The 5 Best Blender for Cocktails 2024 (Reviews & Guide)

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Margaritas, Mojito, and Manhattan cocktails, what do they all have in common? Well, other than being main menus in bars, the three refreshment drinks are perfect for cooling down and also they need ice to chill. So, when looking for the best blender for cocktails in 2024, you have to consider the same factors as blenders for ice and frozen foods.

Regardless, you’ll hardly find bars with a blender running with Blanco tequila on the counter. If it’s an American Classic Margarita, nearly all bartenders use a cocktail shaker until the blend is well-chilled. And for a refreshing mojito, they use a muddler to press the fresh juice from the fruit wedges and herb leaves.

But again, do you need to buy a cocktail shaker or a muddler for making cocktails at home? No, you don’t require either if you have a good blender.

What’s The Best Blender For Cocktails in 2024?

If you have never tried it before, a blender can make you some flavorful, mood-lifting, and boozy frozen mojito or margarita drinks. The machine doesn’t even need to be sophisticated for as long it can handle dry ice or whip in the air well. So, a make like Vitamix E320 would come in handy with its Aer disc container.

However, Vitamix blenders are not for everyone from their high price tag. Therefore, the Nutribullet ZNBF30500Z Combo wins my choice of the overall best blender for cocktails as it’s budget-friendly, yet still convenient and reliable.

Here’s an overview of the blender model and how it compares with some other alternatives you can also check out.

Blender for Cocktails Unique Features Dimensions
(In inches)
Nutribullet ZNBF30500 1200-Watt Combo Blender 
  • 1200 Watt power output
  • 3 adjustable blending speeds
  • 64oz, 32o, & 24oz container
7.7 x 8.1 x 16.9
DASH SM Pro Power Countertop Blender 
  • 64-oz Tritan jar
  • 6 presets + manual
  • 1400-Watt power output
8.8 x 8.8 x 21.8
Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite Blender 
  • 40-oz glass jar
  • 5 simple buttons
  • 700-watt power output
6.5 x 8.6 x 14.6
DASH Chef Deluxe Aqua Frozen Cocktails blender 
  • 50-oz ounce jar
  • Two blending speeds
  • 600 watt power output
7.7 x 7.9 x 15.7
DASH Quest Countertop Blender for Cocktails 
  • 64-oz Tritan Jar
  • 8 presets + manual
  • 1400 watt power output
11.1 x 12.0 x 21.8

The 5 Best Blenders for Cocktails Reviews 2022:

Here’s a detailed rundown of the five blenders that you can try if you would want to make cocktails. It highlights the key features related to making cocktails, plus the pros and cons worth noting before you finalize your buying decision.

1. Best Overall: Nutribullet ZNBF30500Z Combo Blender


Sale
NutriBullet ZNBF30500Z Blender Combo 1200 Watt, 1200W, Dark Gray
  • NutriBullet blender combo will take your nutrition extraction to the next level with the versatility...
  • Three precision speeds, A pulse function and the extract program offer full control at the Press of...

Main Features:

  • 1200-watt motor
  • Pulse button
  • 3-speed settings
  • Heavy-duty plastic material
  • 64-oz, 32-oz, 24-oz capacities

At less than a hundred and fifty, this blender kit comprises a set for full-size and single-serve blending. The full-size set includes a 64-ounce blending container that you can use to prepare margarita and other frozen cocktail drinks enough for about 6-7 people. So, it can be an excellent idea if you do host your friends or coworkers during the weekends for a drink.

But if it’s when you’re alone or need a quick drink, the single-serve package includes 24-oz and 32-oz cups. The best part of these cups is that you can use them to blend, then secure the top with a travel lid and take your drink to go.

Speaking of blending, the machine has a 1200-watt output, which is pretty enough to handle ice and frozen fruits. However, the containers (both cups and pitcher) have a poorly thought blade system. So, you might notice the blender needs more time to complete handling hard dry ice cubes.

But again, the base unit has a control panel with one-touch buttons for speed and pulsing function. So, you can handle a variety of textures with better control and fine consistency.

