Cocktail Shakers

Professional cocktail shakers – tools that mix, chill, dilute, and aerate to create balanced drinks for guests – are indispensable for any high-volume bar serving liquor-based drinks. Cocktail shakers are used to create any mixed drink that includes fruit juices, dairy, or eggs as ingredients, as well as any drink served over ice; drinks served "up" (chilled but without ice) are generally not shaken.

Although all cocktail shakers perform the same basic function, they come in several different styles: Boston shakers, cobbler shakers, and Parisian shakers.

• Boston shakers are the favorite among professional bartenders, consisting of one large (usually 28-ounce) tin shaker and one smaller (usually 18-ounce) tin shaker. Cocktail ingredients are poured in one shaker, ice is poured into the other, and the two pieces are combined to form a seal before shaking.
• Cobbler shakers consist of a single tin, a built-in strainer top, and a small cap for the top. Although not unheard of in professional bar settings, cobbler shakers are more common among home bartenders than high-volume bar operations.
• Parisian cocktail shakers are the least common style and are very similar to cobbler shakers. Parisian shakers are made up of two separate pieces but lack the built-in strainer of the cobbler shaker.

Regardless of the style of bartender cocktail shaker you prefer, you'll have a variety of colors and materials to choose from. Stainless steel, copper, and tin are the most common and durable materials, though the clear nature of glass and plastic enables bartenders and customers to see the drink as it's being mixed. However, these materials are more likely to chip and break with heavy use, so metal shakers are more cost-effective over time. Buying cocktail shakers wholesale can help ensure your operation has plenty on hand for replacements.