Having the right tools for the job, whatever that job is just makes life easier. Whether you’re building a treehouse or a whiskey sour, the right tool to get it done successfully cuts down prep time and likely some frustration.  It also gives you more time to spend being more creative in your project and it doesn’t matter if you are working with wood or whiskey. These 5 basic bar tools can’t keep a treehouse from collapsing but, are sure to elevate your home cocktail game and make you look like a cocktail mixing ninja.

Cocktail shakers

Sure, you can shake a cocktail in a jelly jar.  But! But, there are some differences between mixing your drink in a Smuckers jar (no offence to Smuckers, they make great strawberry jam) and a proper cocktail shaker.  The cocktail shaker is a tin container that while mixing ingredients, also helps to quickly cool down the liquid and keep it cold.

When you’re mixing ingredients such as milk and cream for a thick, creamy drink or egg whites for the perfect sour, the shaker will give you the best results by aerating the milk or egg whites making a frothy drink more silky and improving the aesthetics (remember, your eyes drink first) and finesses the mouthfeel of the drink.

Which one to buy?  There are a couple standard shakers, the Cobbler  (which is what I use) and the Boston.  There are some differences.  Which one is best? It’s a personal preference. They both get the job done efficiently.

The Cobbler

The cobbler is a three-piece outfit: the tin shaker cup, built in strainer top and cap. This shaker is a multi-function tool that shakes to mix ingredients and strains the cocktail, and the cap that covers the strainer can also serve as a jigger measure.  This shaker eliminates the need for a strainer in most cases.

The Boston Shaker

The Boston is a two-piece set that comes with the shaker tin and a pint sized glass or tin cup that is fits inside the shaker tin perfectly to form a tight seal. Once the drink is shaken to perfection, the tin gets a good smack of the palm near the bottom to release the seal.  You do need a hawthorne or julep strainer with this shaker to strain ice, and other ingredients that don’t belong in your finished drink.

 The  Double Jigger

Everybody loves the free pour.  You go to the bar and order your favorite drink and hope that the bartender gets a little heavy handed with their pour. Thing is however, unless you are a drink mixing ninja, and there may be a few, freestyling increases the chances of knocking off the balance of the drink. So the jigger is the humble bar tool that ensures all of the ingredients in a drink are measured correctly to make a perfectly balanced cocktail.

There are several styles but, according to Liquor.com, the conical double jigger is faster and more comfortable than the sexier (IMO), curved double jigger. Odds are you don’t have a need for speed if you’re standing at your home bar in your gym shorts mixing up a drink.  So, this is again, a matter of personal style and preference.

Strainer

Hawthorne or Julep? They are both functional items in your basic tool box that helps to deliver the perfect cocktail.  If you have limited space, limited funds or both and have to choose, the hawthorne strainer is more practical.  They both serve the same function however, the coil on the hawthorne extends it’s flexibility by being adaptable to different sized glasses.  Also, the julep strainer (no kin to the mint julep), has a smaller surface and if you’re using a boston shaker, it does not fit.

Muddler

Mojito anyone?  How about a mint julep?  The muddler is another necessary tool for your bar, something’s got to crush all of those ingredients that impart the unique flavors and aromas in the drinks you’ll be mixing up.

Muddlers can come with teeth or a smooth flat surface.  Some bartenders prefer not to “chew” their ingredients but rather gently smash them, coaxing the essential oils out of leaves and other ingredients.  Sugar cubes are one thing.  But herbs like mint or basil leaves are more delicate and really getting in there and smashing the heck out of some of these leaves and spices can release more than you bargained for.  Over-muddling can release some pretty bitter elements of the herb(s) you’re adding to your drink.  A couple of moderately firm twists of the wrist might be just the amount you need to unlock those flavors.

There are a few more options for you to consider: wood, plastic or metal?  Some bartenders swear by the wood muddler but it needs to be hand washed. washing in the dishwasher risks warping the wood. There are metal muddlers with a hard plastic base that can be put in the dishwasher. Then, there’s the hard plastic one-piece muddler.  It’s recommended that the non-toothy muddler will better release the oils from the ingredients without smashing the heck out of them. 

Mixing Glass

“Shaken, not stirred” is the phrase synonymous  with the icon, James Bond.  While he may like his martini shaken, most people that enjoy a well poured, well balanced martini will appreciate it more if it is stirred. And then, even that depends on what the cocktail is composed of, especially martinis.  The simple rule is: if it has juice, puree, or sugar, it should be shaken. If it is a classic martini or other drink like an old fashioned or a Negroni or Boulevardier, these benefit much better by stirring.  Stirring these cocktails maintains the integrity of the liquor’s viscosity and allows more control over dilution. Stirring these drinks keeps them clear and sleek and not frothy.

Typically a good mixing glass is a clear glass with a heavy base and straight sides.  There are other styles of course, but this is my choice.  One that is not recommended so much is the footed mixing glass.  Sure, it’s fancy but not as practical as you might like and more prone to breaking.

These are the five most useful bar tools when beginning to set up your home bar.  There are many more tools, but unless you’re really into learning how to mix and shake up a whole encyclopedia of cocktails, these tools will get you through the basics.  But, there is one more thing you need and I’m including it as the bonus and that is the bar spoon.

Bonus – Bar Spoon

Some cocktail recipes use the bar spoon as a measure.  The bar spoon’s functionality definitely exceeds one of a regular teaspoon.  It is long enough to get that good stir in in your cocktail shaker and mixing glass.  And, if your recipe include “2 bar spoons of …:”, I’m not sure what that measures up to but it is obviously a legitimate measure for some drinks.

The bar spoon is also used to help pour layered drinks.  And while not essential, you could use a regular teaspoon for that, I find that I have better luck with  the bar spoon when layering drinks.  

But Wait, There’s More!

Once the five basic bar tools have found a place in your home bar, start thinking about additional tools that can make your home bar even more functional and the envy of your friends.  Some other items to help amp things up:

The Lewis Bag

This bag is the perfect tool for crushing ice.  Of course, you’ll need a mallet to crush the ice and take out your frustrations.

Citrus juicer

Because a good citrus-based cocktail should always be made with fresh juice.

Microplane zester

A very handy tool for citrus garnishes.

Garnish Tongs and Tweezers

More a luxury than a must-have.  No tongs or tweezers?  Use your fingers, they do the same thing!

Paring knife

Necessary for citrus wheels and other garnishes.

Atomizer

Think of the Sazerac.  Sometimes a sprintz of absinthe is preferable over a wash.

Bitters bottles

Purely esthetic.  Absolutely nothing essential about these bottles, but they sure are pretty.

So, there you have it!  Go forth and mix, shake, stir and roll.  This is by far not the ultimate list of bar tools. These are the tools I suggest to start building your home bar. Most of the items listed are reasonably priced. I’d recommend taking a look at Cocktail Kingdom for a wide selection of bar tools. I am not being paid to promote Cocktail Kingdom, by the way, but they have some really cool stuff.

As always, drink responsibly and ensure your guests drink responsibly as well and if they go a little overboard, steal their keys and pull out the air mattress.