How many types of shakers are commonly used in the bar?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 21, 2026
There are four different kinds of cocktail shakers on the market: The Boston Shaker, Cobbler Shaker, Parisian (or French) Shaker, and the tin-on-tin Shaker. Some might argue that the latter somehow belongs to Boston Shaker as the only difference is the material used for the smaller cup.
How many types of bar shakers are there?
If you want to get technical, there are three different types of cocktail shakers: cobbler shakers, Boston shakers, and French shakers (though, in practice, few bartenders choose to use French shakers over cobbler or Boston shakers).
What type of shaker is most commonly used?
The Boston shaker is the Major League. It's the cocktail shaker of choice for most bartenders and true cocktail apprentices. The Boston shaker consists of a shaking metal tin and a mixing glass tin but has no built-in strainer.
What are the two types of shakers?
The Boston Shaker and Cobbler shaker are two of the most common types of shakers available. The Boston Shaker consists of a stainless steel tin and a pint-sized glass (also known as a 2-piece shaker) whilst the Cobbler Shaker consists of the base, built-in strainer and lid (also known as a 3-piece shaker).
What is a shaker used for in a bar?
The primary purpose of shaking cocktails is to completely integrate all of the drink's ingredients to create one beautiful blend of flavor. The shake is the most thorough way to mix drinks, and—as you may have noticed—most cocktail recipes recommend this technique.
27 related questions foundWhat is a bar shaker called?
While you sometimes hear people call it a martini shaker, the piece of equipment most commonly used for making mixed drinks is actually called a cocktail shaker.
What is standard shaker?
A cocktail shaker is a device used to mix beverages (usually alcoholic) by shaking. When ice is put in the shaker this allows for a quicker cooling of the drink before serving.
How are shakers played?
The word shaker describes various percussive musical instruments used for creating rhythm in music. They are called shakers because the method of creating the sound involves shaking them – moving them back and forth in the air rather than striking them. Most may also be struck for a greater accent on certain beats.
What are shakers made of?
The sound from the shaker varies from instrument to instrument and they are usually made from small stone pebbles, seeds, beads, glass, plastic, wood, and any other material that is small enough to fit inside. There are so many variations of the shaker such as: Egg Shaker. Maraca.
What kind of shakers are there?
There are four different kinds of cocktail shakers on the market: The Boston Shaker, Cobbler Shaker, Parisian (or French) Shaker, and the tin-on-tin Shaker. Some might argue that the latter somehow belongs to Boston Shaker as the only difference is the material used for the smaller cup.
What are the three parts of 3 piece shaker?
The most commonly known three-piece shaker set is the cobbler shaker. It consists of a lid, strainer, and tin cup.
What is Boston shaker?
At its simplest, a Boston Shaker is a two-piece cocktail shaker, consisting of a glass and a metal tin. A useful and common combination is a 16 oz. mixing glass, and a 28 oz.
Are Boston shakers better?
This two-piece shaker has a greater capacity than its rival, making it the ideal size for shaking two cocktails at once or creating a cocktail with egg whites. (More space in the shaker tin allows for more air, creating fluffier egg white foam.)
How many types of cocktail strainers are there?
There are 3 different strainers: the Hawthorne, the Julep, and a fine mesh strainer. The Hawthorne is the most common strainer you'll see behind the bar.
How many ounces are in a top of shaker?
Jiggers are the basic hourglass-shaped stainless-steel measuring device you've seen in many a bar. These are cheap and easy to find in most housewares stores, or online. Typically, the larger cup measures out exactly one jigger, or 1 1/2 ounces. The smaller cup is normally one half jigger, or 3/4 ounces.
How do you clean a cocktail strainer?
Turn the strainer upside-down and hold it under a running faucet. ¹ Dip a bristle brush in the soapy water and use it to scrub the strainer clean. ¹ If you don't have a bristle brush, use an old, sterilized toothbrush instead.
Why is it called a Hawthorne strainer?
So, the Hawthorne cocktail strainer was invented by Nathaniel Hawthorne in his Boston bar, who patented the tool to provide a different and better strain for cocktails. They were modelled on Chinese tea strainers, however the easily removable and cleanable coil did most of the straining work.
What is inside a shaker?
There are three main components to a protein shaker: the bottle material, the mixing mechanism, and the lid. The bottle material not only makes a difference aesthetically, it can impact the taste and temperature of your shake. Plastic shaker cups are the most common type—but not all plastics are the same.
What cultural group plays the Shakers?
Shakers and rattles play a big role in traditional African religions. They may call spirits in sacred ceremonies or emphasize the words and actions of important people. In more modern societies though, kids use them as toys and musicians for fun and rootsy percussion.
What are those shaker instruments called?
A maraca ( pronunciation (help·info)), sometimes called rumba shaker or chac-chac, is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music.
Are there different styles of shaker cabinets?
Shaker Drawer Fronts
With our Shaker vs. Shaker II, as well as Colonial vs. Colonial II the difference lies in the cabinet drawer fronts. Our Shaker and Colonial styles have one-piece slab drawer fronts, while Shaker II and Colonial II have shaker drawer fronts with a five-piece door and recessed center panel.
What are the different types of cabinets?
There are three types of cabinets: partial overlay, full overlay, and inset. Each term is used to describe how the cabinet door or drawer sits on or in the cabinet frame. The three types of cabinets also represent different budgets and styles.
Why is it called Boston shaker?
The theory is that one day someone put these two vessels, which would've been different sizes, together and shook the contents, probably for dramatic effect. The result was a cocktail with a different mouthfeel and slightly different flavour profile too. The Boston Shaker had been born.