Cocktail Shakers Types and Styles

Select the best cocktail shakers for your needs
By Kristina Seleshanko All bartenders need to know how to mix cocktails--and so they must also be familiar with cocktail shakers types and styles. Whether your customers long for a Cosmopolitan or Tequila Sunrise, you'll need the right tools to create their order. Fortunately, the world of commercial cocktail shakers is fairly simple. There are only three main types of cocktail shakers. You may want them all, or you may only require one or two.

There are plenty of novelties out there. Mini cocktail shakers may delight home bartenders, plastic cocktail shakers might be fine for the occasional drink mixer, vintage cocktail shakers may add class and extra interest to your bar and a silver cocktail shaker might impress your customers. But really, most professional bartenders agree, simple is best. So when you're shopping, consider the following:

1. Cocktail shakers best known as "cheater tins"
2. Three-piece cocktail shaker sets
3. Boston cocktail shakers, the choice of most pros

Select a cocktail shaker "cheater tin"

Cheater tins, also known as short shakers, small shakers or shaker tins, are usually 16 oz. to 18 oz. in size. They are used to cap 28-oz. shakers and are typically made of stainless steel or have powder coated finishes. Cheater tin glass cocktail shakers are also available, although they are not widely used.
Try:  For a nice selection of shaker tins in stainless steel, powder coated and Vinylworks finishes, see BarSupplies.com; they also carry shaker tin accessories like "shake tape" and shaker mats. World Bar Supply also carries shaker tins, including many powder coated varieties in blue, red, purple, green, black, white and gold.

Choose a three-piece cocktail shaker

The three-piece cocktail shaker is also sometimes called the "standard shaker" or martini shaker; it's comprised of a shaker tin, a lid with a built-in strainer and a cap. The material of choice is usually stainless steel. Three-piece shakers come in sizes of 16 oz. up to about 60 oz.
Try:  KegWorks.com carries several different wholesale cocktail shakers, including three-piece shakers in small to large sizes, all in stainless steel. Another source for three-piece shakers of stainless steel is NewYorkBarStore.com.

Purchase a Boston cocktail shaker

Boston shakers tend to be most popular among professional bartenders. They are comprised of a shaker tin with a separate mixing glass. The glass is a little smaller than the shaker tin, allowing it to sit on top and seal the drink inside, which makes for a clean shake. The shaker itself is usually stainless steel.
Try:  KitchenAndRestaurant.com offers quality Boston shakers, including one style that has recipes on the glass. Ascot Wholesale sells basic Boston shakers in 28-oz. sizes.