Checklist · 12 picks · 3 categories
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You don't need a fancy bar cart to make good drinks at a holiday party. A shaker, a jigger to measure every pour, a strainer, a bar spoon for stirred drinks and a citrus press cover most classic cocktails, and a good corkscrew handles the wine. Measuring is the biggest upgrade, because a cocktail is mostly about balance. Fresh lime and lemon juice is the second. Every pick here won or placed in America's Test Kitchen's published reviews, with a cheaper and a nicer option where it named them. The muddler is optional, since you only need it for drinks like mojitos and old fashioneds. Please drink responsibly.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you don't drink; the host gifts and coffee bar lists suit non-drinkers.
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houdini by Rabbit 24 oz Boston Cocktail Shaker | budget | $15-25 | learning to shake like a bartender | 1 outlet |
| Tovolo Stainless Steel 4-in-1 Cocktail Shaker | mid | $25-50 | first-time cocktail makers | 1 outlet |
| Yukiwa Stainless Steel Jumbo Cobbler Cocktail Shaker | splurge | $25-50 | a classic shaker for the bar cart | 1 outlet |
| Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon | budget | under $15 | stirred drinks like a Manhattan | 1 outlet |
| Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Hawthorne Strainer | budget | under $15 | smooth, chip-free cocktails | 1 outlet |
| Fletcher's Mill Maple Muddler | budget | under $15 | mojitos and old fashioneds | 1 outlet |
Best cocktail shakerbudget pick · Compact
Best for learning to shake like a bartender
America's Test Kitchen's top Boston-style shaker: inexpensive and easy to clean.
Heads up. Takes some practice, and your hands get cold while shaking
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best boston shaker.
$15-25
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mid pick · Compact
Best for first-time cocktail makers
America's Test Kitchen's easiest shaker for a beginner bartender.
Heads up. Not the best-looking, and the silicone top faded a little after 10 washes
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen easiest-to-use cocktail shaker.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Compact
Best for a classic shaker for the bar cart
America's Test Kitchen's best classic cobbler shaker, the style with a built-in strainer and a tight seal.
Heads up. Expensive, and sometimes sealed so tight it was hard to open
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best classic cobbler shaker.
$25-50
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for stirred drinks like a Manhattan
America's Test Kitchen's winning bar spoon: the right length for most shakers, with a twisted handle and a bowl big enough to lift garnishes.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning bar spoon.
under $15
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for smooth, chip-free cocktails
America's Test Kitchen's best Hawthorne strainer: it caught nearly all the lime pulp, mint and ice chips.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best hawthorne strainer.
under $15
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for mojitos and old fashioneds
America's Test Kitchen's best muddler: an 11-inch maple muddler with a good weight and an easy grip.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best muddler.
under $15
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Best jiggerbudget pick · Tiny
Best for measuring every pour
A tiny angled cup you read from above, marked in ounces, tablespoons and milliliters. One of America's Test Kitchen's co-winning jiggers.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-winning jigger.
under $15
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mid pick · Tiny
Best for a jigger that feels sturdier
The metal version of ATK's co-winner, which some testers preferred for its solid feel.
Heads up. Opaque, and marked only in ounces and tablespoons
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-winning jigger (steel).
under $15
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brabantia Tasty+ Corkscrew | budget | $25-50 | opening wine without the wrestling | 1 outlet |
| Le Creuset Table Model Corkpull | mid | $25-50 | hosts who open a lot of bottles | 1 outlet |
| Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer | budget | $15-25 | margaritas and anything with fresh lime | 1 outlet |
| Zulay Kitchen Heavy-Duty Manual Juice Press | mid | $25-50 | big batches for a party | 1 outlet |
Best wine openerbudget pick · Drawer
Best for opening wine without the wrestling
A continuous-turn corkscrew that just keeps twisting until the cork comes out. A strong runner-up in America's Test Kitchen's test.
Heads up. Bigger and heavier than the winner, and it cracked corks a little more
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly recommended corkscrew.
$25-50
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mid pick · Drawer
Best for hosts who open a lot of bottles
America's Test Kitchen's winning corkscrew: a continuous-turn opener that pulls corks easily.
Heads up. The thin plastic body flexes a little
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning corkscrew.
$25-50
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Drawer
Best for margaritas and anything with fresh lime
Fresh lime and lemon juice makes the biggest difference in cocktails. America's Test Kitchen's winning handheld press works fast with little effort.
Heads up. Sized for lemons and limes, not oranges
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning citrus juicer.
$15-25
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Countertop
Best for big batches for a party
America's Test Kitchen's best countertop press, quick and powerful for juicing a lot of fruit for a party.
Heads up. It can't be bolted down, so you steady it by hand, and only the bowls are dishwasher-safe
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best countertop citrus press.
$25-50
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A shaker, a jigger, a strainer, a bar spoon and a citrus press cover most classic cocktails. Add a corkscrew for wine and a muddler if you make mojitos or old fashioneds.
A Boston shaker (a tin and a glass or second tin) is what most bartenders use and is easy to clean, but it takes a little practice. A cobbler shaker has a built-in strainer and is simpler for beginners, though the lid can stick.
Yes, if you want drinks that taste the same every time. Cocktails depend on balance, and eyeballing pours is the most common reason a drink tastes off.