Whether you’re writing a gift list for yourself or trying to think of the perfect gin gift for your favourite gin pal, check out these absolutely gorgeous cocktail shakers and bar kits, any of which would make a fantastic gift.
We’ve scoured the shops for those that are a little bit special, but still affordable - stunning kits that any budding cocktail-maker or experienced home mixologist would love to have in pride of place on their shelf.
From glass shakers to stainless steel cocktail shakers, we've found just what the home bartenders need to create amazing mixed drinks from their kitchen or bar cart. Happy shopping, gin lovers!
Gold Glitter Cocktail Shaker
£29, Barbara Harris Water Jewels
A gold-flecked cocktail shaker that will add a touch of sparkle to any special occasion or festive party!
Rose Gold Parisian Cocktail Set
£29.99, Beautify
One of the best value-for-money cocktail kits we found and all in an elegant rose gold copper tone.
Gold & Glass Cocktail Shaker
£29, Audenza
We love the gorgeous vintage-style design of this glass cocktail shaker, which will transform any cocktail gathering into a Gatsby-esque glamorous occasion!
Hot Pink 3-Piece Cocktail Set
£23.99, Robert Dyas
As our favourite TV ballroom dancing judge might say: fab-u-LOUS, darling! The perfect gift for the gorgeous cocktail-loving party girl in your life (so… you, maybe!).
Tropical Leaves Cocktail Shaker
£13.30, Love Tiki
Transport yourself to a hot, palm-fringed tropical island every time you shake up your favourite gin cocktail, with this fun sea-blue and sunshine-gold cocktail shaker!
What are the different kinds of cocktail shaker?
When choosing a cocktail shaker, there are two main types to consider: a 2-piece shaker (the ‘Boston Shaker’ shaker), which has one small cap that you wedge at a slight angle into the larger bottom cup (which makes dismantling it easier), or the 3-piece shaker (a ‘Cobbler Shaker’), which already has the strainer and lid included, and is therefore often the easier option for those new to cocktail making.
Gold & Patterned Glass Cocktail Shaker With Lustre Finish
£28, Roost Home Living
We love the delicate rainbow lustre of this delicate, sophisticated cocktail shaker. It’s an elegant option that would make a good gift for those with vintage style.
Glass Rainbow Cocktail Shaker
£20, Very
Everyone knows the party’s started when this sexy, shimmering, mermaid of a cocktail shaker comes out! Enough said?
Mini Gold Pineapple Cocktail Shaker
£9.60, Love Tiki
How adorable is this miniature cocktail shaker? It’s just the size for a single cocktail, so would make the perfect stocking-filler for anyone who just wants to make one drink (well, one at a time, anyway…).
BarCraft Brass Finish Cocktail Shaker with Blue Detail 900ml
£16.96, Harts of Stur
A fabulous art-deco style cocktail shaker in a bold, beautiful blue and gold-like brass, this gift can be appreciated as much as when it’s sitting on the shelf looking good as when it’s being used to whip up a cocktail or two.
Why do you need a cocktail shaker?
Shaking a cocktail is important for three reasons:
Cooling a drink down quickly
Combining the ingredients thoroughly
Adding just the right amount of dilution from ice and/or foam from egg white
Oh, and if you’re wondering why a cocktail shaker is important for certain cocktails while stirring is fine for others, check out our handy guide to shaking vs stirring.
Teakwood Shaker Set
£40, S’well
This sophisticated, high-quality cocktail shaker and jigger set has a gloriously old-school teakwood finish that is endlessly charming.
Turquoise Cocktail Shaker
£9, MillysStore
Another aquamarine beauty, this turquoise and gold cocktail shaker is more contemporary in its design. One for the Millenial cocktail lovers maybe?!
Art Deco Cocktail Shaker
£16.96, Harts of Stur
This art deco-influenced cocktail shaker is a timeless, sturdy classic.
Cerise Purple Cocktail Shaker
£25, Go Gift Shopping UK
This fun, contemporary 2-piece cocktail shaker also comes in three other colours: gunmetal, turquoise blue, and metallic red.
Stelton Collar Cocktail Shaker & Measuring Cup
£69.95, Cloudberry Living
Ooh, he’s handsome, isn’t he?! Cool, sleek, sophisticated, we think this matt black and brass cocktail shaker with matching measuring cup would be an ideal gift for the cocktail-loving man about town.
Kaity Rocket Shaped Steel Cocktail Shaker
£24.99, Wayfair.co.uk
We love this fun-but-classy rocket ship cocktail shaker! It’s a fab gift idea for anyone who loves a cocktail and all things space.
Silver Pineapple Cocktail Shaker
£25, John Lewis & Partners
We’re not entirely sure why or when pineapples became so fashionable, but they’re everywhere! You’ll be bang on trend with this sophisticated silver cocktail shaker in your kitchen.
Jewelchic II Stainless Steel Rainbow Cocktail Shaker 550ml
£12.99, House
As if the stunning rich colours of this cocktail shaker weren’t enough of a reason to add it to our lust list, it’s also really good value for money compared to many other shakers out there!
Green and Brushed Gold Cocktail Set
£34.99, Von Shef
We just love the timeless, classic elegance of this cocktail set, which is another absolutely brilliant bargain at under £30 for a shaker, measuring jigger, strainer, bar spoon and more!
Mini Cocktail Shaker with Personalised Muddler
£24.99, Rocket & Fox
Soooo cute! What gin lover wouldn’t love to find this in their stocking on Christmas morning? The mini cocktail shaker holds just enough for a single martini or another cocktail, and your ingredients can be muddled with an adorable little muddling stick that has a personal message inscribed on the side from the giver. We love.
BarCraft Zinc Fired Glass Cocktail Shaker 700ml
£16.43, Buzz Catering
Grown-up. Tasteful. Arty. Sophisticated. If you know a cocktail drinker who matches that description, then this is the cocktail shaker for them!
Bonus: it’s another one that really does look more expensive than it actually is.
How do I create a cocktail?
There’s an easy ‘golden ratio’ to remember when it comes to making your own cocktails:
2 parts spirit (e.g. gin)
1 part tart (e.g. lemon or lime juice)
1 part sweet (e.g. simple syrup, honey, flavoured liqueur)
Find out more in our guide to making your own cocktails at home!
Black & Gold 3-Piece Cocktail Set
£15.66, HCE
This simple but classy-looking cocktail set punches well above its weight in terms of value and appearance. You won’t find many better-looking cocktail kits that includes the shaker, jigger and strainer for under £15!
Montgomery Cocktail Shaker
£195, Ralph Lauren
You can certainly tell that this chic, tasteful cocktail shaker is from one of America’s top fashion brands. Made by Ralph Lauren, and with a price tag to match, it’s one luxurious way to shake up your cocktails.
Personalised ‘Cocktail Queen’ (or King) Cocktail Shaker
£35, Becky Broome
British boutique company Becky Broome makes lots of fabulous cocktail shakers, but this one is our pick of the bunch - simple but sleek, and the option to add a personal name or message.
Rusty Barrel Park Lane Classic Cocktail Making Kit
£35.95, amazon
The grandaddy of them all? This luxurious gift box contains a Manhattan-style copper shaker, a muddler, strainer, bar measure, pourer, spoon and classic cocktail recipe booklet. Fabulous value at just under £32, this cocktail set is also available in silver and gunmetal black.
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