The weighted Boston shaker set in two lines
These are the two tins of a Boston shaker sold together and already matched: the 28oz large tin, or mixing tin, and the 20oz small tin, also called the half tin. Both are 18/10 stainless steel, and both are weighted, with extra mass at the base.
Who it is for
For anyone starting from scratch who does not want to get the pairing wrong. Buying the two tins separately looks the same and is not: tolerances matter, and two tins made to go together seal better than two that met by chance. Anyone who has worked a bar knows that a shaker leaking mid-shake is the fastest way to soak your shirt in front of a guest.
How the two tins work
The 28oz tin takes the ingredients and the ice. The 20oz tin goes in at an angle, not straight, and closes the cavity: the angle is what creates the seal, because the steel flexes very slightly and acts as a gasket. During the shake the cold contracts the metal and the seal gets tighter. To open it, strike with the heel of your hand where the two rims are closest.
Specifications
- Set: 28oz tin and 20oz small tin
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Base: weighted, on both tins
- Use: tin-on-tin shaking
Why both tins are weighted
On the large tin the weight gives stability standing up and during the shake. On the small tin it does something else: the small tin is the one you hold when you break the seal and the one you stand upside down on the bar top to drain, and with a heavy base it stays where you put it. Having both weighted is why this set costs a little more than a plain one, and why bartenders who shake a lot choose it.
Twenty ounces, not eighteen
The small tin in this set is 20oz. It is the most common size in Europe and it has a practical advantage: it stands better and holds a whole drink when you need a second vessel to pour across. Sets with an 18oz small tin are more compact in the hand and slightly quicker to move, and that is a personal preference before it is a technical point.
Three sets, not one
A working bar does not run on a single set. Between drinks the tin needs a rinse, and with only one set you end up shaking in a tin still wet from the last drink, which dilutes and muddies the flavour. Three weighted sets are the minimum to get through an hour of peak service without stopping at the sink.
The more you buy, the less you pay: 4 pieces -5%, 6 -7%, 8 -10%, on the same item.
Care
Rinse straight away and dry by hand. There is no plating to protect, so the dishwasher is fine. Keep the tins for shaking only, and use a muddler and an ice bag for the rest: a straight, round rim is what keeps the two tins sealing together.
FAQ
What sizes are the tins in this set? 28oz for the large tin and 20oz for the small tin, both weighted.
Why buy them together? They are made as a pair and seal better than two tins bought separately.
Do I need a separate strainer? Yes. A Boston has no built-in strainer, so you need a hawthorne strainer.
What are the tins made from? 18/10 stainless steel, with no plating.
How do I open them when they stick? With a strike of the palm where the two rims are closest, never by pulling.
The shaker families are compared in the cocktail shaker guide.
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