MensXpert.com - Bar Tools

If having a great time with family and friends means laughing over a good drink, then don’t just depend on your local bar. To save all the scuttling around, you can have a bar right at home. If you’re new to this, have the basic glasses and bottles, but don’t have a clue about anything else about the bar, here’s a list that will help you get all the essential items and make you look very professional while mixing the drinks.

Shakers

The most essential barware, shakers are used to mix drinks. There are two basic types of cocktail shakers:

Traditional or cobbler shaker: Ideal for those who have no experience at mixing cocktails in a shaker. It has three pieces: a metal base, a snug fitting top, and a cap in the top which fits over a built-in strainer. To use a traditional shaker, the cap is removed, the ingredients are poured in, the shaker is capped and shaken briskly, and the drink is poured through the strainer.

Boston shaker: Ideal if you have a huge party going on and the drinks need to keep coming in. That’s why it’s used by professional bartenders as it’s faster than the cumbersome process of using a traditional shaker. A Boston shaker has two parts: a metal base and a nestling glass cup. To use this shaker, ingredients are poured into the base and the nestling cup is tapped in to seal the shaker. The drink is shaken briskly until the metal is cold. The shaker is tapped again to break the seal and the drink is poured through a bar strainer into a glass. The strainer ensures that the drinks are smooth and uniform. The 16-ounce mixing glass and a larger, flat-bottomed metal cone of the Boston shaker can be used for other purposes as well to suit your needs. For example, the glass can be used for stirring drinks over ice and the two pieces can be used together (with the metal part fitting over the glass) for shaking ingredients.

Cocktail shakers are made of metal, glass or plastic but metal shakers are preferable because a shaker is supposed to chill a drink while mixing it and metal conducts cold well. Shakers come in various sizes (depending on quantity of consumption) and designs.

Electric blender

It’s essential for crushing ice, pureeing fruit and making frozen drinks. You can use the one in the house or opt for a smaller model that can easily fit on the bar.

Cocktail strainers

When drinks mixed over ice are to be served neat, the strainer comes in quite handy. If you have a Boston shaker, then you’ll have to buy a strainer separately. There are two types of strainers:

Hawthorne strainer: It’s the most common type of strainer and is easily distinguished by a coil of wire that encircles the rim. Two or four prongs at the top keep it in place on the shaker and the coil keeps the ice from jumping out.

Julep strainer: A perforated metal strainer that is slightly concave (like a spoon). You can use it when you’re straining drinks from a mixing glass or fix it on the shaker when mixing drinks. While the Hawthorne strainer fits well on the metal half of the shaker, the Julep fits well inside the glass part at an angle that can be worked out with a bit of practice.

Jiggers

It’s important to get the measurements of the ingredients of your drink right to make a balanced cocktail. A little extra of something or an excess of another, changes the taste completely. The jigger is a double-sided measuring device having two cones at either end. The larger side holds 1-½ ounces while the smaller end holds around an ounce. This side is also referred to as a ‘pony’. A jigger can come with a flat lip or a rolled lip. A well formed lip ensures the liquid is poured smoothly into the glass or shaker without making a total mess when you’re in a hurry. Some come with a handle that can be a bit tricky to use, but it’s good for keeping your hands from getting sticky if you’ve spilt some over the sides.

Measuring spoons

Essential for measuring out dry ingredients. They come as a set in either plastic or metal.

Bar spoon

This spoon comes with a long handle which makes it easier for stirring and layering drinks. Also useful in fishing out cherries from the bottom of the jar rather than trying to dig for them with your fingers. You can also use it as a measuring spoon if you like.

Muddler

This is a thick stick made of either wood or metal and is used to crush ingredients at the bottom of the glass. It is usually used for extracting oil from mint leaves and pulping fruit. Make sure you get a nice long one.

Corkscrew

These come in various styles but don’t get carried away with the fancy looking ones. Buy one you are comfortable in handling.

Bottle opener
The most obvious thing, but something that we forget to buy when we’re shopping for bar tools. Warning: Most difficult to locate when needed the most!

Paring knife

For cutting orange and lemon slices and quartering limes used for garnishing. Keep the knife clean and sharp.

Ice accessories

Like ice buckets, tongs and crushers. Keep plenty of fresh ice.

Stirrers

Long thin straws or nice plastic or wooden sticks.

Bottle pourer

Makes the job easy when pouring spirits you are constantly using. It is attached on the mouth of the bottle and streamlines the flow of liquid, while giving you a greater control over the alcohol you want to pour.

Glasses
Didn’t need a mention, but what the heck.