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Cobbler Shaker
The Cobbler shaker is designed as a compact, all-in-one cocktail shaker.
Its three-piece construction gives you a shaker tin, built-in strainer, and cap, making it approachable for beginners and convenient when you don’t want to use a separate strainer.
Cobbler shakers are also closely associated with Japanese bartending, where beautifully made versions are often used with precise, deliberate shaking techniques.
“The one benefit to cobbler shakers vs Boston shakers is that the cobbler shaker comes in a variety of sizes. This is helpful if a bar or restaurant is doing table-side cocktails. […] Cobbler shakers take less training to use properly since there is little-to-no opportunity for the shaker to break open. So the server can have a small single serving cobbler shaker for every cocktail at the table and shake it to order.” –Chris Tunstall
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Cobbler Shaker Pros
- All-in-one design: The built-in strainer means you don’t necessarily need a separate Hawthorne strainer.
- Beginner-friendly: There’s no need to learn how to create and break the angled seal of a Boston shaker.
- Compact: The integrated design makes it appealing when storage space is limited.
- Available in different sizes: Smaller versions can be useful for single cocktails and tableside service.
- Beautiful presentation: There’s a reason Cobblers look so good sitting on a bar cart.
- Useful for specialized shaking techniques: Cobbler shakers are particularly associated with Japanese bartending and techniques such as the hard shake.
“Honestly, I love my cobblers. They just feel so good to hold. It’s like a nice chilly massage to shake them. […] And if you have the time to do one drink at a time, it just feels more appropriate to me to use a smaller cobbler shaker than a super-sized Boston shaker for 3 oz of liquid. But don’t get a big cobbler shaker. It ruins the whole point.” –Ben Lawton, CBC member
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Cobbler Shaker Cons
This is one area where I’d change the original article pretty substantially because many common Cobbler complaints are quality and design problems, not unavoidable characteristics of every Cobbler shaker.
Potential drawbacks include:
- Built-in strainers offer less control: Depending on the design, larger holes can allow smaller ice chips or bits of ingredients through.
- Strainers can clog: Muddled fruit, herbs, and pulp can block the small holes of an integrated strainer.
- More pieces to clean: Three components and an integrated strainer naturally give you more nooks and crannies than two simple tins.
- Smaller capacity: Many Cobblers are designed around one cocktail rather than larger batches.
- The cap is another piece to keep track of: It’s small. Small things have a remarkable talent for disappearing.
- Some designs stick: Chilling metal contracts, and poorly designed Cobbler lids and caps can become frustratingly difficult to remove after shaking.
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That last one is worth emphasizing: A Cobbler shaker getting hopelessly stuck isn’t a requirement of the style. Good design can dramatically improve how easily the pieces separate after shaking.
“I prefer a weighted Boston shaker; it’s more convenient, more professional, and I don’t have to deal with losing a dumb cap like on a cobbler.” –Kelly Tyree, CBC member
