Prep Tools

Cocktail Shaker

Chills and combines drinks with a vigorous shake

A sealed metal vessel that chills, dilutes, and combines cocktails with ice in a quick, hard shake. Shake drinks with citrus or egg; stir spirit-only ones instead. Strain through the built-in or a separate strainer to leave the ice behind.

A cocktail shaker is a sealed metal vessel that chills, dilutes, and combines a drink with ice in a quick, hard shake. Shake anything with citrus, egg, cream, or fruit; stir spirit-only drinks instead. Strain out the ice through the built-in strainer or a separate one to leave a clean, cold cocktail behind.

Types & varieties

Cobbler shaker

Three pieces — tin, built-in strainer, and cap. Easiest for beginners; no separate strainer needed.

Boston shaker

A large tin plus a mixing glass or smaller tin; what most pros use, needs a separate strainer.

French / Parisian shaker

Two metal pieces, elegant and seal-tight, but also needs a separate strainer.

Shake vs. stir

Shaking is for drinks that need vigorous mixing and aeration — anything with citrus juice, egg white, dairy, or fruit comes out cold, frothy, and well-combined. Spirit-only drinks (martini, Manhattan, negroni) should be stirred instead, which chills them without clouding them or filling them with tiny air bubbles. Fill with plenty of ice and shake hard for 10–15 seconds.

Shake: citrus, egg, cream, fruit
Stir: all-spirit drinks for clarity
Fill with lots of fresh ice and shake hard 10–15 sec
Double-strain frothy or fruity drinks for a clean texture

Common uses

Shaking sours, daiquiris, and margaritasCombining and chilling citrus cocktailsAerating egg-white and cream drinksMixing fruit and muddled cocktailsQuickly chilling and diluting a drink with ice

Tips & pitfalls

Fill the shaker two-thirds with fresh ice and shake hard for 10–15 seconds.
Shake citrus and egg-white drinks; stir spirit-only ones so they stay clear.
For egg-white cocktails, do a 'dry shake' without ice first to build foam, then shake with ice.
Double-strain through a fine mesh to catch ice shards and fruit pulp.
If a cobbler's cap sticks, tap the seam gently — don't yank and spray the room.