Essential Bartending Tools for your Home-Bartending Needs!

If you're looking to master mixology in the comfort of your home then look no further than our trusted guide. Ready to help you on your way to cocktail mastery.

Creating the perfect cocktail doesn't necessarily mean you have to have years of experience under your belt - all it takes is willpower, passion, and the right bar tools and equipment! So, we've made a short and sweet list of essential bartending tools so you'll be well on your way to creating delicious cocktails you can show off to friends and family next time you host your next dinner or house party.

Below is a list of essential home-bartending tools so you can start stirring up Bloody Mary's, straining Margaritas, shaking up spirits and mixers, and muddling garnishes for extra flavour in no time - soon you'll be able to perfect every tipple you get a craving for!

Here Are Our Essential Bar Tools

Spirits Jigger

A "jigger" refers to the last ration of Rum sailors had when at sea, believe it or not. It now assists bartenders in pouring tonics, liqueurs, spirits and syrups to liven up cocktails and keep them measured and balanced correctly in flavour, strength, and aesthetics. It's an essential tool for bartending if ever there was one, as it measures the shots you need such as 50 ml for a double or 25ml for singles, especially if you use the Japanese double-sided version like we do!

History of the Spirits Jigger

As mentioned before, the Jigger comes from sailing. It is the name of the smallest mast on a ship and it was the measurement cup their rum was served in. It became popular in the United States in the 19th Century when Irish Immigrants were given whisky in jiggers when constructing canals in New York.

Read More About Jiggers Here - History of the Jigger

Bottle Opener

Before the standard bottle opener, there were corkscrews or there was nothing. But if you don't have a bottle opener by now then we don't know what to tell you! You can hardly open up a bottle of wine or one of our flavourful Double Dutch mixers without one, so what are you waiting for? You don't want to risk smashing open a bottle and losing all of your ingredients in one go.

Cocktail Shaker

Shaken or stirred cocktails can mean the difference between a good Martini and a bad one (James Bond agrees - "Shaken not stirred" anyone?).

Usually we prefer a "Boston" shaker, which is essentially a tin cup used alongside a glass. It chills and mixes your drink at the same time so you can get two key bartending steps done in one go! The main reason is so bartenders can control aeration, temperature and dilution in their cocktails.

Just try not to get it everywhere when you start shaking as you may cause quite the mess! (Not to mention lose most of your cocktail.)

History of the Cocktail Shaker

The cocktail shaker dates all the way back to 7000BCE to Prehispanic Mexico/South America. However, we can't imagine they were mixing up Vodka Martinis back then, but they were using jar gourds to mix ingredients.

Bar Spoon

Lynnette Marrero the well-known American bartender and mixologist, in an interview with Forbes, was asked what her favourite bar tending tool was and she answered "Has to be a good bar spoon. A good one to crack ice, stir, and sub as a swizzle stick!" and we couldn't agree more!

The bar spoon is perfect for stirring your drinks and it can't be compared to a regular spoon, with grooves on it's abnormally long handle it's perfect for blending flavours together perfectly without getting your drink everywhere. Not to mention cracking blocks of ice down to perfection.

The Bar Spoon’s History

The bar spoon is thought to have come from 19th Century France. With a measure at one end and a muddler at the other, it is a very versatile bartending tool.

Muddler

Before it was called a Muddler it would have been labelled a "toddy stick" (we know it sounds weird) but this is the essential bartending tool that started it all! You won't find a single bar without one and it's an absolute must-have when encountering ice, fresh fruit, and herbs you want to mix into one of your drinks.

A Short History of The Muddler

The muddler as we mentioned was previously called the Toddy Stick. It is thought to come from the 18th Century, but didn’t become popular until ice became readily available in bars across Europe.

Juicer (Citrus Press)

They're perfect for adding lime and lemon juice to your alcoholic beverages and have been around for a very long time. A simple Citrus Press can mean the difference between a disappointingly dull drink and a flavourful tasting experience. Nothing elevates a cocktail like a freshly squeezed dash of lemon or lime!

Cocktail Strainer

The cocktail or "julep" strainer as some know it, actually evolved from slotted soup spoons, and before becoming a strainer it was seen as an Ice Spoon. When it finally became part of the bartending scene it took Margaritas and other pulpy fruit-based cocktails by storm. Allowing for smooth-tasting drinks without unwanted bits left in.

Ice Mold

This is all you need for making the perfect ice cubes, spheres, or ice cream (last one is less about bartending and more about our love for ice cream.) Whether you want a tumbler for your Whiskey Lowball or neatly shaped ice for your G&T - a good cocktail starts with the perfect ice. Ice used to be a treat for only the rich, but thanks to Americans in the last few hundred years ice has become one of the primary garnishes for most cocktails - so live the high life!

Ice Bucket

Speaking of ice, if you're churning out batches of drinks pretty quickly whilst your friends or family are around, then an ice bucket is perfect for topping up and keeping your guests satisfied.

Ready to go!

Now, we've told you about essential home-bartending tools so it's time for you to put your knowledge to the test. If you need to know anything else about bartending or want to expand your knowledge a bit more on the subject then why not check out what our Scholars had to say from last years Female Bartending Scholarship. Hopefully they can provide insight and inspiration for not only the craft of mixology, but help you see what the industry is like.

If you want to get stuck in and start making delicious cocktails of your own then look no further than our recipes page, and, of course, no bar is complete without flavourful tonics and mixers to accompany each spirit so check out our range of flavours online here.