Everyone’s favorite piece of barware has to be the cocktail shaker set, synonymous with bartending, cocktails and class. If you’re just starting to collect home barware, the cocktail shaker set is always your first purchase, after the alcohol! Which one should you pick? What is the difference? How do they work?
Choosing one is slightly more complicated. There are different cocktail shaker types, sizes, materials and names, and everyone seems to have an opinion on which is best. The good news is that you don’t need a collection of them. My Lush Guide to cocktail shakers will take you through the different types, what they’re called, how they work and which one is right for your home bar.
THE LUSH LIFE SHORTCUT
There are three main cocktail shaker types: the Boston, Cobbler and French shaker. If you want the shaker you’ll see most often in professional cocktail bars, choose a Boston. If you’re just starting out and want a built-in strainer, a Cobbler may be easier. The best shaker is ultimately the one you enjoy using.
History of the Cocktail Shaker
In South America around 7000BC, pisco was being shaken in a gourdy-type vessel, but the shaker we know of today is a little more recent. The 19th C gave us the cocktail shaker set we use now. Although there have been some variations, it’s basically the same idea.
What Are the Different Cocktail Shaker Names?
Let’s get the terminology sorted first.
The three cocktail shaker names you’re most likely to encounter are:
- Boston shaker
- Cobbler shaker
- French shaker, sometimes called a Parisian shaker
You may see other shaker names and designs, but most are variations on these basic styles. People often search for the “two main types of cocktail shakers,” in which case they generally mean the Boston and Cobbler. These are by far the two you’re most likely to encounter, but the French shaker deserves a place on the list too.
The Boston Shaker
Walk into a good cocktail bar and this is probably what you’ll see the bartender using. A Boston shaker consists of two pieces that fit together to create a seal. Traditionally, this meant one metal tin and one mixing glass, although professional bartenders today frequently use two metal tins. There is no built-in strainer, so you’ll need a separate Hawthorne strainer when pouring the finished drink.
Why Choose a Boston Shaker?
Boston shakers are quick, relatively simple and easy to clean. They also have plenty of room for ice and ingredients, making them particularly useful if you’re making larger cocktails. Once you learn how to create and break the seal, they’re wonderfully straightforward to use. The downside? That first attempt at separating the tins can be interesting. There’s a technique to it, which we’ll get to shortly.
Best for: Anyone who makes cocktails regularly and wants the style most commonly used by professional bartenders.
Simple and efficient, the Boston Cocktail Shaker saves time with lids and various other cocktail equipment. Simply add your ingredients, shake and serve, et voila another beautiful cocktail. The can holds a generous dose of liquid helping you spend more time enjoying the drinks than making them.
The Cobbler Shaker
The Cobbler is a three-piece shaker consisting of a main tin, a lid with a built-in strainer and a small cap over the top. That built-in strainer is its big advantage. You don’t need a separate Hawthorne strainer, which makes the Cobbler an appealing choice when you’re just beginning to make cocktails at home.
There is, however, one small problem. As the metal becomes cold, the pieces can contract and occasionally become extremely reluctant to come apart. Anyone who has spent five minutes wrestling with a frozen Cobbler shaker containing their desperately needed Margarita will understand.
Best for: Beginners and anyone who wants an all-in-one cocktail shaker.
This simple, no fuss Cobbler Cocktail Shaker lets you quickly and easily shake up a variety of cocktails. This shaker includes a strainer in the lid.
The French Cocktail Shaker – Oh La La!
The French shaker, also known as the Parisian shaker, sits somewhere between the Boston and Cobbler. It has two pieces, usually both metal, but unlike the Boston shaker they’re designed specifically to fit together. It has the elegant silhouette of a Cobbler without the built-in strainer. Does it do anything dramatically different from the others? Not really.
Best for: The home bartender who wants something functional but particularly good-looking.
Stylish and cool, made by KegWorks, combining ease of use with design.
What Cocktail Shaker Size Do You Need?
Cocktail shaker sizes can be confusing because they’re often described in ounces rather than simply small, medium and large. For a home bar, you don’t need anything enormous. A shaker with enough capacity for one or two cocktails plus plenty of ice is usually ideal.
