During testing, we found this set to be one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, and aesthetically pleasing of the lineup. We found that the tins were well constructed and beautiful, although the strainer looked a tiny bit flimsier than some of the others. The tins felt great in the hand, separated easily, did not leak, and the strainer poured just fine. The muddler was simply an added bonus. You'll want to handwash your tins with warm water and soap. As with your best knives, it's generally recommended that you don't put them in the dishwasher as they may get damaged unless the manufacturer says it's dishwasher safe. The mixing glass part of the shaker, which resembles a pint glass, can be washed in the dishwasher, however.

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. 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. Cold, didn't seem to mix all the ingredients super evenly - some sips were very rum-y while others were more citrusy Cons: Materials aren't durable, strainer doesn't always catch small pieces of citrus and ice, jigger design is messy and doesn't include useful measurements

A Bar Above started as an incredibly informative drinks podcast,” says Deena Sayers, a beverage strategist at Doña Vega Mezcal. “Now, they have a fantastic line of bar tools that I’ve come to fall in love with.” The transparent walls of this shaker provide guidelines for measuring out the ingredients for a martini, mojito, Long Island iced tea, margarita, or cosmopolitan. There’s even advice on how to garnish each drink. The measuring marks are ideal for the beginner bartender, but more seasoned mixologists will certainly get great use out of this, too. It's convenient making one, two, or three drinks at a time, and the lid even doubles as a jigger. Style: Boston | Material: 18-8 Stainless steel | Capacity: 18- and 28-ounce shaker tins | Dishwasher-Safe: No For a Boston shaker, insert the small tin into the larger tin at an angle so that you create a flat line on one side. Apply some pressure to seal, and hold the shaker with two hands. "I like to keep my pointer and index finger on the top of the outside tin and my thumb over the top of the tin closest to me," said Joly.

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. Barfly Weighted Tins: This shaker set sealed perfectly during every shaking test, but it was a little light compared to the other weighted tins and didn’t feel as balanced in hand. Style: Boston | Material: Stainless steel, copper | Capacity: 18- and 28-ounce shaker tins | Dishwasher-Safe: No Boston shakers are far easier to clean than the average cobbler shaker, however. This set proves that, as there are fewer nooks and crannies to scrub. The materials may make a difference for ease of use. Some sets pair a tin with a mixing glass, which is heavier, and others consist of two stainless steel tins, which are far more lightweight.I loved that the triple-insulated walls kept the exterior comfortably dry as I shook the shaker. Usually, frost is an immediate indication of whether the drink is getting cold enough. It's hard to tell by feel alone with the Brümate, but in our temperature tests, it got just as cold as drinks made in non-insulated shakers. 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. After working in hospitality and growing frustrated with the quality of bar tools out there, A Bar Above founders Chris Tunstall and Julia Tunstall decided to design their own. This Boston shaker set is made from food-grade stainless steel and was "designed by a disgruntled bartender to be the best."

Long Shake Test: We mixed a Ramos Gin Fizz with each shaker. This drink is notorious for how long it takes to properly combine the ingredients with egg white and cream. We wanted to see how well a shaker set remained sealed after about five minutes of extended shaking. The Boston shaker consists of two tins or one tin and a mixing glass that are then sealed together to shake ingredients together. The cobbler shaker is made up of a base, a built-in strainer, and a small cap atop the strainer. The Boston shaker is the preferred tool for pro bartenders because of its efficiency, while the cobbler shaker is popular among novices for its user-friendliness.

A Bar Above Boston Shaker - Weighted: This shaker created an airtight seal during every test. However, out of all of the shakers, we struggled the most opening this one. The Boston Shaker Professional Boston Shaker: This shaker worked very well during testing, but the small shaker on this model is made of glass. Glass always has the potential to chip or shatter, which you want to avoid when shaking a drink with ice. Since the shaker, jigger, and strainer are made of stainless steel, they are dishwasher safe. The muddler, however, must be washed by hand and dried immediately. It's a bit pricier than some other options here.

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. The shaker is comfortable to hold and the top section is coated with a non-slip material, making it even more difficult for your hands to lose their grip as you're shaking. Since it's made from plastic instead of the usual stainless steel, it's light and easy to shake. Crafthouse by Fortessa Stainless Steel Boston Shaker: The Crafthouse sealed well, but we found the design to be a bit awkward. One tin had a flared base and the other didn't, which made the shaker feel asymmetrical and unbalanced when shaking. Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 17.5 ounces, 24.25 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, except for the muddler A Boston shaker has two parts — two tins that you push together to create a natural seal. The measuring jigger and strainer are distinct parts and may be sold separately or as part of a larger Boston shaker set. A cobbler shaker has three parts — one large tin, a much smaller top piece that is screwed on or placed on top and contains a built-in strainer, and a cap. Sometimes the cap or smaller top piece has interior measurement markings so it can double as a jigger.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. It only takes a couple seconds of shaking for the tins to frost up, and the contents get really cold: it made the coldest daiquiri and the second-coldest whiskey sour of all the contenders. The tins themselves are lightweight and comfortable to shake, but they can get uncomfortably cold since there's no added insulation. Usability Tests: We examinedhow balanced and easy to shake each shaker set was. We also noted any design choices that complicated the sealing or shaking process.