Gear Essentials for the Home Bartender
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Let’s Talk Gear
Gear is fun! Knowing what gear to have on hand can be confusing, so we are aiming to clear up a few things in this post, and get you pointed in the right direction.
Knowing the ingredients and how to put them together is just one step in the creation of great cocktails at home. Equally important is to have the correct tools on hand. A bar spoon is great for stirring your craft cocktails, but it's also a great multitasker as Alton Brown would say, useful for fetching cherries and olives out of a jar, breaking up ice, measuring small amounts of ingredients, and muddling sugar cubes.
We've assembled a list of tools we think every home bartender should have in their arsenal. Do you need every one of these things? Probably not on day one, but we submit that these are the bare bones tools that an aspiring home mixologist needs as a starting point.
Wait! Where’s the glassware?
Look: glassware is problematic for us here at The Reluctant Bartender. We tend to…uh…purchase waaaay too much glassware. We have glassware in five different cabinets. We have glasses for red wine, white wine, and dessert wine. We have have coupes, Martini glasses, Nick and Nora glasses, tulips, rocks glasses, highballs, and whiskey sipping glasses. We have glassware in storage—on both coasts.
This is not a humble brag—it’s the acknowledgement of a serious problem.
That said, our obsession with glassware makes sense because we are cocktail (and wine) fans! The glass in which a drink is served matters. A perfectly created Manhattan served in a red solo cup is not the same experience as one served in a coupe.
Since this is such a varied topic, with lots to cover, we are going to roll a separate post entirely focused on glassware.
Can I just buy a cocktail essentials tool kit?
Of course you can! Personally, we find the sets are usually a compromise of some sort. There’s always something not quite the right size, or the right material, cheaply made, or otherwise not needed. And they always come with those fancy wooden holders that attempt to help with storing and organizing your kit, but usually provide questionable functionality and take up a lot of counter space. We prefer to keep our bartending tools tucked away, but easily at hand.
We also try to recommend tools and products that will be in your possession for years to come, as opposed to cheaply made items that were included as part of a gimmicky kit or set.
Not all sets are gimmicks, and we aren't saying there isn't a place for them. We just like to curate the experience to a finer degree, providing our Reluctant Bartenders at home with exactly what they need to get the job done correctly, today, and for years to come.
For those of you who really really want a set, we'll make a recommendation below, but it will not have everything you need so just take note, okay?
Below are Amazon affiliate links that will take you directly to the product page. We also suggest an alternate version for most items below in case your taste differs, or are looking for something slightly different.
Start Here
There are seven essential tools that we feel you need at home as a starting point. A mixing glass, Boston Shaker, muddler, bar spoon, jigger(s), strainers, and proper ice cube molds. Let’s start with the mixing glass.
Our Favorite Mixing Glass
A mixing glass is an essential tool for crafting drinks that are all spirit—think Manhattan, Martini, Negroni, et al. What you’ll want in a good mixing glass is a nice hefty bottom, and an overall size that allows you to create more than one drink at a time while also holding the appropriate amount of ice.
You should aim for a cocktail mixing glass in the 24 ounce range (roughly 700ml if advertised in metric). This will give you enough room to craft several drinks at once, while also having enough room for ice to properly chill the drink while controlling dilution. Larger is better.
We find that when using a smaller mixing glass folks tend to skimp on on the amount of ice, which in turns causes the drink to get watered down before it’s properly chilled.
We here at The Reluctant Bartender really like the Hiware 24 Oz. Cocktail Mixing Glass linked below. It has a nice thick bottom and no seams. Plus it looks great. We like it so much, in fact, that we just took delivery of a second one since someone dropped our original beloved mixing glass on the floor.
(Editor’s note: that was you who dropped the glass, dummy.)
Ah. Yes. Well, on to the links.
Link: Hiware 24 Oz. Cocktail Mixing Glass
Alternate version for those looking for a slightly more premium option, this is a nice mixing glass as well: Mofado Crystal Cocktail Mixing Glass
Boston Shaker
You’ve probably seen the Boston Shaker—two metal cups, one smaller than the other. You'r bartender pours the ingredients and ice into the shaker base, slaps the top on, and gives a performative shake.
Many of the drinks we will explore here at TRB include simple syrup, fruit juices, cream, sugar, egg white, various liqueurs, and more. Drinks that are more than just spirit need to be shaken in order to ensure complete integration of the ingredients.
