You don’t need to be a professional bartender to create amazing original cocktails at home. The key is having the right bar equipment. While you might already have some suitable items in your kitchen, investing in a few essential tools will elevate your home bar experience. When choosing equipment, prioritize stainless steel and glass options, as they are durable and easy to clean.
A cocktail shaker is indispensable for mixing drinks with ingredients that don’t easily combine, like egg yolks, liqueurs, fruit juices, and cream. Bar supply stores offer a variety of shakers to suit different budgets and needs.
The standard three-piece shaker includes a beaker, lid, and built-in strainer to prevent ice and fruit pieces from entering the drink. However, the strainer can be difficult to clean, and the liquid may pour slowly. The two-part Boston shaker consists of a large stainless-steel beaker and a smaller lead crystal beaker, the glass beaker doubles nicely as a mixing glass.
Many professionals prefer a two-part stainless-steel or silver shaker, as it’s easier to seal than the Boston shaker. When using a two-part shaker or mixing glass, a round, stainless-steel bar strainer is essential. Its coiled spring edge fits snugly into the shaker or glass, effectively straining ice and fruit. A tea strainer can serve as a temporary substitute.
You’ll also need a mixing glass, also called a shaker glass, for drinks that are stirred rather than shaken, such as clear drinks and those made with easily blended ingredients. Choose a mixing glass with a capacity of about 1 quart, enough for 3-4 drinks. A long-handled bar spoon is a multi-purpose tool for stirring, measuring (typically 1/6 oz or a standard teaspoon), and muddling ingredients like fruit, herbs or sugar.
Most bar spoons are stainless steel or silver and around 10 inches long. The disc at the top of the handle, known as a muddler, crushes ingredients to release their flavors. The rounded back of the spoon is useful for layering liqueurs without mixing them. A bar whisk is also helpful for whisking and mixing ingredients.
A double-ended bar measure, also called a pony-jigger, is crucial for accurately measuring ingredients. These stainless-steel measures typically have a 1-ounce cup (pony) on one end and a 1.5- to 2-ounce cup (jigger) on the other. Look for a measure with easy-to-read markings inside the jigger end. Alternatively, use a marked shot glass or a set of kitchen measuring spoons (3 teaspoons = 1/2 ounce, 4 teaspoons = 3/4 ounce, 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce).