for all but the most uncoordinated of hands. As a nice touch that we appreciate, the holes in the strainer are actually the same fins as in the exterior perforations. The shaker comes with a good guarantee but it does stipulate hand-washing to maintain the warranty.

Living with the Savora cobbler shaker is to experience elegance in your home bar. It sits as a focal point that draws the eye but there’s more to it than that. The double-walled shaker means that your hand never gets cold; the insulation afforded by the inner wall and air gap from the exterior prevents heat transfer from your body. The gentle sloping lines are more than just aesthetic whimsy, they improve grip during the shake.

And it’s the shake that’s all-important. The seal is very tight and drip free, a twist and pull will separate the two pieces cleanly. Cobbler shakers are infamous for being difficult to take apart but the Savora didn’t pose us too many problems. It’s a high-quality, engineered shaker that does more than what we would ask of it.

Editor’s Choice
The Savora cobbler shaker is a beautiful example of how great cocktail shakers can and should look. We unreservedly recommend this fantastic piece of barware.

OXO Cocktail Cobbler Shaker

The best cocktail shakers are so much more than just a tool to prepare your drink. Think of them as your friend who helps you behind the bar. The OXO cobbler shaker is a handsome devil, with a two-drink capacity of 16 oz just right for you and a loved one. Its understated brushed steel exterior (and interior) and matt black cap ensures it will complement any bar décor. Its double-walled construction keeps your hands from getting too cold – an essential if you find yourself making many cocktails at a party for example. Our reviewers find it gets perilous to shake cocktails with very cold hands as they report the chance of it slipping out becomes increasingly likely! The shaker itself is 9” tall and 3.5” wide and didn’t leak once during our review.

The accompanying jigger cap has helpful, easy-to-read, markings for half, three fourths and one ounce measurements. The cap is supplied with a soft-grip finish that really helps you get a good purchase on it.

OXO has a good line of barware which is a commitment we like to see. Too many companies focus on just producing shakers to the detriment of many a themed home bar. Their ranges give you nice design cues that you can incorporate into your own bar’s appearance.

As a set, the OXO combines functionality with the durability and comfort that will ensure you enjoy making many cocktails with it. Their satisfaction warranty also gives you peace of mind when purchasing as they will refund or replace anything you have any problem with.

Winco Cocktail Cobbler Shaker

For those on a budget or just wanting to have a go mixing their own cocktail without breaking the bank, the Winco cobbler shaker is a great option. It sports a mirror finish, jigger top and 16 oz capacity. It’s dishwasher safe too which is useful.

The Winco isn’t the most robust cocktail shaker by any means so don’t be too surprised if it picks up little dents quickly. On the plus-side, ours didn’t leak on test and it separated acceptably easily enough. The stand-by mixologists’ trick of pouring hot water onto the outside helps it pop.

It pours well too – sometimes the cheaper end of the shaker spectrum leaves you with vessels that can spill your drinks when you try to serve them. So if you fancy preparing a couple of martinis in one go then this is a fine starter cocktail shaker to start using. Good value for money but just keep in mind that for slightly more money you will have a better experience. We tried this shaker over the course of a fortnight and, aside from the occasional sticking, it was surprisingly good to use.

Home Bar Source Premium Cocktail Cobbler Shaker (Editor’s Choice)

Another budget-friendly entry is this offering from Home Bar Source, a polished stainless steel cobbler shaker whose party piece is its huge 24 oz capacity. We’re talking three to four large drinks from this monster. It’s dishwasher safe but the usual caveat applies of hand-washing it to prevent scratches. It’s a single-walled shaker so you certainly will get your hands chilled. But if you’re just doing cocktails for a few people this shouldn’t put you off. If you were working behind a bar you would soon start suffering with repeated use. All of our reviewers reported needing to take a lot of care when shaking it at its full capacity in order to keep control and not accidentally fling it over the bar or over the shoulder!

The cap acts as the jigger and it has three useful measurement markers.