Pros:

  • It blends consistently and fast
  • Has a reasonable budget
  • Easy to set up and operate
  • Has multiple blending speeds
  • Can use a tamper while still blending
  • It can fit in the standard kitchen cabinet

Cons:

  • It’s relatively noisy while using
  • No preprogrammed settings
  • The slowest “low” speed button is still fast

2. Best Value: DASH SM Pro Power Countertop Blender

Dash Chef Series 64 oz Blender with with Stainless Steel Blades +...
  • INCLUDES: Backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty on parts and includes 64 oz. tritan blending jug...

Main Features:

  • 1400-watt motor
  • 64-ounce Tritan jar
  • Built-in digital timer
  • 6x preprogrammed settings
  • Adjustable bending speeds
  • 6-point Japanese Stainless steel blade

If you won’t mind the $250 it asks, this blender could be what you have been looking. It starts with a lovely, sleek profile that you can even add to compliment the aesthetics of your smart kitchen.

The base unit gives about 1400 watts output, which is approximately 2.25 horsepower to the techies. In the standard language, this is powerful enough to chop, blend puree, grind, and even shave dry ice without a hassle.

Even better, the blender can be your kitchen computer as it has six preset functions that give you walk-away convenience. If it’s frozen desserts like ice cream or crushing ice, you just need to give the commands and it will obey.

Furthermore, the blender has an adjustable speed setting that makes it possible to process different textures. Then, the blending jar has a tall, slender design that allows you to blend small to large batches without problems.

Pros:

  • It has a well-made, durable style
  • Can make hot soups
  • Easy and fun to operate
  • Handles ice and frozen fruits well
  • Gives smooth and consistent blends
  • It has a built-in timer and presets

Cons:

  • It’s a bit expensive
  • Relatively bulky to move
  • Takes much storage space

3. Best Under 40: Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite Blender

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action Blender For Shakes and...
  • POWERFUL BLENDING PERFORMANCE: With 700 watts of peak blending power and stainless steel Ice Sabre...
  • ULTRA-SMOOTH RESULTS WITH PATENTED WAVE ACTION SYSTEM: As you blend, ingredients are continuously...

Main Features:

  • 700-watt peak output
  • Manual control
  • Pulsing function
  • 40-oz glass blending jar
  • 8.6 inches wide, 14.6 inches high

Hamilton Beach is one of the most-talked regular blender brands because of its affordability and amazing performance. Of course, you can’t compare to Blendtec or Vitamix, but at the price they sell, one can’t expect more.

If it’s this model, the power base guarantees an output of 700 watts, but there’s the peak boost to counter initial resistance. You can use the blender to give your tequila a perfect stir with the mixing agent before pouring it into the iced glasses. If you wish to make a slushy margarita cocktail, the motor is strong enough to handle smaller bits of ice (not hard or large cubes).

But again, the blender doesn’t have a definite variable speed setting like that of Vitamix or even Ninja. It has four buttons that activate various blending functions while running at different speeds.

Another thing worth mentioning is that this blender uses a tough glass jar to handle all the blending tasks. So, it’s a good idea if you wish to keep your kitchen plastic-free.

Pros:

  • It’s very affordable
  • Straightforward to operate
  • Quick and effortless to clean
  • Can handle most blending tasks
  • The glass feels sturdy and durable

Cons:

  • It struggles on large ice cubes
  • Doesn’t support automated blending
  • The lid be sometimes hard to remove

4. Best Release: DASH Chef Deluxe Aqua Frozen Cocktails blender

Sale
Dash Chef Series Deluxe Digital 64 oz Countertop Blender, with...
  • COUNTERTOP BLENDER: Dash Chef Series Deluxe Digital Countertop Blender is the ultimate, professional...
  • 8 PRESET FUNCTIONS: Combo of 8 presets allow you to create smoothies, shakes, and juices, as well as...

Main Features:

  • 600 watts power output
    Approx. 50-oz capacity
    Removable lid plug
    Tough glass blending jar
    6.2-inch width, 15 inch high
    2x adjustable blending speeds

Although it’s only been out for a few months, I would say the blender is performing quite well market-wise. It’s very affordable and also handles most of the blending and food processing tasks in the kitchen.

