This shaker works great as long as you typically mix drinks into either giant glasses (1 gal. +) or you have a really big funnel lying around that you could pour through. If you like to use normal size bar glasses, then you are probably going to make a mess when you spill everywhere. Also, I'd recommend a pair of leather gloves to avoid slicing your hand open when using the shaker. I don't like to wear gloves, so I just drilled a hole in the side and pour ingredients through that. Then, when I am ready to mix I just hold my thumb over the hole. That's a pretty good alternative.The best alternative would be buying a different shaker.