Boston Shaker Luxury 28oz & 20oz Tin Set, Weighted, Mirror Finish

For the bartender who shakes in front of the guest and sees the tool as part of the show. On an open bar the tin is the largest object in the bartender’s hands and the only one in the air for a good fifteen seconds: its finish is seen more than any other detail of the station. The Luxury Boston shaker works like any other pair and looks like no ordinary pair does.

Under the polish is the construction that counts: added mass in the base of both pieces. On the large tin of the Luxury Boston shaker it keeps the tin steady when it stands full of ice, and it gives the shake momentum, so you ride the movement instead of fighting it. On the small tin it does something else: that is the piece set upside down on the bar top to drain, and with the weight at the bottom it stays where you put it instead of rocking.

• Large tin: 28oz
• Small tin: 20oz
• Material: stainless steel
• Base: weighted on both pieces
• Finish: mirror polish
• Strainer: not built in, a separate strainer is needed

What a mirror surface asks in return

Drying. A mirror polish does not wear or flake, because it is the metal itself polished and not a coating, but it shows everything: fingerprints, limescale marks and dried drops can be seen from a metre away, while on a satin finish they disappear into the grain. Dry the Luxury Boston shaker with a cloth after every wash, always. Leave it to drip dry and within a week it is spotted white, and at that point you need vinegar.

The Luxury Boston shaker is 28 plus 20, not 28 plus 18

The 28 plus 20 combination is the one common in Italian bars, and it differs from the American standard, which pairs the 28 with an 18. The 20oz small tin has a wider mouth: it holds more liquid, ice goes in more easily and it takes a whole drink when you need a second vessel to pour between. In return it is slightly less handy when breaking the seal. Bartenders trained in Italy find the 20 natural.

How it seals, and how to open it without damage

The small tin goes into the large one at an angle, never straight: the angle 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 tightens, which is why at the end the two feel welded together. Open them with a strike of the palm where the two rims are closest, never by pulling and never by twisting.

How many pairs you really need

Never just one. The tin is rinsed after every drink, and with a single pair you either stop at the sink every time or shake in a tin still wet from the last cocktail, which dilutes and muddies the flavour. Two or three Luxury Boston shakers are the minimum to get through the rush without stopping, and they spread the wear instead of putting it all on one piece. The more you buy, the less you pay: 4 sets -5%, 6 -7%, 8 -10%, on the same item.

FAQ

What sizes is the Luxury Boston shaker? 28oz for the large tin, 20oz for the small tin.

Is the base weighted on both pieces? Yes, on both.

Does the dishwasher damage the mirror finish? It does not flake, because it is polished steel and not a coating. Limescale marks remain: drying by hand is better.

Do I need a separate strainer? Yes, Boston shakers have no built-in strainer.

Can the small tin be used on its own? Yes, for pouring between vessels and for serving. It is also the piece that sits upside down to drain.

Why does it cost more than a plain pair? Because of the mirror polish over the whole surface and the weighted base on both pieces.

Dispatched from Rome, Italy. The Boston pairs are compared in the cocktail shaker category.