If it’s our cocktails like margaritas, the blender has a 600-watt motor that you can use to mix drinks. It could also handle crushed or small ice cubes for a slushy blend and a flavorful smoothie. But then, the motor only has two blending functions (low and high speed) and pulse. So, you’ll have to do everything manually.

Furthermore, the blender has a 1.5 liters capacity that delivers about five cups of serving, assuming you have friends you’re sharing with. The blending jar is a tough, clear glass, which is an excellent idea if you loathe food on plastics.

Still, the blender jug has a removable plug so that you can easily add ingredients without having to remove the whole lid. If not to add ingredients, you can use a tamper to push the stubborn bits into the blades without having to switch the motor off.

Pros:

  • It’s easy to operate
  • Has a reasonable budget
  • Grips on the surface firmly
  • Feels strong and durable
  • You can remove blades for easier cleanup

Cons:

  • The dial’s backlight doesn’t sleep
  • Not ideal for shaving large ice blocks.

5. Best Design: DASH Quest Countertop Blender for Cocktails

Sale
Dash Quest 50 oz Countertop Kitchen Blender, Professional Heavy...
  • COUNTERTOP BLENDER: Dash Quest Countertop Blender is the perfect everyday blender for the at-home...
  • 2 PRESET FUNCTIONS: Combo of 2 presets plus pulse allow you to create smoothies, shakes, and juices,...

Main Features:

  • 1400-watt power
  • 64-ounce Tritan jar
  • 10x adjustable speeds
  • Built-in digital timer
  • 8x preset programs
  • 6-point Japanese Stainless steel blade

If you fancy cool stuff, the DASH Quest has a sleek, elegant design and various amazing features that you’ll love. It’s more like an update of the DASH SM Pro, though, both in the appearance and the performance.

The power base hides a 1400-watt motor that supports both manual and automated blending. It has up to eight preprogrammed settings, which include one for making frozen desserts like snow cones and another for crushing ice. There’s also an integrated digital timer if you want to prepare your customized recipes with high precision.

Furthermore, the blender has ten incremental blending speeds and also a dedicated pulse function. So, you can make your personalized slushy margarita recipe with the best control and consistency.

However, the blender uses a tall 64-oz blending jug that might not fit in the regular 18-inch cabinet while still on the base. So, you must make sure there’s enough space on the countertop and storage beforehand.

Pros:

  • It has a sleek and elegant design
  • Handles ice and frozen fruits well
  • Includes a built-in USB charging port
  • Can blend a small and large amount
  • It has a rugged and durable design

Cons:

  • It’s pretty expensive
  • The lid can be hard to remove
  • Tricky to fit in the standard cabinet

Key Takeaway: Make the Most From Your Blender

When you have a nice blender in the kitchen, there’s a whole lot of stuff you can do. Mix protein shakes, make a smoothie, prep vegetables, mill grains, blend coffee frappe, and now prepare cocktail drinks.

Here’s a simple classic Margarita cocktail recipe you can try one of these afternoons or weekends now that the weather is a bit warmer. The recipe is enough for five servings but could be more or less as it depends on the size of serving glasses.

What You Need:

  • 1 cup Blanco tequila
  • 1 cup lime juice
  • ½ cup triple sec
  • 2 tablespoons agave or other sweeteners of choice (optional)
  • 6 cups ice cubes-
  • Lime wedges- for garnishing and rimming the glass
  • Margarita/ kosher/ any flaky salt (optional)- for rimming glass

What To Do:

  • Prepare and assemble all the materials on the kitchen counter
  • Run a lime wedge along the rim of your serving glasses. Then, dip the “limed” edges of the glasses in the margarita salt.
  • Add the five ingredients into the blending container as per the listed order. That’s starting with the lightest to the hardest
  • Start the blender and blend until you get a slushy texture. If the recipe is still bitter, you can add more sweetener to taste or extra ice cubes when the drink is runny.
  • Pour into the glasses you prepared in Step (2) and serve immediately.

Ps. It’s not a must you rim the glass. So, don’t use table salt if there’s no Margarita/ kosher salt around as it will give your refreshment drink a weird taste.

