The 8 Best Cocktail Shakers to Elevate Your Home Bartender Game

In the frontier days when men rode the ranges, slept out under the stars, and settled their arguments with gunplay, you had to drink whatever rotgut was available. You drank it straight out of the bottle and you were damn grateful for the opportunity. Those days are long behind us. Now there is no need to slam back swill when you can easily mix it up into a truly delicious cocktail that can be served in a coconut with all manner of colorful umbrellas; but to do that, you’re going to need a good cocktail shaker. Here are the absolute best we found.

Types of Cocktail Shakers

Cobbler: The most common type of cocktail shaker for home use is the Boston shaker, which features three pieces: a tumbler base, a middle section used as a strainer, and a smal cap on top. Difficulties can arise when it comes time to clean these, so look for one that’s dishwasher safe. The strainer holes are also quite large than if you were to use a separate mesh strainer. Like Boston shakers, these can also be quite difficult to open at times.

Boston: Perhaps the most common amongst professional bartenders, Boston shakers is simply two metal tumblers, or one metal tumbler with a glass, that pair together at an angle to seal off the liquid inside. You’ll have to use a separate mesh strainer with these, and they can be difficult to open, which explains why you may have seen many a bartender twisting or banging their hands against these like bongos. Also note, you’ll need to shake these in a particular way to make sure the tumblers don’t come loose. However, Boston shakers are preferred for their quick on-and-off and ease of cleaning.

Parisian: Much less common than the other two, Parisian shakers are essentially a hybrid between a Boston and cobbler shaker. They ditch the mesh lid in the middle and instead feature two pieces that seal together perfectly. A Parisian shaker also tends to look really nice on your bar cart, if you can find one.

What To Look For in a Cocktail Shaker

Insulation: Based on its construction, a shaker’s insulation will do well to keep the drink cold, sure, but it’s primary function is to prevent condensation or coldness from reaching your hands on the outside. This will make it extremely difficult to keep shaking and may cut your session short. Look for double-wall stainless steel tumblers to improve your chances.

Size: This may seem obvious, but you have no idea how many times people go to make sizable cocktails in their shakers and find out that they don’t have enough room. Once you add the ice and ingredients, certain concoctions can fill up close to the top, which leaves very little room for actual mixing. Make sure you know the size of your shaker before you purchase.

Lid: When looking for a shaker, perhaps the most important factor is how well it keeps the liquid inside and how easy it is to remove the lid and cap (for cobbler shakers). The last thing you want after counting precise amount of shakes for your Ramos gin fizz is having to wait an extra 45 seconds to get the darned thing open. For cobbler shakers, you may want one with a smaller, pour-friendly spout so you don’t lose any of your beverage on its way to the glass.

Design: You may not think that this matters at first, but cocktail shakers should definitely find a sweet balance between form and function. After all, these items will, and should, be sitting on your bar cart or home bar. If you’re passionate about mixology, displaying your shaker is a great way of expressing and showcasing that passion to others who you let into your home.

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Weighted Shaking Tins

Best Boston Shaker: A professional bartender’s saving grace, Cocktail Kingdom has literally anything you’d need — and never thought you need — for your mixology experience. This Leopold Weighted Shaking Tin set will require a separate strainer, but you can’t replicate the experience of honing your craft with any other option, let alone a tempered glass and a tin cup (this setup is liable to leak and can be very difficult to separate). Big enough for two standard drinks, the Cocktail Kingdom option features two tin cups of different sizes (18oz and 28oz) that are designed to fit together seamlessly and then separate with ease.

OXO Steel Cocktail Shaker

Best Overall: Those familiar with the world of coffee will know all about OXO and its quality java gear. However, the company transposed its drinkware expertise to this amazing steel cocktail shaker. At first glance, this few-frills unit seems to be just another shaker, but it’s the smaller details that really make it special. We’ve all struggled with opening up the cap to pour out our drink, stressing over the ice diluting our cocktail more and more with each passing second. To rectify this, OXO placed a soft-grip cover over the lid (which also doubles as a jigger with markings for 1oz, 3/4oz, and 1/2oz). Also, the spout itself is smaller than other shakers, making it less likely to spill when transferring it to a glass. Likewise, the wall of the shaker is made of double-wall stainless steel that will reduce condensation to prevent slippage, improve insulation, and not make your hands freeze in the process. For the money, this is the best shaker around.

