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8 Best Cocktail Shakers for Your Bar Cart
Integral to any home bar, these are the cocktail shakers our drinks expert swears by
A reliable cocktail shaker is crucial kit for your home bar cart. While you may have made it this far sans shaker, it’s no life limiting yourself to drinks muddled in the glass. And, no, that protein shaker is not a tenable substitute.
The investment will open the door to a whole host of classic cocktails — from pre-dinner gin martinis to smoked whisky sours — which is why we’ve collated our expert guide on the best cocktail shakers to buy right now.
Best cocktail shakers 2023
Are cocktail shakers worth it?
You already know our answer to this. Cocktail shakers are indispensable when it comes to combining ingredients with different textures (think: egg whites, citrus, liqueurs and syrups). With a simple shake, you create a mélange of complex flavours, and recreate that all-important foamy top by aerating the mixture for sours and fizzes.
Shaking over ice also chills your mix without over diluting or dialling down the cocktail’s character. For this reason, we always recommend chilling your glasses down for 30 minutes in the freezer prior to pouring.
What are the different types of cocktail shaker?
Boston
Preferred by professionals, the Boston shaker is a set of mixing tins that create a seal when placed together. The Boston makes quicker work of mixing and is easier to clean, though it does require a touch more skill and doesn’t include a built-in strainer, which can be purchased separately.
Cobbler
The MVP of most home bars, the cobbler is a workhorse shaker composed of a tin, cap and built-in strainer for removing any ice and fruit from the final cocktail. There’s very little room for error, making them the go-to for beginners, though they do tend to have a smaller capacity than the Boston, which is worth knowing if you’re looking to create craft cocktails for a crowd.
We’ve handpicked the best-performing cocktail shakers for your bar cart. Each was assessed for its durability, aesthetics and, most importantly, ability to create a smooth cocktail at the perfect sipping temperature.
Looking for cocktail inspiration? Find the spirits our drinks expert won't be without, plus the cocktail bibles you need for endless imbibing...
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