Some of the budget cocktail shakers can rust over time. The Home Bar Source feels like it may buck the trend as it doesn’t feel cheap although it is a little lightweight compared to its more expensive rivals. But at this price we don’t think it would be a major issue if you need to replace it every once in a while. It didn’t leak on test and it surprised us by how easy it was to unseal – not the stereotypical budget cobbler shaker! Our advice would be to check it carefully on receipt and if it looks in good condition with no signs of rust or damage then it should last you quite well.

Editor’s Choice
Budget-conscious mixologists will find this cobbler shaker great value for the money. It performs well, has a huge capacity and you can afford to be a little rough with it.

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French (Parisian) Cocktail Shakers

French – or Parisian – cocktail shakers are a two-piece metal set consisting of a large base tumbler and a smaller tumbler that slides slightly inside to make a seal. The smaller tumbler is called a tulip because of its distinctive shape. French shakers arguably have the best looking classic designs and benefit from having few internal edges so that your ice won’t chip when you shake it. They are used by professional mixologists and are making a comeback in the home bar scene. Their detractors generally cite difficulty in breaking the seal as their reason to prefer a Boston or cobbler shaker. As with the Boston, you need a Hawthorne to filter any solid ingredients when you pour your ice-cold drink.

KegWorks Parisienne French Cocktail Shaker

The KegWorks Parisienne is an attractive brushed stainless steel shaker with beautiful lines. It has a healthy 20 oz capacity that is good for three or four good size cocktails at a time. With this large capacity we recommend using both hands to reduce the risk of spillage or dropping it. On our test model the two tins fitted together perfectly. This can be an issue with French shakers; if there is any malformation and the two tins don’t form a snug seal then you will end up with leakage when you shake them. We love how snugly the KegWorks fits together; it’s a nice sensation as they slide shut and finish with a satisfying whisper ‘ching’. Unlike a Boston shaker there is no need to tap them shut and risk any damage – this is an altogether more sophisticated affair.

This shaker is well engineered and its build quality is self-evident with its appearance and overall feel. Our reviewers all commented that they feel urbane or classy using the Parisienne. In use, this shaker chills drinks very quickly and it comes apart with ease. It’s nicely weighted and stable and isn’t likely to be knocked over easily. To ensure it stays in the best condition make sure you only hand wash and dry it

If you don’t have a Hawthorne to hand you can nest the tulip base down inside the larger tin and use this method to keep the ice out when pouring. It’s a handy tip to employ when you can’t put your hand on a filter (ours go walkabout in our home bars all the time!)

French shakers tend to be more expensive than their counterparts; one of the things we love about this one is how well-priced and good value it is. If you have cocktail enthusiast friends they will appreciate your good taste in having this in your home bar.

Kotai Cocktail Shaker (Editor’s Choice)

Our second French cocktail shaker is this stunning gold-plated contribution by Kotai. Using this gilded18.5 oz shaker makes you feel like a cocktail pro! The Kotai is an ideal gift and comes in tasteful black packaging. Just but a bow or ribbon on it and you’ll be set!

This is a finely made French shaker that didn’t leak on test. Both pieces slide together with a rewarding feel and sound. You can confidently go all out with your shaking technique, getting that ice from end to end perfectly chilling your delicious cocktail.

This is a single-walled shaker so if you’re planning on making on making a few cocktails your hands might get a bit cold. But, honestly, if you’re not a professional bar worker than this shouldn’t be cause to put you off.

As with all French shakers you will need a Hawthorne and there are many golden-colored strainers on the market to match the Kotai. Enjoy this little slice of luxury!

Editor’s Choice
This category was a tough choice – both French shakers were great to live with but we do like the finish on the Kotai and for that reason we happily award it the Editor’s Choice

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Novelty Shakers

Cocktail shakers can come in all sorts of different guises, celebrating holidays and special occasions, appealing to the affluent, young-at-heart, retro enthusiasts and more. Here is a small selection of some of our favorite novelty shakers.

