Cocktail Shakers Key Terms

Learn the lingo of mixology with cocktail shakers key terms

Cocktails are back, and more popular than ever. The cocktail shaker has become one of the most important pieces of bar equipment. Whether your bartenders will be just keeping up with the demand for exotically flavored martinis, Cosmopolitans and more traditional shaken cocktails, or engaging in the entertaining flourishes made popular by Tom Cruise in the movie "Cocktail," you'll need to know your way around cocktail shakers and related equipment. Here are some cocktail shakers key terms.

 

Standard shaker

The standard cocktail shaker for commercial bar use is made up of three interlocking pieces: the cup, the strainer and the lid, which also serves as a jigger measure. Standard shakers, sometimes known as European or cobbler shakers, are generally made of stainless steel, but can also be acrylic or glass. A streamlined standard model known as a bullet shaker adds an art deco flair to the bar.
Try: View various 3-piece standard shakers, including a bullet model, at A-Best Fixture. Read about vintage and collectible cocktail shakers at The Webtender.

Boston shaker

A Boston shaker combines a 28- or 30-ounce stainless steel shaker tin with a mixing glass. The glass fits snugly upside down inside the rim of the shaker, and the two are shaken together. The Boston shaker was the earliest form of cocktail shaker in commercial use. A model known as the QuickStrain incorporates a perforated edge that serves as a built-in strainer.
Try: Read more about the history and use of the Boston shaker at CocktailDB.com. See a description and reviews of the QuickStrain model.

Cheater tin

A cheater tin, also known as a short shaker, is a 15- or 18-ounce metal cup that fits inside the lip of a larger metal shaker to make a lid. Cheater tins essentially replace the mixing glass in a Boston shaker configuration. Cheater tins can also be used for muddling, or bruising ingredients like mint with sugar before mixing.
Try: Read more about cheater tins at the New York Bar Store.

Hawthorne strainer, julep strainer

When using a Boston shaker, whether with a mixing glass or a cheater tin, you'll need to use a separate strainer to remove ice or fruit pieces from the drink before pouring. The standard bar strainer, called a Hawthorne shaker, is a slotted metal disc surrounded by a coiled spring. Hawthorne shakers fit either inside or on top of the metal shaker base. Some bartenders prefer to use a julep strainer, a slotted spoon with an oval, flattened bowl.
Try: The Coctailiana blog carries a review of an Oxo Hawthorne strainer. See more about julep strainers at KegWorks.

Shaker tape

Home bartenders have been known to resort to electrical or duct tape to make sure that a Boston shaker stays sealed, but bartenders have other uses for the colored electrical tape known as shaker tape. Taping a shaker can give a better grip, and different colors of shaker tape can be used to personalize shakers or designate shakers for certain kinds of drinks.
Try: See shaker tape at BarSupplies.com.

Shaker mat

Specially designed shaker mats look like smaller versions of black rubber doormats, with projections that allow the shaker to drain and air-dry after rinsing. Shaker mats save on the use of bar towels and help organize the mixing area.
Try: Read about shaker mats at Mario's Bar.

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