We like the style with two metal shakers, as opposed to the single metal vessel and pint glass. We find it easier to separate the metal version, and there’s no risk of spraying shattered glass all over the floor if your shaking technique isn’t perfect. We also recommend getting stainless steel—it’s durable and can be tossed into the dish washer for easily clean-up.
The Boston Shaker linked below is well balanced, has nice weight, and is a good functional version for not much dough. You can get a fancy Boston Shaker if you like, but for now start with the simple one below (or the suggested alternate).
Oh! And before we forget: make sure you’re buying a set. There should be two metal containers. Sometimes they’re sold as a single unit, and that’s not particularly helpful if you’re looking to get some shakin’ done.
Link: Boston Shaker, A Bar Above, Stainless Steel
Alternate version for those who want a special color: Barfly Shaker Set
Muddler
A muddler is an essential tool for crafting cocktails. It’s nice to have a good hefty wooden muddler for muddling sugar cubes, various fruit, mint, basil, and more. Muddlers can come in metal, plastic, or wood. The metal versions tend to have plastic ends to keep users from breaking whatever glass they’re using (grinding metal against glass is a sure way to manufacture broken glass at home.)
We recommend a wooden muddler with a flat muddle end, as opposed with one with a pattern of grooves. This gives a better result, and little bits of sugar or whatever you are muddling won’t get stuck in the grooves.
Link: Barfly Muddler
Alternate: Twine Acacia Wood Muddler
Bar Spoon
The bar spoon is a useful tool, and one of the favorite tools here at TRB. You want one with a some weight so you can use it to break up ice as needed. Get one with a twisted handle. That’s not just for looks. The twist makes it easier to stir, helping you to achieve a smoother and more natural motion with less splashing. The spoons below are functional, not fancy, and our primary recommendation comes in a set of two. As of the date of publication they were less than $10 for both. Solid deal, jump on it.
Link: Hiware 12” Bar Spoons
Alternate: Briout 12” Bar Spoons
Jigger
The jigger is the essential and indispensable measuring device. If you’re only going to buy one piece of gear, this is the place to start.
Make sure the jigger you choose has a 2:1 ratio between the larger and smaller bowls that make up the jigger. We prefer to use a jigger that is 2 ounces on the large end, and 1 ounce on the small end. Most jiggers have markings for smaller volumetric readings, usually marked on the side of the jigger, or inside the bowl.
Remember that 2:1 ratio we’ve talked about in several of our recipes? Well, isn’t it handy that a good jigger places that very 2:1 ratio right in your hands!
Some folks prefer the Japanese style, which is longer/taller. Others prefer a slightly more squat version. We’ll link both below. If you choose to venture off-menu and get a different version, just verify the ratio is 2:1. We have encountered jiggers that were not set up this way, and frankly we’ve found it frustrating and not particularly useful for what we’re attempting to do here.
How many jiggers do you need? For the vast majority of what we do here, a simple 2 ounce/1 ounce jigger will do the job nicely. For larger concoctions like punch, we’ll engage larger measuring devices that you probably already have in the home. If you want to splurge and get a second smaller jigger (such as a 1 ounce/ 0.5 ounce version) go for it! It’s good to have several handy. Just be sure of that 2:1 ratio.
Link: Barfly Superfly Jigger, (2 oz. / 1 oz.)
Alternate: Briout Japanese Style Double Jigger (2 oz. / 1 oz.)
Smaller jigger for those who want a smaller one too: American Metalcraft Japanese Style Jigger (1 oz. / 0.5 oz.)
Strainer
We are recommending two different strainers here, but you should purchase both styles. The Hawthorne strainer is the most commonly used, and helpful for straining drinks out of both mixing glasses and Boston Shakers.
The conical fine mesh strainer is a key tool as well, helping to remove small bits of fruit, other solids, and ice chips that would otherwise make for an unpleasant cocktail experience. We generally use the fine mesh strainer in conjunction with the Hawthorne strainer in a process we call double-straining. Get both.
Link: Oxo Hawthorne Strainer
Link: Conical Fine Mesh Strainer
Ice Cube Molds
Don’t skip the ice molds!
Proper ice is important when making craft cocktails at home.
Using the little ice from your ice maker is fine for mixing since you can control the exposure and hence control the dilution. But when you’re serving a drink like the Old Fashioned, or the Negroni, you’re going to want a single large ice cube to chill the drink when it’s served in the glass. This keeps the ice from melting so fast, and the smaller surface area of the large cube keeps the drink from getting watered down too quickly.
