Bar Tool Essentials

Author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson once famously stated that, “anything worth doing, is worth doing right.” Every project requires both the proper knowledge and the tools to be successful. This is especially true when it comes to crafting cocktails; you can certainly get by using off-brand or “make-do” utensils, but in the end your beverage might suffer for it. The flip side of that is even if you have the most expensive and shiniest state-of-the-art piece of equipment, if you don’t know how to use it, the drink will still be terrible. 

Here is a quick breakdown of the bar tools I use, both at work and at home. Keep in mind, there is a thriving marketplace for bar tools and support – roughly 1.8 Billion $US in 2021 – all fighting for your hard-earned money. Cocktail smoker kits, infusers, glassware, battery operated corkscrews, the list goes on and on. Some bar tools are worth spending a little extra on, others are not. Find what you like that’s within your budget. 

Okay, so in no particular order, here’s my list. Yours very well be different, and that’s okay. 

BOSTON SHAKER

Different from a cocktail shaker in that it doesn’t have a built-in strainer and consists of two pieces, a 28 ounce metal tin with either a glass or metal 16 ounce tin. This is most often used by professional bartenders.

COCKTAIL MIXING GLASS

A heavy-bottomed glass container used to stir cocktails. While a pint glass can work in a pinch, the mixing glass is wider at the base, making it easier to thoroughly stir your cocktails and to use larger craft ice cubes. The pour spout is a bonus, too.

JIGGERS

These come in many shapes and sizes, but is traditionally two sizes; a 1oz. x 2oz., and a ½ oz. X ¾ oz. No need to spend a lot, but for a consistent pour, a jigger is a must-have in my book. Pick one that has east to read numbers.

HAWTHORN STRAINER

I tend to use the Hawthorn strainer almost exclusively. Typically used to strain shaken drinks in tandem with a Fine Mesh Strainer, as opposed to a Julep Strainer, which is used mostly for stirred drinks. I find the Hawthorn does just fine in both applications as long as the coils are tight and it fits snugly inside the shaker.

FINE MESH STRAINER

Used to double strain cocktails to keep pulp, or small ice chips out of the drink, resulting in a smoother cocktail.

MUDDLER

Used to “bruise” herbs or fruit to release essential oils or juices. There’s not really a good substitute for this tool – spoons tend to cut and tear the fruit, rather than smoosh.

BAR SPOON

Another important tool to have in your bar, this 12” spiraled spoon is a beast. Perfect for evenly mixing cocktails, it can also be used to layer shots, scoop fruit, tastes mixes, and even measure. Worth spending a little extra on as cheap ones can be flimsy and unbalanced.

WINE BOTTLE OPENER

There are a ton of different styles and price ranges for bottle openers, from an old fashioned corkscrew to the latest battery powered gizmo. I prefer a simple wine key with a corkscrew on one side and a knife blade on the side. Pick the one that suits you best. 

PEELER

Used mainly for creating pretty garnishes. A Y-yoke peeler does a great job.

CITRUS PRESS

Fresh juice is always best.

BAR TOWEL

Okay, I will admit this seems like a weird tool to include in the list, but if you think about it, it could be the most important and versatile. Not only can you wipe up dribbles from pouring into your glass, but drinks do get knocked over, jar lids can be hard to grip, and fingers get sticky with olive and cherry juice. I always keep several clean bar towels handy.

There are a ton of other tools available for your bar. Some, like a zester, can be scrounged from the kitchen, especially if your partner isn’t watching. Others, like a salt caddy, I might wait on purchasing until you decide how deep into the rabbit hole you’re going to go. There is also a lot of great information on the Web, several fantastic books, and even your local bartender can offer insights that could help you set up your home bar and jump your cocktail game.