Bar Tools

Bar Tools

Shaker (Essential)

A cocktail shaker is an essential tool. It’s used to mix drinks by shaking them, usually with ice. Using ice helps to quickly chill the drink before serving.

There are at least three different varieties of shakers:

• Boston Shaker: is a two-piece shaker with a metal bottom (usually stainless steel) and a mixing glass. This style doesn’t have a built in strainer to strain the mixture.
• Cobler Shaker: is a three-piece shaker that tapers near the top and has a built in strainer. Sometimes the cap can be used to measure spirits.
• French Shaker: is a two-piece shaker with a metal bottom and cap. This style doesn’t have a built in strainer, so a separate one will be needed for straining drink mixtures.

Hawthorne Strainer (Essential)

This is a strainer designed to fit into the Boston shaker style of shakers. It is used to  strain out ice from a mixed drink when it’s poured into the serving glass.

This is an essential item if you have the Boston style cocktail shaker.

Julep Strainer

Similar to the Hawthorne strainer as it’s used for straining drink mixtures, this style of strainer is a bowl shaped with a handle. This style of strainer is used by inserting it into a mixing glass or shaker (such as the Boston Shaker above) at an angle. The common use of the Julep strainer is for Mint Juleps.

Jigger (Essential)

A jigger is basically a measuring device. Different styles have different measuring capacities. The double-ended jigger (the ones that have a measuring cup on each side), is the most commonly used style.

Muddler (somewhat essential)

A muddler is a tool to mash fruits, herbs and spices in the bottom of a glass to release their flavors.

Some cocktails that require the use of a muddler include:

• Mojito made with light rum
  Caipirinha made with cachaça
• Caipiroska made with vodka
• Mint julep made with Bourbon whiskey
• Old Fashioned made with whiskey or brandy

Bar Spoon (Essential)

A bar spoon is a long-handled spoon used for mixing and layering drinks. It’s long handle ensures that it can reach the bottom of virtually any container. The spoon holds around 5 millilitres (the same as a conventional teaspoon measurement). 

Bar Blade (Speed Opener) (Essential?)

The speed opener is a flat blade of steel with a thumb hole at one end and a letterbox cut at the other designed to remove bottle caps. 

This isn’t essential as long as you have a bottle opener of some sort for opening bottles that don’t have a twist off cap.

Corkscrew (Essential)

A corkscrew is a tool designed to remove corks from wine bottles and other bottles that may be sealed with corks. The simple style consists of a screw style piece of metal that is screwed into the cork. Modern styles of corkscrews include a lever that assists in the removal of the cork.

This is an essential tool to have if you like to enjoy bottles of wine.

Garnish Peeler

A garnish peeler is basically a vegetable peeler. It’s designed to skin/peel fruits and vegetables.

This could be an essential too to have depending on the type of garnish your going for.

Channel Knife

A channel knife if virtually another type of peeler. It is used to create garnishes like orange peel strips.

It may be essential to you depending on the garnish you’re going for, but it’s not essential for mixing drinks.

Cocktail Knife (Essential)

A cocktail knife is virtually any sharp knife that’s comfortable to use. 

This is essential for cutting fruits for juicing, &/or for garnishing.

Cutting Board (Essential)

A cutting board is a durable piece of material (such as wood, glass, steel, marble or plastic) that is used to cut or chop food items, and come in many different sizes. A wood cutting board is more ideal as it’s less likely to slide like some plastic versions may, and less likely to damage the knife like the glass, steel or marble styles may.

This is an essential tool to have when cutting fruits, etc. for drinks or juicing. 

Fruit Juicer/Press (Essential)

A juicer is a tool that extracts juice from fruits. Some juicers may also function as a food processor.

This is essential to juice fruit for your drinks … however a hand juicer/press is all that’s really needed (unless you’re doing a lot of juicing).

Bottle Pour Spout

A bottle pour spout replaces the cap on 750 ml liquor bottles. These are ideal on liquors that you’ll be using a lot.

These aren’t essential, but are nice to have if you want your home bar to look like your regular corner tavern or you’re pouring a lot of the same spirit.