Even though I am frequently traveling, I do enjoy making cocktails at home. I have a nice selection of liquor, bitters, and mixers, but the tools are key. People have asked me what my favorite cocktail tools are in the past, so I am bringing them to you here. I have purchased all of these items for myself and the prices are very reasonable. When you’re making drinks at home, there’s no wrong way, but these definitely make it easier. Here are the bar tools and equipment every home bartender needs to make home bartending a lot more fun!
Essential Home Bartending Tools
Set of Cocktail Shakers
There are SO many options for shakers, and I have used quite a few. I love the versatility of a simple, weighted set like this one. I like using one for squeezing fresh juices into or for ice. They form a good seal, keeping your kitchen or bar area clean. Your hands will get pretty cold during an egg white shake, but that also helps me time 20 seconds. When I can’t stand it any more, I know I’m done!
Jigger
It’s probably weird to say that a jigger brings me joy, but this one does. The fact that you can switch between cocktails without residual flavors and make precise measurements thanks the angled design. So genius, I actually have two.
Juicers
Chef’n makes a hand juicer for lemons, limes, and oranges. Depending on the size of your fruit, the orange juicer works great on grapefruits and oranges, and the lemon juicer works well for lemons and limes. The best thing about these juicers is how well-made and sturdy they are. You can put a lot of pressure on them and they can take it. They also strain out seeds easily, which can’t be done well with an old-fashioned style reamer.
Strainers
It doesn’t matter if your cocktail is shaken or stirred, you’re going to need a good strainer, or two. I love the OXO strainer for most jobs because it’s flexible and easy to clean. The fine mesh strainer from A Bar Above comes in handy for egg white cocktails and straining out muddled berry seeds. I also like that the handle on the cone strainer as it sits easily on a glass while you pour liquid through it.
Bar Spoon
I love a good bar spoon for mixing and this set is awesome. It makes me feel like a real bartender when I mix a drink or use it for a quick taste of whatever I just created. There are many different kinds – ones with little forks on the other end to stab a cherry, and ones that have different handles at the end. Many recipes will call for ‘a bar spoon’ of an ingredient, so it’s helpful to have one. I like to keep it classic and simple with these.
When I started mixing cocktails at home, I thought everything was supposed to be shaken. Once I learned better, I bought a classy but affordable mixing glass. This one is nice for several reasons. It’s big enough to make two drinks at once, a strainer fits into it easily, and it’s deep enough to stir in without spilling. Perhaps best of all, it’s dishwasher safe.
Optional Home Bartending Tools
An Organizing Caddy
I got this for Christmas a couple of years ago and I love it so much. Not only does it make it easy to keep my things organized, but it’s also ready to go with me to a friend’s house. It’s sturdy, washable, and fits easily in my cabinet. Definitely not a must-have but if you are giving the essentials as a gift, this is a great way to make it look like a complete set.
Muddler
I obviously like OXO-brand cocktail tools. They are affordable, well-made, and you can find them almost anywhere that sells kitchen tools. This muddler is strong and the teeth are capable of tearing the toughest mint for your caipirinha or mojito. I also have a more traditional wooden muddler but I hate that it gets stained easily when crushing berries.
Small Cutting Board
I know everyone probably has a million cutting boards, but this one is portable and keeps me from cutting fruit on the counter. It also fits easily into the larger section of the metal organizer above, so that makes me happy.
A Cocktail Mixing Glass
Storage Bottles
If you are looking for the perfect way to store your simple syrups, Crew Bottles are the perfect solution. They come in two sizes, the ones pictured are the Chubby bottles. The best thing about them is that the bottoms screw off and they are dishwasher safe. No more bottle brushes for cleaning! And, if you like to make infusions with fresh fruit or herbs, you can easily remove the solids with minimal mess. They also come with speed pour spouts that make it easier to measure and pour.
As I am sure you know, there are many other things you can buy if you want. Ice cube trays, tongs, pour spouts for liquor bottles, and more. If it makes you happy, get it, but I think these are the bar tools and equipment every home bartender needs. And if you’re looking for a few recipes to try, check out some of mine on the blog and Instagram. Cheers!
A crystal mixing glass is on my list this year!! And that muddler looks ahh-mazing!
It’s so pretty and functional. Hope you get one for Christmas!