This post will guide you through building your own home bar to make killer, praise worthy cocktails.
I was lucky at the start of 2020. My neighborhood was home to no less than 5 cocktail bars then, poof, the pandemic erased them. My love of cocktails persevered and I needed to up my cocktail game stat which meant adding to my home bar.
A home bar is essential for any cocktail enthusiast. You may not need a ton of gear to make a good drink, but you will need essential tools like shakers, jiggers, and strainers. If you’re looking to have all the right equipment on hand to serve up a perfect cocktail at home, this post has everything you’ll need to know!
Here are my recommendations for the right tools for you to make an excellent cocktail. Read on for options and discussions for all your favorite cocktail recipes
The Best Cocktail Gear for the Home Bar Cart
Summary of Recommended Gear
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Shakers
Get your bartender shaker face ready when you’re preparing shaken cocktails. Shakers or shaking tins are essential bar tools that are used to mix drinks to aerate (think frothy), cool, and dilute. There are many different types of shakers on the market, but we will cover 3 – Boston shaker, Cobbler Shaker and French/Parisian Cocktail Shaker. All three have their merits and drawbacks depending on what you’re looking for in a cocktail mixer.
In addition to outlining the pros and cons for each type of cocktail shaker, I’ll also give some pointers as to which ones may work best based on your personal preference or how often you plan to use it. So make sure you get a good shaker!
For most people, I recommend the Boston Cocktail Shaker below.
Cobbler Shaker
Cobbler shakers are the most common cocktail mixer in use today as they seem to be the most common when you’re shopping at Target, cocktail sets, or “Gifts for Men” guides. They typically consist of three pieces: a metal base, a strainer and an upper portion called the “coupe”. Cobbler Shakers come in both stainless steel and copper varieties with each having pros and cons.
I do not recommend the classic version of these other than the copper version for looking pretty on a whiskey library tray that doesn’t get used. Modern versions from Shaker33 address many of the cons but the quality of the item is suspect.
Additionally, the two that I’ve had constantly froze together and didn’t seal well causing leaks and frustration when using.
I also do not like copper due to Patina. The shiny copper does not last after use and will look dirty. However, they have an elegant design and can be a display piece.
Pros: All in one- includes the coarse strainer, classic look,
Cons: company means typically only one cocktail at once and therefore struggle at making even two cocktails, often freeze (lock) together when trying to take the top off to strain the cocktail.
If you’re interested in that copper gift, I think this set with the hammer finish is rad:
French/Parisian Shaker
The French shakers are known as Parisian shakers. They’re becoming more trendy and replace the top and cap of a cobbler shaker with a shaped top. This allows for more volume therefore better aeration and better drink! They do require an extra strainer, though they have their own built-in strainer at the top of the coupe.
Pros: Looks awesome
Cons: Slow, can lock together and take effort to take apart
Boston Shakers
This is the best shaker type I recommend after inheriting many cobbler shakers – even for the home bar. You’ve likely seen a classic silver Boston shaker in the hands of professional bartenders at the best bars for good reason. They consist of two similar shape cups that form a tight seal keeping all that valuable liquid inside. A Boston cocktail shaker can be made with either all stainless steel also known as Tin on Tin or a pint glass and a metal tin. Get. The. Metal. Tin.
You can buy the 28oz larger tin separately to use with your own pint glass if you’re on a budget. I prefer the weighted, 304 stainless steel versions as they’re nicer to use.
Pros: The major advantage of this type is that it’s very versatile. You can use them for making cocktails or you could turn them over and use them as a mixing glass if you’re in a pinch. Due to the size, they are fast chilling the drink before it’s over diluted. You can typically make two drinks with small compromise.
Cons: Need coarse strainer, looks like two metal cups
Jigger
Jiggers are used to measure the liquid ingredients added to a drink and are made from metal, glass or plastic.
Metal jiggers are usually made out of stainless steel (though some may also be made out of copper) and measure either 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 ounces. They’re often etched with measurements so you can see how much liquid is being dispensed at once. Glass jiggers are more fragile than their metal counterparts but offer other benefits as well – namely transparency which makes it easy to tell when exact measurements have been reached.
I go through phases where I’m making complex drinks and tend to need more measurements and prefer metal for durability. Therefore, I recommend double sided jiggers from OXO:
Strainers
Cocktail strainers are an essential bar accessories in the making of cocktails. They’re used to remove ice and other solid ingredients from a drink after mixing. I recommend getting a coarse and a fine strainer especially if you’re interested in making sours with egg white.
Cocktails come in many styles, but regardless of which style you prefer there’s always going to be some ice involved in the process – either shaken with or without dilution depending on how you choose to make it.
There are many different types of cocktail strainers, but the two main styles you need to know about for basic home bartending purposes include Hawthorne Strainer and Julep Strainer. Cobbler Shaker’s have a built-in strainer so you won’t need a coarse strainer. However, the boston cocktail shaker I recommend requires a strainer. I prefer the Hawthorne style due to speed and less likely to splash your wonderful drink on the counter.
I think the OXO bar equipment with the rubber and high-quality plastic feels much better in hand to work with than metal which some have sharp edges.
Here is the OXO Hawthorne strainer I use with a boston shaker and the Riedel mixing glass:
And the fine mesh version for sours and other double strained drinks with eggs and herbs
Mixing Glass
I added a large crystal cocktail stir glass later in my journey to perfect Negronis and old fashioned preparation. Now, I find an elegantly designed mixing glass an essential bar tool to elevate the experience for stirred cocktails. Did I need it? no. But it’s dang cool to use and the presentation can’t be beat.
Here are some reasons why you should buy one for making drinks:
- It helps you stir your cocktail properly to ensure that all ingredients are fully integrated before serving.
- It chills down your drink very fast because it’s much larger than a rocks glass and therefore holds more ice for chilling, an essential factor in making great stirred cocktails. Don’t forget your bar spoon!
- No ice shards ruining your cocktail – think martini, Negroni – with a glass this large.
- Presentation! Save that big ice cube for the presentation as you sip and enjoy your drink
Mixing glasses are great to have, but they’re definitely not essential equipment. They’re also expensive and can be fragile which means it’s essential to treat them with care.
Most mixing glasses are sized so a hawthorne strainer fits perfectly to pour your drink into the target glass. And they’re dishwasher safe to easy cleanup and the end of the night:
Bar Spoon
A Bar mixing spoon makes stirring and measuring easier than a regular spoon. There are different types of bar spoons you can use, I recommend going simple with a long oval handle. You’ll need to stir the ingredients in your glass when they’re combined so it’s essential to have something strong enough to do this job properly!
A long handle makes stirring drinks easier and more efficient and you won’t have to guess for “bar spoon” measurements. Bonus that a quality bar spoon has a low price tag:
Citrus Peeler and Zesters
Citrus Peelers are a lot cheaper than other things on this list. Most of the drinks I make have a citrus twist so this is a must-have. Cut the citrus peel rough edges for a sharper presentation in classic cocktails like an old fashioned.
Zesters are optional and can elevate certain drinks. You can use them to cut zest from limes or lemons which is essential if you want your drinks to have an aromatic edge. They also make great garnishes! I recommend getting both so that you always have one when you need it.
Citrus Juicer
Always use fresh juice to make cocktails! Most people don’t realize that a citrus juicer is essential to making cocktails at home to easily and fully extract lime and lemon juice. A good quality juicing tool makes it easier to extract essential oils from fruits and infuse drinks with the delicious flavor of citrus.
Most bartenders use a manual hand-held press, but you can also find electric versions as well as those which work with a motorized spinning wheel. Manual presses are great for more delicate types of fruit, while electric models make easy work of larger ones like grapefruits or oranges.
If you’re going to be using an electric model then I recommend investing in one which has stainless steel blades as they’ll last far longer than those made from cheaper materials such as plastic or aluminum foil! I hope that this post has been helpful and that you’ve learned more about essential bar tools.
I find the best juicer to be the manual hand press for storage size and price. Also, they’re dishwasher safe
Ice Cube Molds – For stirring and mixing cocktails
Ice cubes are essential to making great cocktails. They’re also essential for preserving the taste of your drink by chilling it without diluting it.
The best way to make ice cubes is using an ice cube mold so that you can control their size and shape which affects how they melt and are presented in your glass. There are plenty of different types of molds on the market, but I recommend getting square ones as they’ll fit into most glasses better than other shapes! You might want to get both a small and large mold if you plan on making lots of drinks with lots of different sized servings, but otherwise one should be enough. If you don’t have any at home already then now’s the time to buy some because there’s no substitute for quality ice cubes!
If you’re in a place with mineral tap water, ensure you buy a dishwasher friendly for easy clean up
Ice Cube Molds – For Presentation
Clear ice tends to be more expensive than cloudy or white blocks due to it being harder to produce. But not only does it look more appealing in your drink, it also melts slower which means the ice cubes last longer and don’t dilute your cocktail as quickly. Look at this super classy drink:
The Winter Smith ice mold is the most expensive item I have on the list but has really been the wow factor in the cocktails. It makes a great gift with a cocktail book for the beverage director in your life.
Glasses for Cocktails
Now it’s time to pour your drink from your mixing glass or cocktail shaker into the glass. No home bar is complete without a few cocktail glasses. If you’re not sure which type of glass is right for a particular drink then check out the guide below:
What type of cocktail glass should I use? – The Basics
Cocktail Glass Types:
Rocks Glass: this is the most common type of glass I use. They’re also versatile as they can be used for just about any cocktail. Not only old-fashioned’s and manhattan’s but rocks glasses also my favorite presentation for margaritas! My favorite set has a nice weight in the hand and are dishwasher safe
Coupe Glass: This is the second most common glass I use. I love this shape for up drinks much more than a traditional V-shaped cocktail glass.
Highball or Collins Glass – These are tall glasses which can be used to serve most types of cocktails that aren’t stirred or shaken with ice cubes.
The difference is collins glasses are taller. I generally go with a collins glass and adjust the cocktail recipes appropriately or add a little more ice.
Martini Glasses – Obviously a must if for a classic martini. They have long thin stems and big bowls keep that cocktail cold. I ditched these for a coupe glass and haven’t looked back
Well, there you have the gear you need to make killer cocktails while looking like a professional bartender. Next stop New York City!
I hope you enjoyed the list of best bar tools that I recommend. Have a favorite type of glass that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQ
Q: I’m starting from zero, what else might I need?
A: There are some basic cocktail tools that you’ll need:
- Wood Cutting Board
- Paring Knife
For a rounded out home bar:
- Wine Opener
- Bottle Opener