BrüMate Shaker

Runner-Up: It’s no surprise that another brand closely associated with drinkware ends up with a top spot on this list. BrüMate’s Shaker may be a bit pricier than OXO’s, but it may be a solid option for some people thanks to its unique construction and function. The see-through shatterproof plastic top has a patent-pending leak-proof design that seals the shaker shut while also making it incredibly easy to open when you’re done. Thanks to its BevGuard technology, the bottom portion is triple-insulated so your drink will stay cold if you need it too and won’t be cold on your hands when shaking. If you’re planning on mixing something that doesn’t require new glassware, the base can be converted into a tumbler by swapping on one of BrüMate’s Imperial Pint Müv lids. 

Hawkins Simple Cocktail Shaker

Best for Displaying: Once again, a cocktail shaker is an accessory in your home; it should look good enough to be left out on your countertop. Part of Hawkins New York’s brass-finished home bar set that includes an ice bucket, a jigger, and tongs, this beautiful Simple Cocktail Shaker is made with a PVD-coated stainless steel base for durability and sports a squared-off top that’s redolent of Gatsby-era Art Deco. You’ll love using this cobbler shaker every day, but also, you can just bust it out for special occassions. Heck, it’s affordable enough that you can own this one just to display it on your bar cart and then use a different one for your actual mixing.

High Camp Flasks Highball Cocktail Shaker

Best for Camping: It can be fun to mix up some drinks for you and your camping group after a long day of outdoor activities. However, not just any cocktail shaker will do. A sort of hybrid between a cobbler shaker and a Parisian, the Highlball Cocktail Shaker from High Camp Flasks can be used with or without a strainer. It comes with three parts in total, the tumbler, the lid, and the optional middle section, which features a unique strainer that only covers one side of the opening. If you want to forego the straining altogether, you can simply remove this middle piece and twist on the top lid to keep it cold or take it to go. Made from double-wall 18/8 stainless steel, the shaker can retain temperatures for around 24 hours and won’t form condensation or cold on the outside. As a bonus, it’s also designed to be the same size as a can of beer to keep it cold.

The Elevated Cocktail Shaker

Best for Expert Mixologists: If you’re just starting out making drinks from home, $70 may be a lot to pay for a single shaker with no accessories. However, if you’re a seasoned vet, Elevated Craft’s Elevated Cocktail Shaker is about as good as you can possibly get. Aiming to redefine what a shaker can be, this device sports a unique lid that doubles as a fine-tuning measuring cup. Rather than searching for every increment in the kitchen (and needing to wash them afterwards), this shaker can measure from 0.5oz all the way up to half-ounce increments, with the addition of 0.25oz and 0.75oz marks. The double-wall stainless steel construction is vacuum insulated and seald with silicone gaskets to ensure no leakage.

Alessi Cocktail Shaker

Best Upgrade: If you want the Rolls-Royce of cocktail shakers and have the money to spend on it, then look no further than this iconic flagship from Alessi. The epitome of form meets function, this beautiful work of art was designed by Carlo Mazzeri and Luigi Massoni in 1957 and has since been showcased in barrooms all over the world. Holding nearly 18oz (with an 8.75-ounce version available as well), the cobbler shaker is made from 18/10 stainless steel that’s been mirror-polished for looks and the cap sports an ergonomic-friendly groove for gripping. If you don’t want to take our word for it, just know that it’s endorsed by the Italian Association of Barmen and Supporters. Also, how many design-forward fixtures in your home are dishwasher-safe?

Waterford Mixology Circon Cocktail Shaker

Best for Tiki Drinks: There are classic cocktails, and then there are tiki drinks. Eschewing the rule of thumb that says a cocktail should have as few ingredients as possible, these Polynesian-inspired concoctions thrive on the variation and infrastructure. Tiki drinks are also about presentation, and this beautiful shaker from Waterford aims to enhance that presentation before the beverage even makes it into your themed ceramic mug. Made from crystal, the bottom portion is designed with inspiration from sugarcane while also being see-through so you can see what’s going on. As for the metal lid, it can double as a measuring cup. Because tiki drinks are often pretty hefty, this shaker can fit up to 25oz.

The Best Cocktail Books for Your Home Bar

If you need some inspiration for your next drink, check out our guide to the best cocktail recipe books for your home bar.