The Best Cocktail Shaker Reviews
“I’d like that shaken, not stirred.” A cocktail shaker is a must-have item when you’ve got a home bar. Let’s face it – even if you don’t have a home bar, a cocktail shaker is a nice thing to own. When you want to host a gathering of family and friends or want a nice drink after a long day, this is one essential accessory that you just can’t live without. The best cocktail shaker reviews will help you to decide what shape, style, and price are right for you.
The Best Chart for Cocktail Shakers
Cocktail shakers may not be the most expensive home bar accessory that you ever purchase, but you still don’t want to waste your money on an inferior product. The chart below provides you with a glimpse of shakers that have been tried and found to be durable and effective at what they do.
How to Find the Best Cocktail Shaker
There are two basic types of cocktail shakers that you’re going to find today: the traditional shaker and the Boston shaker. Traditional shakers tend to be the most commonly used. They’re usually made from metal, with most being composed of stainless steel. Traditional cocktail shakers come with a small top piece that fits on the shaker like a lid, allowing you to strain a chilled drink without accidentally splashing ice or pulp into it.
The Boston cocktail shaker provides the same end result, but uses separate parts to make it happen. You’ll have a tumbler top, a strainer that is optional, a metal outside, and either glass or plastic on the inside of the shaker. When you’re making a cocktail with crushed ice instead of cubed ice, the Boston-style shaker allows you to evenly mix the drink with clean results – something the traditional cocktail shaker is unable to do.
Once you’ve decided which style to purchase, you’ll also need to decide if you need a layered or insulated shaker. These shakers let you make cold cocktails without having your fingers freeze during the process. They also tend to insulate the ice, which means it doesn’t melt a little like it would in a non-layered or non-insulated shaker, and that can change the balance of your preferred drink.
Both types of shakers also come in plastic models. Plastic cocktail shakers tend to be the cheapest, but they also do a better job of stopping temperature transfers. They just don’t look very pretty while you’re making a drink at your home bar.
Why Use a Cocktail Shaker?
When you’re making a cocktail, it is important to realize that certain liquids have different weights to them. This means if you pour one type of alcohol into a glass, then pour some water, and then pour a second type of alcohol, you could wind up with three distinct layers to the drink. Sometimes that’s a good thing; for a martini, not so much.
The traditionalist might say that you could stir these layers together to blend them. In some instances this may be true. You may even wish to stir a shaken drink from time to time to keep the flavors balanced. Yet since the 1800s, cocktail shakers have been an essential component of barware because they merge drinks together.
How to Use a Cocktail Shaker
Once you’ve decided on which type of cocktail shaker to purchase, it is important to learn how to use this tool correctly. You’ll want to use medium-sized ice cubes instead of large chunks of ice unless you’re using crushed ice to make a blended drink and fill up the cocktail about 75% of the way with that ice. Then you’ll want to follow these steps in order to create the perfect cocktail.
- Pour in your preferred spirits. You’ll want your preferred alcohol to hit the ice first. This will help chill it for the best flavor-mixing experience. Most cocktails have you pour a specific amount into the shaker, so be sure to follow the guide you are using to the letter.
- Add in your mixers next. Whatever mixers you want to add to your alcohol come second. If your alcohol and your mixers are warm, make sure you proceed quickly because otherwise your drink is going to be watered down more than you want it to be. You should have about a quarter of your space left now remaining in your shaker.
- Add any additional liquids. Mineral waters, egg whites, or other items come last.
Make sure your cocktail shaker is sealed tightly. Then, using both hands with one at the top and the other at the bottom of the shaker, shake the cocktail firmly for 15-30 seconds. You will feel the beverage get cold in your hands. Strain as necessary and pour. Garnish if you wish and enjoy your preferred cocktail.
What Are the Prices of Cocktail Shakers Today?
If your main issue is price, then plastic cocktail shakers are the place to start. Many shakers in this category can be found for $10 or less. They won’t look great, but they’ll get the job done and sometimes that’s the most important thing.
Size is a direct contributor to the price of a shaker, as is whether it is made from a high quality stainless steel or not. Most home bars will find that a $20 cocktail shaker will meet their needs. Larger models or shakers made with premium components or extra features may be in the $50-$75 range, but these tend to be of a commercial quality.
What Do Our Reviews Have To Say?
Barware Styles
There just isn’t enough room for the good things we have to say about this cocktail shaker set. It’s made from a high quality 18/8 stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about it corroding on you. It’s strong enough for professional use, yet easy enough to clean and maintain that it is also perfect for the home bar. If you want to make a martini or your favorite cocktail with ease, this 3 piece set isn’t going to leak on you. It’s even dishwasher safe.
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Barmix
This cocktail shaker set is nice because it includes a jigger with it. It’s also made from stainless steel, but incorporates some ergonomic features to it that make it easier to hold than some other shakers. You also won’t feel like you’re freezing your hand off when you’re making your favorite cocktail. If you’ve had other shakers weaken at the cap and eventually become useless, then we recommend giving this set a second look. It is easily one of the best barware tools you’ll use when you’ve got it on-hand.
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Oxo
To some home bar owners, a plastic cocktail shaker is almost sacrilege. Yet if you give this set a chance, you’ll find that it gives you some unique advantages. It’s easier to clean, for one, and there’s better insulation with the plastic so hot or cold drinks are easier to mix. Measurement markings are included with the jigger for precise cocktail recipes, yet you won’t have a problem with sweating thanks to the double-layered shaker. Give this cocktail shaker a try and we believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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Arctic Chill
This stainless steel cocktail shaker gives you a very traditional design, resembling a pint glass. It’s a very durable cocktail shaker and includes a strainer, so you’ve got more cocktail recipes available to you. We love the airtight seal that has been built into this model, making it virtually impossible for your shaking to cause a leak. This cocktail shaker is also rated as being dishwasher safe, but we found better results tend to come from hand-washing this particular model unless you forget to clean it overnight.
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Winco
This is your basic cocktail shaker. You won’t find any fuss or frills with this particular model, but that also means you’re going to receive it at a fantastic price. It holds up to 30 ounces of fluids, so you’ve got plenty of room for your favorite spirits and mixers with lots of ice. We found that the best way to utilize this particular shaker was to pair it with a 16 ounce pint glass for the old-fashioned shaking experience. This might not be the best option for home bars that see a lot of use, but for the occasional personal cocktail? This is perfect.
Click here to view prices on Amazon and get the best deal.
The best cocktail shaker reviews will help you find the right tools so you can create the perfect drinks for family and friends each and every time. No matter what your personal preferences may be, these cocktail shakers will help you follow your favorite recipes or give you the tools needed to help create your own. Invest in one today and then make sure your bar is stocked because you’ll want to use your cocktail shaker every day.
