Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 17.5 ounces, 24.25 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, except for the muddler Kate Dingwall is an experienced spirits writer and glassware collector. She has been writing about the bar and spirits world for five years, including extensive coverage of glassware. She owns a concerning amount of glassware, from art deco Karl Palda decanters to 1800s-era crystal coupes, and she’s happy to wax poetic about all of them.

If using a Boston shaker, shake with the small tin facing you. In case of any leakage, the liquid will land on you instead of your audience.You'll want to handwash your tins with warm water and soap. As with your best knives, it's generally recommended that you don't put them in the dishwasher as they may get damaged unless the manufacturer says it's dishwasher safe. The mixing glass part of the shaker, which resembles a pint glass, can be washed in the dishwasher, however.

Our tester appreciated that these are thin and lightweight yet incredibly durable. The seal forms well and stays tight through shaking, and the weighted ends ensure your arms feel less tired after a good shake. The capacity is generous and the outside of the shaker is easy to grip.Crafthouse by Fortessa Stainless Steel Boston Shaker: The Crafthouse sealed well, but we found the design to be a bit awkward. One tin had a flared base and the other didn't, which made the shaker feel asymmetrical and unbalanced when shaking. The tins frost up within a couple seconds of shaking and get really cold, in fact yielding the coldest whiskey sour of all the contenders (29°F). It also produced a nice, even layer of foam that wasn't too thin. While shaking, there was no leakage, and the tins didn't break apart in my drop tests.

Muddler: A tool used to mash fruits, herbs, or spices to bring out their flavors. Drinks like mojitos and mint juleps require muddling. Style: Boston | Material: 18-8 Stainless steel | Capacity: 18- and 28-ounce shaker tins | Dishwasher-Safe: No One thing our tester noted, though, was that the construction wasn't quite up to par. The tapered foot base of the bottom part of the shaker was aesthetically pleasing, but it was so poorly attached it came apart after only three uses.Material: Stainless steel, copper-plated, gold-plated | Capacity: 18 ounces, 28 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Stainless steel, yes; copper- and gold-plated, no Material is crucial in a shaker. You want your shaker to last for a long time, and low-quality metals will rust, tarnish, and chip with wear. Higher-quality stainless steel is your best bet—it will remain shiny and new after years of shaking. During testing, we found this set to be one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, and aesthetically pleasing of the lineup. We found that the tins were well constructed and beautiful, although the strainer looked a tiny bit flimsier than some of the others. The tins felt great in the hand, separated easily, did not leak, and the strainer poured just fine. The muddler was simply an added bonus. The Boston Shaker Professional Boston Shaker: This shaker worked very well during testing, but the small shaker on this model is made of glass. Glass always has the potential to chip or shatter, which you want to avoid when shaking a drink with ice. Jigger: A small, usually two-sided measuring cup that you use to measure and pour liquid ingredients. The standard size is 1.5 ounces on one side and 0.75 ounces on the other. There may be additional, smaller markings inside.

For the home enthusiast, I am also loving the design and construction of the Coley shaker,” says Escalante. “[It will] get the job done while also bringing some style to your home bar.” Professional bartenders tend to gravitate towards a Boston shaker. Composed of two 12- and 28-ounce mixing tins (either glass or tin), these shakers provide a tight natural seal and ample room for ice and drink. A Boston shaker will last as long as its two parts can create a seal. This is why you wouldn't want to bang the shaker on the bar to break its seal. Doing so may dent the metal or break the mixing glass, rendering it incapable of creating that vacuum seal.This will largely depend on the quality of your shaker. A good shaker tin will create a tight seal automatically. If working with a Boston shaker, use the heel of your hand to tighten the seal. The two tins fit well together with little effort, no aggressive jamming necessary. They never leaked while shaking, and even after I dropped them a few times from shoulder height, their seal stayed intact. These drops led to light scuffing and tiny dings, but nothing substantial. The tins were also the easiest to pop open after shaking. Barfly creates professional-grade barware that appeals to both the pro bartender and the home drink maker. This set comes with all the tools you'd need to equip your bar: two shaking tins, a Hawthorne strainer, a double-sided Japanese jigger, and a barspoon. The two weighted shaker tins (18- and 28-ounce capacity) can take on the rigors of a high-volume bar, thanks to its heavy-duty 18/8 stainless-steel construction with a satin-finish interior that hides wear and tear. Both tins fit together for a watertight seal but also are easy to separate after shaking.