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Cocktail shaker

A sealed vessel used to combine and chill ingredients quickly with ice.

What it's for: Chilling and combining shaken cocktails.

Don't have one?

A secure jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid works well. Shake firmly with both hands over the sink the first time.

A proper shaker seals better and chills faster than an improvised container, but a tight-lidded jar gets you most of the way there.

Buying guidance

Look for a shaker with a tight seal and a wide mouth for easy ice loading.

Cocktails that use this

Tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime, shaken hard over a salted rim — the reference point for every sour built on agave.

White rum, lime and sugar, shaken cold and strained up — three ingredients with nowhere to hide.

Vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso, shaken hard for a cold, foam-capped jolt.

Vodka and passion fruit shaken bright and fruity, served with a chilled shot of sparkling wine on the side.

Bourbon, lemon and sugar, shaken with egg white for a silky foam — the original template for every 'sour'.

Tom Collins

Gin, lemon and sugar, shaken and lengthened with soda — a tall, easy-drinking summer standby.

Citron vodka, triple sec, cranberry and lime, shaken pink and served up — sharp, bright and unapologetically 90s.

French 75

Gin, lemon and sugar, shaken and topped with sparkling wine — a Champagne cocktail with a genuine kick.