The Essential Tools for Home Bartenders
Home Bartender Essentials:
- Cocktail Shaker Tins x 2
- Flagship Mixing Glass
- Teardrop Barspoon
- Hawthorne Strainers x 2
- Fine Mesh Strainers x 2
- Bell Jigger
Nice to have:
All You Need For Your Home Bar
You’ve finally bought that bar cart, cleared off that counter and are ready to start creating cocktails at home. Whether it’s for your next party, a relaxing night or an interest in the craft, here’s the Home Bartender Essentials you need to start mixing up cocktails like a pro from home.
The goal here is to break down what you need to make the majority of classic cocktails at home while also giving you the tools and the freedom to play around a bit. The world of bar tools can be overwhelming as there are so many different cocktails but we’ve got the list of essentials for you here.
The Basics: Shaken or Stirred?
Cocktails can be broken down into two categories: Shaken or Stirred.
When to Shake Cocktails
As a general rule, anything cocktail with citrus or cream will be shaken. We recommend two of our cocktail shaker tin sets to keep one clean in the rotation, or to be able to shake two cocktails at once if you are entertaining guests. Plus, it gives you a chance to work on your double shake, and everyone loves a good double shake.
Accompanying your shaker tins, we recommend getting two Hawthorne Strainers and two Fine Mesh Strainers. This combo ensures no unwanted ice will get into your drink as you strain through your Hawthorne Strainer, through the fine mesh strainer, and into your glass. Two of each is great to have as a set for each shaker tin. You can also use your extra Hawthorne Strainer for stirred cocktails. Just make sure you rinse it well between each use.
When to Stir Cocktails
Speaking of stirred cocktails, let's talk about essentials. You can’t go wrong with our Flagship Mixing Glass. Think of it as “ol’ reliable” for all of your stirred cocktail needs. It’s precisely weighted and intentionally shaped for a smooth stir every time. As a general rule, if there’s no citrus in your drink, stir it.
Now if you want something that will grab a little more eye catching attention at your home bar, go for our Artisan Mixing Glass. Each one of these are uniquely hand-blown in the Pacific N.W. so no two are completely alike. Bartenders have said stirring cocktails with one of these is like driving a Cadillac, and we tend to agree with them!
For stirring, you’ll need a teardrop barspoon to stir your cocktails. These unassuming spoons are handy for a lot of different purposes though. They can be used to measure small amounts of ingredients as well as be used to pour bubbly down the coiled shaft ensuring your carbonation remains intact. They come in two lengths 12"/30CM and 16"/40CM.
Finally, you will need a Jigger to measure your cocktails. We recommend Hammered Bell Jiggers. These ensure precise measurements for all of your cocktail builds and make you look damn good while doing it. They come in four unique finishes to match your other bartools.
Your Home Bar is Ready to Mix Things Up
Those are all the essentials you need to really get going behind your home bar, but we wanted to mention a few nice-to-have products as well.
For glassware, our Rocks Glasses are the perfect starting point for both stirred and shaken cocktails. These glasses are Handblown locally at The Museum of Glassblowing in Tacoma, Washington and no two glasses are completely alike. Serve up your cocktails in one of a kind style!
The last nice-to-have product is a set of cocktail picks. These elevate your garnish game and can visually tie your cocktail together. After all, we start tasting with our eyes before the drink ever touches our lips. Make it sexy, it will taste that much better.
Keep in mind these are just the essentials, as you progress further into home bartending you’ll find more opportunities to use new and different tools, and we’ll be here to help. We have a variety of bar tools beyond what was mentioned in this article. Check out our instagram to see our bar tools in action.