Quick Guide: Factors to Consider When Looking for a blender for Making Cocktails:

The following are eight things to watch closely when confirming if your existing or to-be blender is good for cocktails.

Power: a high power will be the best if you’re considering crushing ice and frozen fruits for margaritas often.

Capabilities: if you’re planning to explore the deep culinary world, consider a blender that’s more to it than meets the eye. For instance, a blender like Vitamix can do complete pulverization, slushy blending, muddling, and many other tasks.

Blades: The blade has to be as strong as the motor if it’s to withstand the regular beating of ice. This includes both the countertop and single-serve personal blender.

Capacity: you certainly don’t want to start speaking gibberish Spanish or Mexican after consuming too many cocktails or have some of your folks miss the drink. So, do make sure you get the right size of blender for your needs.

Size: this is not about the capacity, rather the overall dimensions of your blender. It helps determine if the unit is fit for your limited space or whether you should seek an alternative option. So, do make sure your capacity needs and the available space aligns.

Pulse Function: We don’t want to make a smoothie or milkshake, our cocktail should be slushy- semi-frozen syrup. So, pulsing is very crucial here as it gives better control over the ice in the jar.

Automated Blending: It’s not a must but can come in handy if you would want to do away with guesswork and also enable walkaway convenience.

Durability: if a blender has a well-made construction using high-quality materials, not only does it perform as expected. But also last for a longer time doing the heavier task.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you mix cocktails in a blender?

With a good blender like Vitamix, you can blend, grind, and mix a whole lot of ingredients. if it’s the mojito, the blender is the only one I can think of that allows you to muddle in an Aer disc container without pulverizing the lime and mint leaves. But with a margarita cocktail, many blenders know how to go around the ice. You just need the liquor, fresh fruit/juice, a handful of ice, and the other ingredients you might like. Then, blend the mixture until you have a slushy texture- not runny.

Do you need a blender for cocktails?

Even though cocktails are way much easier to prepare with a blender, it’s not a must you use the appliance. In the bar, it might even look odd and disorienting to have the machine blasting at over 80 decibels now and then. For this reason, bartenders often have a cocktail shaker that they use to mix cocktails and also a muddler for crushing the lime and mint to release the contained juice.

What are the best blenders for cocktails?

If you’re buying a blender for a home, it would be better to choose a versatile machine that can handle a variety of tasks. For instance, a machine like Vitamix has a high-power motor and various types of blending containers. So, you can shave ice for a margarita and muddle the fruits for mojito easily.

But again, a high-power Blendtec or Vitamix is a bit pricey, in particular, brand new makes. The five best blenders for cocktails that you can get at slightly or even much lower budget include:

Best of All: Nutribullet ZNBF30500Z Combo Blender
Best of Value: DASH SM Pro Power Countertop Blender
Best Under 40: Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite Blender
Best of Releases: DASH Chef Deluxe Aqua Frozen Cocktails blender
Best of Design: DASH Quest Countertop Blender for Cocktails

How do you blend cocktails?

In general, it’s very easy to blend cocktail drinks like a margarita. In many of the recipes, you only need to add the base (liquor), mixing agent (fresh fruit/ juice), sweetener (optional), and dry ice. Then, you power on the machine and blend the mixture up until you have a slushy texture.

Since it’s not a liquor smoothie/ shake that you’re making, don’t pulverize the blend until runny. Do make sure it comes out slushy enough and if not, you can add more extra ice, then mix it up until you have that partially frozen syrup.

Final Verdict

Whether it’s already there or you’re searching for one, a nice blender for cocktails should be powerful enough to handle icy stuff. The pulsing function is also very crucial as it gives better control over the ingredients, thereby enabling you to achieve the slushy texture without liquefying the blend.

Meanwhile, making a mojito with a blender can be tricky if using the normal blending container. However, Vitamix has an Aer disc container that you can use to muddle the fruit pieces or herb leaves without pulverizes. So, a blender like Vitamix 5200 or ascent A3500 can be very convenient if you could afford it. But if the wallet is a little thin at the moment, you can check out Nutribullet ZNBF30500Z Combo or even the Hamilton Beach 58148A Power Elite Blender. Both machines are affordable and perform many of the common blending tasks.