(Part 2) Best cocktail shakers according to redditors

Are you just bartending casually at home or are you looking to do it as a job in the future?

Jefferey Morgenthaler's book is great:https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Book-Elements-Cocktail-Technique/dp/145211384X

You'll want to get a jigger, I recommend oxo's graduated jigger, a barspoon, a mixing glass, a strainer, a set of shaker tins (get a small and a large, and seriously splurge for koriko not the other bullshit)

Those are all of the essentials, beyond that everything is fairly unnecessary but there are tons of other things you can buy. I guess a vegetable peeler could be handy for peels but you can just use a sharp paring knife for zest garnishes.

For glassware you can spend as much or as little as you want, depending on how much you care about appearance. When I first starting making drinks at home I had glasses for every variety of drink. I still have those glasses, but basically use these for everything, regardless if it's shaken stirred or whatever. Gimlets taste delicious out of them, manhattans taste delicious out of them.

One little handy thing I've found is these seagram's bottles. Buy a 6 pk of the little glass club soda bottles. Once you use the soda, rinse them out and they're perfect for storing syrups, juices, etc. Plastic caps won't deteriorate like metal will in other styles of bottlees. They're short so they fit in weird parts of your fridge, hold enough syrup for plenty of drinks, etc etc.

I would never go for a manhattan shaker. They are notorious for locking up, as soon as there's a bit of liquid in the cracks (unless you buy really expensive japanese ones). They are also harder to clean than the simple two cups of a boston shaker, and the extra strainer isn't really hard to use.

I haven't used a parisian shaker, but that seems like it could do fine, but might lock up on you.


My own kit is made of a lot of individual stuff. Some from amazon, some from local shop, and some from china. If you want, I can do a writeup of where i got it, but since it's from china, it will take a month before you will receive the goods. However, the guys behind AbarAbove.com recently launched their quality bar tools line. They have a complete set of tools, which all seem to be of great quality. They have only gotten 5-star reviews so far: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVY7VMH. It's $63 for the complete set.

Or you can just buy their boston shaker for $20, and this excellent strainer from OxO ($7), along with this measuring cup ($5)

Then you have a pretty good starter set. A fine strainer can be bought in most dollar stores locally for next to nothing, or you can find one on amazon. They are pretty much all the same, but it isn't really required if you're just starting out. I also have a bar spoon, a mixing glass and a muddler, but to be honest, I rarely use them. If you need to muddle something, use a wooden spoon or something. If you decide you really need one, look for one which is at least 6 inches long, to avoid bashing your knuckles on the edges of the shaker, or google "morgenthaler homemade muddler".

Hope your GF will be happy with your gift!


EDIT: Missed the part about you being from UK. Here's an updated list. I'll let the other one be for any americans who might wander through here.

• Shaker: Homekeros sems to have a good one. (£16, £19 with a strainer) The strainer looks fine.
  
• Shaker (alternative): If budget is a concern, then the Mezclar Tin on Tin Boston Shaker (£6) looks fine. One reviewer said, however, that the small tin was so tiny, it almost dropped to the bottom before making a seal. The other 9 reviews are happy with it though. Still, It's an amazing price!
  
• Strainer: The OXO strainer (£5.43 + £3.19 S+H)
  
• Measuring Cup: OXO angles measuring cup (£4.25)
  
• Citrus juicer: I kind of forgot about it in the main post, but this is a tool that get used every time I use the shaker and sometimes also just for cooking. Very useful. I recommend the Chef'n freshforce citrus juicer (£22.32)
  
  Seeing as there is a shipping charge, I probably wouldn't go for the OXO Strainer unless there's something else that you need from the american amazon. The one from the Homekeros set should be adequate.

I have a smoothie EVERY MORNING. My go-to recipe is calorie dense but it's all good stuff and keeps me full until lunch.

I call the my "mega protein" recipe:

• 185g vanilla soy milk
  
• 1 scoop protein powder
  
• 12g Pb2 (powdered peanut butter, blends better and fewer calories)
  
• 115-ish of zero fat greek yogurt
  
• small dollop of honey
  
• 140g frozen strawberries
  
• 1 banana
  
  That recipe fills up one of these like 90% full, ~450-500kcals and has like 50g protein (I lift too)!

amazon has these: Orange boston shaker, swirly orange shaker, more swirly orange.

ninja edit: Oh, didn't realize you said plastic. Here's a mini one.

