One of the things I’ve missed the most with quarantine is going to a good cocktail bar. I love specialty cocktails and the subtle theatrics that go into making a delicious drink. There seem to be so many small pieces of equipment used for mixing cocktails, from the pourers to jiggers to bar spoons. But, in my opinion, the key to mixing great cocktails is in the type of shaker.
Types of Shakers
There are three main types of shakers used in mixing cocktails. The most common one you see in people’s homes is called the Cobbler shaker. This shaker consists of three pieces: the bottom tin where you add your ingredients, the lid with a built-in strainer, and the small cap to hold in your drink. At first, this shaker seems like a great design – the strainer is built-in, so there’s no need to have extra pieces of equipment. But the common problem with Cobbler shakers is the expansion and contraction of metal. I’ve gone through so many Cobbler shakers by trying to pry them apart and ruined several cocktails by over-diluting or even having to heat a part of the shaker to get it to release.
The next is the least common and might come as a surprise: the Parisian- or French-style shaker. While this shaker has been around for quite some time, it still hasn’t gained the mainstream popularity the other two shakers hold. Its design is similar in shape to the Cobbler, but it doesn’t have a built-in strainer. One benefit to the Parisian shaker is it is a bit easier to open than the Cobbler. However, these shakers are much harder to find and are often more expensive.
With the other two shakers having such major flaws, let’s go into the last shaker style: the Boston shaker. This shaker is the one you see in almost every restaurant and bar. It consists of two parts – often a tin and a pint glass. You have to seal it correctly to prevent it from spilling while shaking it, and a tap on the side releases the seal. While this shaker is the easiest to open, there is one last flaw that has resulted in many a ruined cocktail: the GLASS. If you don’t tap the glass carefully and correctly when sealing the shaker and breaking the seal, you can easily break the glass and waste all of those ingredients. I went through so many pint glasses with my (admittedly poor) shaking skills before stumbling upon my holy grail: the Tin-on-Tin Boston shaker.
Tin-on-Tin Boston Shaker – The Ultimate Shaker
Cue the cocktail angels singing. The Tin-on-Tin Boston shaker is the perfect shaker. It addresses the flaws in the traditional Boston shaker by replacing the pint glass part with a second smaller tin. All you need to seal it is a quick tap, free from fear of smashing your hand into a glass. Releasing it is a breeze – simply tap the side of the tin against the heel of your hand or the edge of your counter, and you’re home free. Since buying this shaker, I have never looked back to any other style and have bought several different types to find the best weight. This specific shaker from Piña Barware has a perfect weight to it that makes shaking so easy. The size is perfect for mixing more than one cocktail at once. I have bought multiple sets of this shaker and given them to my friends and family. I can honestly say this shaker is the best I have ever used, and my cocktail game has never been stronger.