Cocktail Maker Set 10oz Shaker & 2oz Measurement Jigger

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an at-home mixologist, a good quality cocktail shaker is in an essential piece of kit. Although not every cocktail needs a vigorous shake (the old fashioned likes a good stir, while mojitos prefer a muddle) a wide range, from the classic daiquiri to the more modern picante, simply cannot be made without one.

Apart from making a stylish addition to your drinks trolley, there’re a few good reasons to invest in a shaker. The first is to make sure all your ingredients are properly combined – stirring won’t produce quite the same result, particularly with creamy drinks or those that need a little froth such as a pisco sour.

Secondly, you want to start the cooling process without watering your drink down. By using big ice cubes in your shaker, you’ll make your drink perfectly smooth and consistently cool (this is particularly important if you’re using lots of spirits and little or no mixer) without heavily diluting it. If you left these ice cubes in your glass, by the end of your drink you might end up with a less than desirable watery mess.