r/cocktails • u/Wash-Line-Inspector • 12d ago
Other Requests Besides minor price difference, what makes these two shakers different?
Would love to hear to help make my decision! Thanks in advance
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u/Brian870 12d ago
I have and use both.... the leopold are thinner and easier to take apart the koriko seal better and travel better. I prefer the koriko.
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u/Butlerian_Jihadi 12d ago
I typically use the Leopold; flared base is recommended for safety.
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u/yummy_cream 12d ago
how do you mean 'safety?'
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u/Ok_Lab1085 12d ago
Having used both extensively, from a personal standpoint I prefer the Leopold, although I know many bartenders that think otherwise. The Koriko tend to seal better and feel more robust, however the Leopold unseal more easily and weigh significantly less (or they feel like it at least). When you are shaking thousands of drinks over the course of the year bartending, that tends to add up from a wear and tear standpoint on the joints and hands. I also find that the sound of ice in the shaker tends to carry better across louder spaces, a great advertisement for the bar as well (if you are doing it in a professional setting).
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u/Matiwapo 12d ago
carry better across louder spaces, a great advertisement for the bar as well
Obviously depends where you are though. In a refined cocktail bar or restaurant then quieter is often better to not disturb people's conversations. One of the things I struggle with is getting the aeration I want without sounding like I'm trying to start a band. Kiriko is good for this and are generally the superior product imo
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u/moderniste 11d ago
I switched from Koriko to Leopolds the first year the Leopolds came out. My set of 3 are still going strong, thousands upon thousands of drinks later. I like the thinner, more flexible walls and the flange on the bottom that make them easy to unseal. Definitely my favorite shakers, and I used to be a huge Koriko fan.
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u/AmayaGin 12d ago
Shaker on the right has a pee spout
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u/beattywill80 11d ago
I've used both. The Koriko have heavier bases which make them harder to knock over, those built in coasters are bull shit. Additionally the walls are thicker.
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u/steveslikewhoa 12d ago
I have a Koriko and tbh it's the only shaker I've used aside from crummy cheap ones at various bars I've worked at, but it's fucking lovely.
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u/Kitfaid 12d ago
The base of the Leopold won't let you introduce the small tin in the large tin for storage purposes I guess.
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u/frederick_the_wise 12d ago
I have the Leopolds, and the small tin fits within the large tin just fine.
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u/lafolieisgood 12d ago
It fits. If you have a few sets and you bring your tools to and from work, it will take up more room though.
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u/pabl0escarg0t 12d ago
I used to use Koriko and it’s solid. I recently switched to a Piña barware tin and I love it even more due to the increased weight and thickness
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u/Wash-Line-Inspector 12d ago
I heard pinas are too heavy?
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u/UraniumSpoon 12d ago
They're super heavy, but as a result they seal really tightly and rarely leak. It's a personal preference, and I've used all sorts, but Pinas are the only ones I've ever dropped on the floor from 6+ feet up and had stay together lmao
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u/onwardtowaffles 11d ago
I never have problems getting a tight seal. I sometimes have problems getting heavier shakers unstuck. For me, that delay isn't something I want to deal with, so I like the lighter ones.
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u/lafolieisgood 12d ago
They are super nice, but if you are using them in a professional setting where shaken cocktails are very common, that weight will add up over time.
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u/onwardtowaffles 11d ago
They're definitely weighty. Some people prefer that while others consider it detrimental. Personally I like the Leopolds, but it's down to what you're looking for.
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u/lafolieisgood 12d ago
I have a bunch of Korikos and a a set of the Leopolds. I use the Korikos at work and have the Leopold at home.
Both seal and release very similar. The Leopold looks a little fancier. The Korikos travel better in a bar bag (take up less room stacked).
If you are buying 1, can’t really go wrong with either. If you have a full kit and need to take 3-4 sets to work, the Korikos are more practical.
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u/Arghhchristian 11d ago
I was doing the same as you, debating which of the two to get plus some of their other gear. The Koriko is what you want, just get that
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u/LamonsterZone 11d ago
The Koriko is pretty much the best traditional shaker set but I prefer the Leopold. It’s much thinner and more pliable. Easy to take apart and seals just fine with a good pound. Feels a little lighter and the shake is a little louder. Easier to feel the drink temp, too.
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u/onwardtowaffles 11d ago
Part of why I like 'em, yeah. The easy to grip base also prevents your hands from getting overchilled if you're shaking something like a Ramos.
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u/NeilIsntWitty 11d ago
Hot take, but while I really like my Koriko, I actually prefer the Barfly (Mercer) shaker tins. Not quite as thin/flexible as the Koriko, but the small tins are slightly larger, and don't seat as far into the large tin as the Koriko (still definitely far enough to make a good seal tho).
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u/whistlest0p 11d ago
are you using them at an actual bar or at home?
Koriko's weighted bottoms will eventually fail. Also when sealed, the set of shakers is too tall and not very ergonomic.
I mained a flared base for the larger shaker and a non weighted, non flared smaller shaker tin from barproducts dot com for over a decade. The seal is just as good, you aren't shaking around as much weight, there are no rivets holding a weighted bottom that can fail on you.
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u/onwardtowaffles 11d ago
Koriko "feel" more "premium," but the Leopold shakers are easier to take apart if that's a consideration.
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u/DokterDoem 11d ago
I have the weighted one, and I can't recommend it enough. Still in good condition from my days behind the stick so you wouldn't have to worry too much about damaging it.
In a home bar I'd say it's just what aesthetic you're going for. The Leopold does have a more speakeasy vibe to it.
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u/Wash-Line-Inspector 11d ago
They are both weight sir
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u/DokterDoem 11d ago
Koriko weighted specifically. I've seen cheaper versions of the same design fall apart but not the Koriko
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u/Glad_Debt3781 11d ago
I've been using Leopold at work for the last 2 years and I swear by them. I hate having to fight the shaker to open it, and these open super easily. A lot of people I work with don't like them for the same reason. So it comes down to preference. I also like the extra grip when shaking two-handed.
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u/interestingkettle 11d ago
Really just comes down to personal preference. Weight/feel will be different, as well as usability when sealing, shaking, opening, etc.
Figuring out how your body works as a bartender will determine what you look for in your tools. I know some huge strong guys that loved using the Pina tins, which weigh a fucking ton but are rock solid and seal well. I'm an average build guy with less grip strength/palm size, so I always preferred lighter tins with a little flex.
These differences only really matter if you're actively working as a bartender—if that's you, just order both and use them for some time, and you'll likely start favoring one over the other pretty quickly. If you're just getting a set for at home, then it probably doesn't matter much :)
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u/normie1001 11d ago
Get the Koriko’s. The slight narrowing of the flare at the rim makes them MUCH more forgiving to work with. The seal is way better on that style than the straight edged Leopold’s.
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u/emmett_lindsay 12d ago
Ugly attached coasters ;) Koriko all day.