Boston shaker sets commonly pair a larger tin of around 28 oz with a smaller tin of around 18 oz, although sizes vary between manufacturers. For a Cobbler shaker, something around 20 to 24 oz is a useful size for most home bars.
Don’t buy a tiny shaker because it looks cute. Your ingredients and ice need room to move when you shake them. If you regularly make cocktails for two people at once, choose a larger shaker, but don’t be tempted to overfill it.
Stainless Steel, Glass or Copper?
Stainless steel would be my first choice for a home cocktail shaker. It’s durable, relatively light and easy to clean, and you can feel the metal become extremely cold as you shake, which gives you a useful indication of what’s happening inside.
Glass looks beautiful and allows you to see the ingredients, but it’s heavier and, rather obviously, breakable. A Boston shaker combining a glass and metal tin was once extremely common, although tin-on-tin versions have become particularly popular.
You’ll also find gorgeous copper, gold and other decorative finishes. Just check what they’re actually made from and how the manufacturer recommends cleaning them. A beautiful shaker isn’t much use if its finish starts disappearing after three Martinis.
How to Use a Cocktail Shaker
Whichever shaker you choose, the basic idea is the same. First, measure your cocktail ingredients into the shaker using a jigger, then add plenty of fresh ice and close the shaker securely.
Hold it firmly with both hands and shake for around 10 to 15 seconds, depending on the cocktail. You’ll feel a metal shaker become very cold. Open it, strain the cocktail into your prepared glass and add the garnish called for in the recipe.
You don’t need an elaborate shaking style or an expression of intense concentration. You’re simply trying to chill, dilute and combine the ingredients properly.
Learn more: My Essential Cocktail Techniques & Skills explains shaking, stirring, straining, muddling and the other techniques you’ll use behind your home bar.
How to Seal and Open a Boston Shaker
This is the bit that can intimidate people at first. Place the smaller tin into the larger tin at a slight angle and give the top a firm tap with your palm. That should create a tight seal. After shaking, don’t try to pull the two tins directly apart. Find the point on the larger tin where the two tins begin to separate, then give the side a firm tap with the heel of your hand. The seal should release.
It may take a few attempts to get the knack, so try it with water and ice the first time rather than the cocktail you’ve just spent ten minutes preparing. Your kitchen will thank you.
How to Unstick a Cobbler Shaker
The stuck lid is one of the most common cocktail shaker problems. Metal contracts as it becomes cold, which can make the pieces of a Cobbler shaker particularly determined to remain together.
Don’t panic and don’t attack it with a kitchen knife. Try gently twisting the pieces rather than pulling them directly apart. Warming the outside of the joint briefly with your hands or a little warm water can also help loosen it.
What Comes in a Cocktail Shaker Set?
A cocktail shaker set can mean anything from a shaker sold with a jigger to an enormous box containing enough equipment to open a small bar. The genuinely useful pieces to look for are a cocktail shaker, jigger, bar spoon and, if you’re buying a Boston or French shaker, a Hawthorne strainer.
A larger cocktail shaker set might also include a fine mesh strainer, muddler, mixing glass, bottle opener and pourers. Some of those are useful, but don’t assume more pieces automatically mean better value.
Learn more: My Essential Home Bar Tools guide explains which pieces you actually need.
Other Cocktail Shakers
No one said you could show your personality while shaking a drink! I love these quirky ones – especially the penguin!
Technically a Cobbler Shaker, but much more fun! Who doesn’t want a penguin in their life? The cocktail party is just not the same without one.
Humphrey Whale Cocktail Shaker – To go along with its penguin friend. You will have a whale of a time (I couldn’t help myself) making cocktails in this shaker!
Shake, Shake, Shake
Who cares how you make it as long as it gets done. Choosing a cocktail shaker set is personal preference and style. My suggestion is to try your hand at all of them and see which one works for you!
Once you’ve chosen your shaker, there’s only one thing left to do: use it. Head over to my Cocktail Recipes and find something fabulous to shake up first.