The best design-led cocktail shakers

For a brand with a legacy of more than 100 years and its roots firmly planted in Copenhagen, this neatly stacked design from Georg Jensen feels appropriately vintage and minimalist. The design has an air of 1920s glamour about it, with a timeless stainless steel form that would just as well suit a contemporary bar as a mid-century style sitting room. At 750ml it’s a generous size, which meant it could comfortably manage a couple of cocktails at a time. The only downside is the high polish finish is prone to smudges from fingerprints, so could trouble perfectionists.

Famed for its playful percolators above all, Italian designer Alessi also dabbles in other drinks accoutrement, such as cocktail shakers. This particular one is a favourite of followers of the brand thanks to its sculptural, simple aesthetic which is a stylistic shapeshifter, adding a quietly quirky touch to any environs. With over a million of these sold worldwide, it doesn’t offer the opportunity to own something unique, but instead presents the potential to join many a happy bartender and private owner in having a little piece of iconic barware in your collection. The slightly bulbous body makes it feel comfortable in the hand, and the pouring lip is nicely accurate too.

There’s something infinitely alluring about a collaboration and one based around The Met immediately evokes glamour. Potentially one of the prettiest in our selection, the classic hand-blown, cut glass has an almost feminine feel to it, alluding to the romance of drinks trolleys from times gone by. The in-built strainer is a no-brainer for most shaken drinks, like a margarita or a sour, with holes big enough for any foam to pass through while withholding the ice. It’s worth noting that this piece is hand-wash only, so not suitable for regularly running through the dishwasher if you’re planning on using your cocktail shaker a lot.

With its silver plating, this piece from Soho Home has a warm finish that makes it as much of an ornament as a practical object. The stylised engraving echoes Art Deco design and in such a way presents an enduring piece for any bar or kitchen. The petite cap and pouring spout means that drinks can be poured at a pleasant pace, rather than splashing everywhere. At 24cm it’s not too top heavy either, fitting nicely in one hand for easy mixing. This one looks particularly good when frosted with condensation - for extra cold drinks try keeping it in the fridge before use, for crisp cocktails.

Available in both a periwinkle blue and a fresh buttermilk, the Arlo cocktail shaker draws on midcentury design for that signature bubble finish in a polished lacquer. The gloss is agreeably low maintenance, keeping its sheen even after a good bit of manhandling. As part of a set, this gives you the opportunity to mix and match pieces for a fully stocked bar kit that will allow for the stirring and shaking of every cocktail imaginable. With so many options in the Arlo range - including serving platters - a selection of the pieces would make a thoughtful wedding or birthday gift for a friend who loves to host.

With the straight, practical lines of a flask, this utilitarian style option from Not Another Bill has the added benefit of coming as a set, complete with strainer, stirrer and measure. The sweet scalloped strainer is decorative enough to be left out, along with the other pieces, making this set ideal to stash on a shelf or sideboard. At 20cm, this is a rather petite model which has good balance when being shaken. It’s also made from stainless steel for long-term appeal. Pair this set with a couple of cut crystal glasses for a stylish service ready to be called into action whenever the fancy for a couple of strong drinks grips you.

Aside from the look of a piece, the feel is important too, and this is satisfyingly weighty thanks to its genetic makeup of brass heavily plated in buffed silver. In the wrong hands the novelty aspect of this could feel gimmicky, but instead the design breathes character into a typically one dimensional object. The secret to this cocktail shaker feeling cool instead of kitsch is in its level of detail that’s replicated from a 1920s piece. It’s a replica of a shaker made during the prohibition era, which was designed as a model lighthouse so as to conceal the object’s true purpose, hiding it from police at the time. Aside from being an interesting display piece it also offers up a nice anecdote to share over a perfectly shaken libation.

Proving not all cocktail shakers have to be monotone, this juicy coral coloured example from Zanetto offers up a way to inject a little colour into your barware. For the design conscious, this example is hand hammered from a single sheet of silver plated metal which results in a unique piece every time. This isn’t unusual for Zanetto, a design studio hailing from Padua which prides itself on its manual processes. In more practical terms, the full body opens up for easy cleaning, which is a mundane but useful note if you’re someone who regularly uses their shaker.

Proudly one of the world’s best hotels, Claridge’s is as much famed for its bars as its restaurants and rooms. The former are spread across its Champagne bar, The Fumoir and The Painter’s Room where its team of mixologists expertly handle an almost infinite number of cocktails, many of which pass through the hotel’s signature shakers. For luxury brand aficionados the subtle logo engraving adds a nice touch, and the design is sensible too. The piece splits in half to allow for easy mixing and the neat pouring spout gives good control. Little details like the engraved cap emphasise the consideration that’s gone into the making of this one.

With just the right amount of personality, this chipper gentleman brings a good dose of humour to cocktail hour without nose diving into naff territory. At under £40 it makes an ideal, playful gift. The design comes complete with a mini bowtie, and practically speaking there’s an in-built strainer for ease of use. A classic size, this comfortably makes a couple of cocktails and it’s lightweight too meaning it’s easy to manoeuver with just one hand.