Professional bartenders would be lost without them, yet home-bar enthusiasts are often too worried about showering guests (or themselves) with a cocktail to give the classic two-piece Boston shaker a go. Dating back to the late 19th century, the Boston shaker was the first shaker to find its way behind a bar and is a lot easier to use than you might think. Here, Portland, Ore. bartender, Evan Zimmerman, offers a few easy tips that'll have you using a Boston shaker like a pro in no time. And for more how-to cocktail videos, click here .

For more of the best liquid culture, click here .