How To Find The Best Cocktail Shaker

If you want to make cocktails at home you need the right equipment. To be clear, you do not need a ton of stuff to get started. But you will not get very far unless you at least have something to shake cocktails with. And it is natural to wonder when starting out with home bartending, “what is the best cocktail shaker?”

This post is intended to help answer that question. I proceed in three parts (and if you just want my list of recommend shakers, feel free to fast forward). First, I explain how cocktail shakers fit within the home bartender’s toolset, to make sure a cocktail shaker is really what you need. Second, I explain what I think it is useful to look – i.e., what qualities make the best cocktail shakers. And third, I offer a suggestion based on what has worked for me.

Is The Best Cocktail Shaker For Me Really A Cocktail Shaker, Or Do I Want Something Else?

I am not here to talk you out of looking for a cocktail shaker, but I do want to clarify a few things before explaining what to look for.

Shaking tins vs. cocktail shakers

A cocktail shaker is a very convenient all-in-one tool. I occasionally use a cocktail shaker for making shaken drinks, especially when I am making cocktails at a friend’s place because simpler equipment travels more easily. And of course, cocktail shakers are iconic and, from a design perspective, lend themselves to a number of different variations. But the cocktail shaker is not the best tool for making shaken cocktails.

The better tool for making shaken cocktails is a set of shaking tins, combined with a Hawthorne strainer. The main reason is that shaken cocktails often include citrus or muddled fruit as an ingredient, and the Hawthorn strainer does a much better job of filtering out pulp and fruit fragments than the strainer built into a cocktail shaker. You can achieve similar functionality by also using a mesh strainer with a cocktail shaker. But by bringing another specialized tool into the mix, the principal convenience of the cocktail shaker as one tool that does it all is negated. So consider whether it is actually a cocktail shaker you want. Shaking tins are just as easy to use. And the price points do not differ greatly, even including a Hawthorne strainer.

When a mixing glass is what you want

The other question to consider is whether (if you must choose between the two) a mixing glass would better suit your needs. Some drinks are meant to be shaken, but others are meant to be stirred. (This includes, with apologies to James Bond, the classic martini. Hence, if it is indeed a shaker you desire, it is a cocktail shaker, not a martini shaker that you are looking for). If you are a fan of more spirit-forward cocktails (e.g., martinis, Manhattans, Negronis), these are stirred drinks, and it is a mixing glass and spoon that you require. But if you instead prefer cocktails that mix liquor with soft ingredients such as citrus (see my margarita-like Smoked Pearl, for example), the shaker is what you need.

What Qualities Should I Look For In A Cocktail Shaker?

The cocktail shaker is a ubiquitous bar tool, and the offerings are essentially infinite. Choosing among them can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. And even “what to look for” might vary depending on what you want. You might want to buy more than one shaker, and not every one has to be the best cocktail shaker ever made. But I think there are a few things you should consider, especially if you’re looking for a shaker you plan to use as your cocktail-making workhorse.

Durability

Shakers are high-use items, so you want something that is well-made and will stand up to a lot of abuse. The first thing to consider with respect to durability is the material. Although shakers are commonly made out of metal, you occasionally see other materials used, like acrylic or crystal:

These materials have their uses. Having a pool party in Miami Beach? Go for the neon plastic shaker. Throwing a Gatsby party? Perfect time to pull out your fancy crystal art deco shaker. But plastic and crystal are not meant for long-term daily use. I’ve had a couple of plastic shakers. They are generally pretty inexpensive. But a plastic shaker cracks easily and can warp too after while, making it hard to assemble. Crystal is at the other end of the price spectrum, but with similar durability issues. Crystal can chip, or shatter if you drop it, making any use of a crystal shaker a high-stakes game. Bottom line: if you are looking for something that will last a long time despite frequent use, stick with metal.

Size and shape

Another feature to think about is how the shaker will feel in your hand when using it, which is largely a function of size and shape. There is a universe of options on offer in this domain as well. If you have more than a passing interest in barware, you have probably seen novelty shakers in a variety of forms, including animals, vehicles and … cacti?

But as a practical matter, these kinds of shakers (whatever else may recommend them) have poor ergonomics. In my experience, the pieces may not stay together correctly, or it may be difficult to find a good place to grip the shaker. Two hands may be required either because of the shape or weight of the shaker. When disassembled the pieces do not always rest easily on a countertop. If you find yourself drawn to these kinds of shakers, make sure they are your second option and that you have a more traditionally shaped shaker for everyday use.

Size matters too. I prefer a modest-sized shaker that is not too heavy even when filled with ingredients. In theory, larger shakers offer the additional benefit of allowing you to make multiple cocktails at once. But I find that they are more trouble than they are worth. These shakers are heavier, and the additional ingredients needed to double or triple a recipe add to the overall weight, which makes for an awkward shake. I also generally have found that shaking multiple cocktails at once does not result in an optimal drink. Something changes in the way the liquid and the ice interact while shaking. So for my money, less is more in this department.

Quality and fit

A final thing to consider is the overall quality of the shaker, for which you will really have to rely on reviews and recommendations by others. Shakers can be temperamental things. Of greatest significance for this discussion, they have three pieces that have to fit together – the cap, the strainer, and the tin:

The fit can be either too tight or too loose, and neither is good. If it is too loose, the thing can fall apart easily. Or it can leak out the side from the seam between the strainer and the tin while you are pouring. If it is too tight, you might have trouble taking it apart. I had one shaker in particular that would seem to get unduly cold after shaking, making it hard to grasp and pull apart. It was basically useless for making more than one or two cocktails.

It can be hard to figure this out in advance, even with recommendations and reviews. But just note that if the shaker has problems when you first try it out, those problems are likely to get worse, not better. Return it if you can if the fit feels off.

What I Use

I own a number of shakers, but by far the one I use most often is a Yukiwa shaker, pictured throughout this post. It checks all the boxes above: it has survived extensive use; it feels comfortable to hold and shake; and the fit and finish are high quality. It does not freeze over or become unduly cold after extended use, like some shakers do. It comes in different finishes and a range of prices, though it is admittedly on the pricier side. If you are looking for a tool you can count on for years to come, I think it is a worthy investment.

But I encourage you to explore. There is a wide world of shakers out there, and many that will do the job well. Just keep in mind the few requirements set forth above, and you should be able to find something that looks good, fits your budget, and (most importantly) makes great cocktails without much difficulty.

Happy hunting!