The sound of ice moving back and forth in a cocktail shaker is one of the world's best sounds! So you’re ready to shake up a cocktail. What type of cocktail shaker is the best? That all depends on who you ask. The truth is, it is up to your personal preference. In this article, we’ll review different types of cocktail shakers and how to use them.

1) BOSTON SHAKER

Part shaking tin, part pint glass, this combo is useful when free pouring (pours using a pour spout instead of a cocktail jigger) so that bartenders can get a visual on the amount of ingredients being added. These can be hazardous to break the seal, as many a bartender can tell you about a time when the pint glass broke while trying to separate the two pieces. Our next shaker, cocktail tins, are similar to the Boston shaker, without the possibility of breaking glass in your cocktail.

2) TINS (aka Boston Tin Shaker?)

Our favorite shaker behind the bar. Similar to the Boston Shaker, this cocktail shaker is made up of two pieces: one large tin and one small tin. Pros: Lighter than the glass/tin Boston shaker, easier to break open, and no chance of glass chipping or breaking in or around your cocktail or well. Easy to clean, be prepared for some cold hands if you are shaking properly! Use with a Hawthorne strainer with the addition of a mesh strainer as needed.

3) COBBLER SHAKER

These shakers were once considered contraband during Prohibition. Pros: Super cute, these shakers come in all sizes and with many fun colors and designs. They make a great display piece, plus they have a strainer built into to top - so no need for an additional strainer! Cons: Notorious for the cap sticking to the top strainer, they can be difficult to break apart. They also strain a lot slower than tins, so if you are churning out cocktails all night, you may want to steer clear.

4) FUN SHAKERS

Not truly a category, but these novelty shakers are available in fun and entertaining shapes (penguins, pineapples, rockets…etc.) They can be beautiful display pieces and sometimes double as a drinking vessel. They don’t always hold together as well as you may like for a vigorous cocktail shake and some will cost quite an exorbitant amount (check out this $20,000 silver rabbit cocktail shaker!)