 

Mugzie Insulated ‘Michael Godard: The Splash’ Cocktail shaker

Not keen on how your hands get cold with your regular shaker? Metal surface doesn’t appeal? Then look no further than this 16 oz stainless steel cocktail shaker wrapped in neoprene. That’s right – this shaker is covered in wetsuit material which affords good grip keeps your hands warm and dry. Quarter-inch thick closed-cell neoprene is covered with a soft polyester fabric that showcases a great piece of art. For this shaker, that art is the famous martini image ‘The Splash’ by Michael Godard. It’s a high resolution copy too, not a blurry version.

The shaker is made here in the good old US of A which is a definite plus to us. It sports a counter-weighted bottom to increase its stability, a spill-proof cap and a non-slip base. All pretty good features!

Visol ‘Rocket’ Cocktail Shaker

Who doesn’t love their shakers in the retro rocket ship style of the pre-Apollo sci-fi genre? This is a fabulous piece and it is made of 18/8 stainless steel (18% chromium and 8% nickel) which makes it very unlikely to tarnish or rust. The Rocket is finished to a very reflective mirror-shine and it kept this appearance throughout our testing because we only hand-washed and hand-dried it. It’s certainly a premium product that is functional as it is decorative.

The cocktail shaker can be lifted from its rocket-supporting legs and it looks rather like a tank shell. Its capacity is an unusual 17 oz but that’s plenty enough to prepare two or three good-sized cocktails. The Rocket surprised us by being a double-walled design, and it does a good job of stopping your hands from getting the full chill of the ice. This is a thoughtfully designed cocktail shaker and we love it.

Norpro Pete the Penguin Cocktail Shaker

Among all the weird and wonderful novelty shakers, the penguin is one of the most popular. We’ve selected the Norpro Pete as our penguin shaker of choice. It’s a stylized design with a handle and a working spout! On test we found the spout to be a hit and miss with accuracy and it turned out that the spout isn’t really supposed to be used that way – oops, lesson learned. This aside, the Norpro is a fantastic-looking shaker which adds an air of grace and elegance to the counter.

Penguin shakers were originally popular in the 1920s when prestigious brands including Tiffany and Asprey launched lavish Prohibition-era decorative designs in celebratory post-war extravagance. At the time these were fashioned in silver but modern-day equivalents are the more affordable stainless steel (unless you are in the market yourself for genuine antiques or authentic reproductions!)

It’s a large capacity shaker, able to hold some 24 oz of your favorite spirits and ingredients. The Norpro Pete is well-engineered and we encountered no leaks during our tests. Happily this entertaining-looking shaker also comes apart easily and you can be serving up several chilled martinis in no time at all.

Fred and Friends Bar Bones Cocktail Shaker

This fun, spooky Boston shaker is just the thing for a Halloween tipple. The tin features a matt black soft-touch finish with bas-relief skull and crossbones, while the glass is decorated with wraparound creepy cocktail recipes like ‘morbid margaritas’ and ‘demonic daiquiri’. It’s a great way to serve your spirits (sigh)!

It’s a single serving 9 oz shaker so we’d heartily recommend buying a pair if you’re entertaining guests. They come in smart, matching black boxes which look great on display.

W&P Design The Pineapple Co Pineapple Cocktail Shaker (Editor’s Choice)

Commanding a higher price tag is this exquisite pineapple cobbler shaker. Beautifully sculpted, this decorative shaker comes in copper, gold and silver finishes. It makes for a perfect wedding or anniversary gift too in its attractive packaging. It holds an 18 oz volume, just right for two cocktails at a time.

This is easy to shake, being more rounded than cylindrical although we found it helpful to place a bar towel over the regal, spiky top to give a confident grip. The wide girth helps reduce the pressure difference and makes it easy to open – a welcome advantage. Pineapple shakers are a popular theme and we love The Pineapple Co’s take on them.

Editor’s Choice
If you are looking to splash out and treat yourself or a loved one then this amazing-looking shaker gets our vote all day long. From the beautiful design to the engineering craftsmanship to the way it makes you feel we unreservedly recommend the Pineapple!