Cocktail Shakers

Shakers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and uses. Some are useful for making your bar or home bar look interesting and pretty. Some are useful for making excellent drinks. Whatever you choose to use, be it the two-part Boston Shaker, three-part shaker with built-in strainer, or novelty shaker with built-in bells and whistles, bear in mind the following:

1. Is your shaker easy to use? If it is too large, too ornate, or too fiddly then you may want to reconsider your choice
2. Is your shaker easy to open? When cold, shakers can constrict, possibly causing you endless bruised fingers and hands from trying to separate the components. A gentle knock to the side of a Boston Shaker should suffice in breaking the seal, not a great big whack on the side of your table or bar. This causes dented tables and bruised egos.
3. Is your shaker tarnished, chipped, or generally seen better days? Then buy a new one. Stainless-steel shakers generally stand the test of time and are easy to keep clean.