The shaker and strainer are two of the most indispensable tools in the home bartender’s arsenal. While it may just seem like a fancy way of mixing your ingredients together, shaking actually does a lot more to your drinks than it might seem at first. Here’s everything you need to know about shakers, strainers and how to use them.

The Boston Shaker and Hawthorne Strainer
If you’re just getting into home bartending, we recommend that you invest in a tin-on-tin Boston Shaker as it’s more flexible and durable than the ones made out of glass. Plus, almost every Boston Shaker comes with a Hawthorne Strainer, which will let you separate your cocktail from ice shards, fruit pulp and other bits you might not want in your drink. 

Don’t own a shaker? Use a jam jar with a tightly sealed lid instead!