However, he doesn't recommend banging the ends of the tins together to seal them when double shaking—otherwise, this will cause the weighted caps to come off prematurely.Amy Wong, of Portland’s King Tide Fish & Shell, notes that while these tins are industry favorites, they take a while to get used to. “They can be hard to seal the first few times, but that means they will last longer,” she says. “It’s like breaking in quality leather shoes—they are hard and cause soreness at first, but they eventually mold, and you never want to get another pair.” These shakers tend to show every drip of liquid, so if that bugs you, our tester had a suggestion: Buy a microfiber towel to dry them off with, which will help keep them nice and shiny. Ultimately, our testers felt these shakers were heavy, well-made, and worth the price.

This will largely depend on the quality of your shaker. A good shaker tin will create a tight seal automatically. If working with a Boston shaker, use the heel of your hand to tighten the seal.Style: Boston | Material: Stainless steel, copper | Capacity: 18- and 28-ounce shaker tins | Dishwasher-Safe: No Georg Jensen’s Parisian shaker is one of the most handsome options on the market, with a unique asymmetrical design and a polished stainless steel finish. The set comes with an equally as smart double-sided jigger and stir spoon. The jigger’s two ends have 2- and 1-ounce pourers. Our tester is a fervent martini fan, and she found that this perfectly holds one super-chilled martini. It’s not quite large enough for two, but it’s an outstanding option for having a solo, super-chic drink. Our tester appreciated that these are thin and lightweight yet incredibly durable. The seal forms well and stays tight through shaking, and the weighted ends ensure your arms feel less tired after a good shake. The capacity is generous and the outside of the shaker is easy to grip. While I will always be a fan of a cobbler shaker and love my mixing glass, I will always default to using a Parisian shaker,” says "Ghostbusters" director and founder of Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin Paul Feig. “To me, it’s the best combination of a Boston shaker and a cobbler. You get the solid seal of a cobbler—even better, sometimes, since I have several cobblers that leak when you shake aggressively—and the extra distance between top and bottom results in a great mix when you give it a good shake. It’s also simply the most elegant looking of all shakers and fits comfortably in your hands.”

One way to prolong the life of your shakers is to avoid letting them sit in the dishwasher overnight (the steam will corrode the finish or plating) and wash them by hand to keep the finish looking new. If you work in a high-volume bar or if you’ve got a bad case of butterfingers, avoid glass shakers.Professional bartenders tend to gravitate towards a Boston shaker. Composed of two 12- and 28-ounce mixing tins (either glass or tin), these shakers provide a tight natural seal and ample room for ice and drink. We love the variety of finishes this set comes in, and we found it incredibly easy to achieve a good seal. But we were surprised by just how cold this shaker got during our long shake, which made it pretty hard to break the seal. One thing our tester noted, though, was that the construction wasn't quite up to par. The tapered foot base of the bottom part of the shaker was aesthetically pleasing, but it was so poorly attached it came apart after only three uses. Kate Dingwall is an experienced spirits writer and glassware collector. She has been writing about the bar and spirits world for five years, including extensive coverage of glassware. She owns a concerning amount of glassware, from art deco Karl Palda decanters to 1800s-era crystal coupes, and she’s happy to wax poetic about all of them.

If you’re a fan of delicious Moscow mules, display this shaker alongside the drink’s distinctive copper mugs. All you need is vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, and you'll be on your way to a good time. For mojitos, because the shaker is made from transparent glass, you can see what you’re muddling. Some of the attributes we looked for and rated each item on included how easy the shaker was to use, the design and aesthetics of the shaker, the overall performance, and how easy they were to clean. The overall value of each product was also taken into consideration. Style: Boston | Material: 18-8 Stainless steel | Capacity: 18- and 28-ounce shaker tins | Dishwasher-Safe: No

Shakers come in all forms and sizes, but two reign in the category: cobbler and Boston. Cobbler is a household favorite made up of three parts: a tin, a cap, and a built-in strainer.

Pro bartenders swear by a shaker with weight. With a weighted shaker, one tin will have weight to it, while the other is unweighted. This gives a tighter seal and adds rigidity. The real bonus here, though, is it’s easier on your arms. Material is crucial in a shaker. You want your shaker to last for a long time, and low-quality metals will rust, tarnish, and chip with wear. Higher-quality stainless steel is your best bet—it will remain shiny and new after years of shaking. We loved the durable and classic design of this functional set, especially since it's also dishwasher-safe. We only wish it were a bit easier to use. Another smart feature is the jigger cap, which features indentations that measure out 3/4, 1, and 1.5 ounces. Keep in mind this shaker is hand wash only.We loved that it felt and performed like a high-end version of a classic Boston-style shaker. One of the many reasons we prefer a Boston shaker is that it consists of just two very sturdy metal cups, which makes cleanup a breeze. The only downside is the stainless steel exterior, which is prone to fingerprints and water drips. Use a microfiber towel when drying to ensure the shaker remains pristine and shiny. Style: Boston | Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 15 ounces | Dishwasher-Safe: Everything except the muddler