There are many options for ice cube molds. We are recommending as a starting point the blocky rectangular version, but if you want to go crazy and get a few more fun shapes/styles, go for it. The rectangular versions tend to work better than the spherical versions, as the sphere molds tend to be a little fussier.
Link: Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Rectangular, Large, pack of 2
Alternate link (for those looking for large round ice cubes): TINANA Round Ice Sphere Tray
Other Useful Tools
The section below includes recommendations that the home bartender may find useful. We here at TRB have all of these toys, and use them often. There is nothing extraneous here. While these are not necessarily essential to making great cocktails at home, they are certainly helpful.
Citrus Squeezer
Many of the recipes we explore here at The Reluctant Bartender call for freshly squeezed citrus juices. While there are many different kinds of juicers, ranging from simple to complex, and cheap to expensive, we find the standard $15 hand juicer to be a good starting point. Plus, this tool is useful for lemonade, salad dressings, and other recipes where freshly squeezed juice is required to elevate the experience.
Link: Zulay Metal Lemon Lime Juicer
Alternate link: Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Cocktail Picks
Reusable metal cocktail picks not only add a touch of class when compared to wooden ones, they’re also usable for other things besides mixed drinks: shrimp cocktail, appetizers, cheese trays, garnishes, and more.
We’ll use these to elevate the experience of home mixology, and your guests will be impressed with your kit and preparation.
Link: A Bar Above Cocktail Picks, Stainless, 12 count
Alternate Link (for those who like their picks in gold): PutTwo Stainless Metal Cocktail Picks, Gold, 8 count
Angled Steel Measuring Jigger
If you’re looking for an alternative to the standard double-bell jigger, here’s an option that you may find intriguing. What I like about this jigger is that it’s made to be sat directly on the bar while you pour, eyeing up the measurement lines from above. It’s an easier way to measure out those in-between quantities that can sometimes be harder to nail precisely when using a standard jigger. The one linked below includes standard measurement in ounces, as well as tablespoons for those times when tbsp. measurements are referenced.
Link: OXO Steel Angled Measuring Jigger
Julep Strainer
The Julep strainer is often a helpful tool to have at your disposal when making cocktails at home. It’s self explanatory, but takes a little more technique to use than a Hawthorne strainer.
Link: Julep Strainer
Channel Knife
A channel knife is a super-helpful tool for making garnishes from lemons, limes, and oranges. The channel knife gives us a carving tool meant to create garnishes for cocktails and desserts.
Link: Triangle V-Shape Channel Knife
Alternate link (includes zester and channel knife, though this one cuts from the side): OXO Good Grips Citrus Zester with Channel Knife
Funnels
Every kitchen or bar needs an assortment of funnels, and they’re never around when you need them. Don’t rush out to the garage and contemplate using the one you use for motor oil. Just get these. We’re going to need them for bottling cocktails in future episodes of TRB.
Link: Norpro Plastic Funnel, Set of 3
Bar Mat
Do yourself a favor—get some bar mats for home use. It will help with clean up.
Link: Bar Mat for Countertop
Plastic Squeeze Bottles
These are perfect for holding and dispensing ingredients like simple syrup, fruit syrups, egg whites, juices, and more.
Link: OXO Good Grips Squeeze Bottle Set
Knife and Cutting Board
We assume that most folks have a knife and cutting board at home, but you may want to invest in a smaller, separate set for your cocktail-ing activities. A pairing knife is good for cutting up smaller fruits, and also some garnish work.
Cutting board link: OXO Good Grips Plastic Cutting Board
Pairing knife link: Aroma House 4” Pairing Knife
Alternate pairing knife link: Tuo Pairing Knife, 3.5”
Cocktail Essentials Kit/Set
For those who want the convenience of buying several of the essentials in a single purchase, we have included the following kit. Some worthwhile notes:
This kit doesn’t include everything you need, so take inventory of what you have in your cart and what you’ll need moving forward.
The mixing glass included here is a nice one, but a little on the small side. You probably won't be mixing more than two drinks at a time in this size mixing glass. That’s not a huge problem, as long as you know ahead of time that if you’re making a batch of cocktails for a bunch of folks, you may have to mix up several batches to meet the demand for your amazing libations.