Yep I bought one shortly after Starship was announced. It’s actually a decent shaker too. $32 on Amazon.

Irving Stainless Steel Rocket Cocktail Shaker by Viski - Cocktail Shaker with Strainer (24 oz. Capacity) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AB668P4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_YN8mDbCN6P5G8

I use these to mix my apple cider vinegar honey lemon juice and water drink. Works like a champ. Mine is only 20 oz and I've seen then smaller like 16 oz too.

http://www.amazon.com/Sasquatch-110oz-Extremely-Cocktail-Shaker/dp/B00CEREPDA

I bought the last one at the low price of 39.99 from another seller, but they sell new for 70 bucks.

Looks good as an entertaining piece at a home bar too, alternatively.

Keep one of these on-hand for the bar golf fucks, and you'll wow them with a goofy novelty too.

I wonder if you could source a branded one of these then. Ello Splendid 20OZ Glass Shaker Bottle, Mint, 20 Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0724Z7ZZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aeZVBbFV1RC4M

I think the fact that it is a cocktail strainer like /u/CapnMerica56 said makes the "Cheers" in your comment pretty funny

Here is a link to a set that has one - it fits inside the glass or shaker for straining

https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Cocktail-Shaker-Strainer-Set/dp/B018TH4UT2

I bought this cocktail shaker:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C0RCOHM
and I already used it and noticed that now my cocktails are a lot better The set seems very well made and seems like it will last a long time! also you get 150 cocktail recipes ebook and the double jigger is really nice with all the size you need inside with measures for 1/4, 1/2, 3\4, 1, 2 +++ the pourer also a nice tuch :) For the price and lifetime warranty this set can't be beat!! Love it!

Once you get the sticker off and residue off, do yourself a favor and get a Boston Shaker. It'll leak less, and last a lot longer.

That one looks to be 60oz; I've seen 110oz ones on the cobbler style shakers.

One of my boston shakers is 30oz tin with a smaller tin, dunno if they make those larger.

6 oz glasses not in these pics .. Dragon Glassware Espresso Cups,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07462824J?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

2 oz shot glasses .. JoyJolt Javaah Double Walled... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N03DSGT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Shakers and stirrer (we do mostly iced drinks) .. Premium Cocktail Shaker Set:... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073L557JF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and Hiware LZS13B 12 Inches Stainless... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRY8CJ2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The prices have gone up since then, they're all $10 now. But I was referring to these: https://smile.amazon.com/MIXT-Energy-Shaker-Bottle-Black/dp/B01MXF8A31/ref=sr_1_2

Alright, that we can work with, 20$ budget and no existing bar:

-only two tools are remotely important: shaker and jigger. The rest is pretty much irrelevant, and can be easily replaced with things you have at home. Even the jigger is fairly irrelevant, because it only needs to be precise to itself. Doesent matter if the 3cl mark is actually 3.2
So I'd recommend you take the 20$ and buy a decent shaker, and maybe a small one-sided jigger.


you don't really need a Hawthorne strainer and weird spoon an all that, to be honest i usually can't be bothered to use them when im making cocktails for myself and are not in a hurry. Those tools are made to speed things up at a bar, but aren't a necessity.


i recommend spending the money on ingredients rather than additional tools for now, if you find out you really like that particular kind of cocktail then you should develop the bar in that direction.

This one looks like a marker with the cap off

I used to have one of these. It comes with a wheel insert that really helps with mixing powder drinks, and I think it'd be very easy to clean. I don't know the true weight though.

That was my thinking, soon as someone hears I tend bar I get another shaker or a bar key/wine key that isn't my preference.

But last year I did get a kick ass Mason jar shaker that was unique.

I think like 3-4 random bitters would be a cool treat for anyone, if you don't like them take them in to work and just use em up.

Boston shaker kit

I haven’t found the individual cups, I think it’s only a feature in a mixing kit. I found you a kit though.