Bar Tool Sets and Shakers

Grab your bar rag and get ready to lend an ear. With a full bar set and a cocktail shaker or two, you’ll be ready to serve up a variety of mixed drinks whether they’re shaken or stirred.

What kind of cocktail shaker do I need?

You’ve seen your favorite bartender sh-sh-shake their cocktail shaker to mix up tasty libations, but what you may not know is there are 3 different types of shakers available. So which one is best for a budding bartender? Read on to find out.

• Cobbler: This type of drink mixer is probably the one you think of when you envision a cocktail shaker. It comes in 3 pieces: the tin, a strainer and the cap. You can find it in dozens of shapes and sizes — some can even shake up to 15 drinks at once. This style is also perhaps the easiest to use, though it can be messy and slow to strain.
• Boston: You’ll probably find your bartender using a Boston shaker. This style comes in two simple parts: a tin and a mixing glass. If you’re just starting out, it’s recommended you choose one with a glass piece as opposed to two metal pieces. This allows you to watch what you’re doing as you create your cocktail, meaning it’s easier to spot mistakes before they happen.
• Parisian or French: This style features an all-metal tin with matching cap. If you choose this type of drink mixer, make sure you pick up a separate strainer, as well.

How do I use a drink mixer?

Before you get shaking, make sure you have your cocktail shaker, your drink ingredients and some ice on hand. Once you’ve got everything in place, take a deep breath and get started with Cocktail Shaking 101 using a Boston shaker:

Step 1. Chill your serving glass, either in your freezer or fridge. Alternatively, you can fill it with ice water for about 5 minutes.
Step 2. Measure your ingredients and pour them into your mixing glass, sans ice. By not adding ice you can easily keep yourself from adding too little or too much of an ingredient.
Step 3. Add your ice so your glass is between 2/3 and 3/4 full. If you’re using large ice cubes, remember that you’ll need to shake your mix longer to break them up.
Step 4. Place the mixing tin over the top of your glass. Sharply tap the base of the tin with the heel of your hand. This seals the shaker — you should be able to grab and lift the mixing tin off the counter without the shaker breaking apart.
Step 5. Hold the glass in your dominant hand and over your shoulder. Make sure you’re holding it away from any guests at your bar; the last thing you want is to accidentally spray cocktail in their faces.
Step 6. Shake your drink mixer vigorously for at least 15 seconds. You should hear the ice inside hitting the sides as you shake.
Step 7. Hold the mixing tin in your non-dominant hand and point the glass toward the ceiling. Tap the heel of your dominant hand against the mixing tin to break the shaker open.
Step 8. Remove the mixing glass and set it aside, leaving your cocktail and ice in the mixing tin. Get your serving glass ready by dumping any ice water and then strain the cocktail into it. Don’t forget to garnish your drink like a pro, too.

What should be included in my bar set?

Your cocktail shaker aside, you’ll need a few extra tools to make it as a pro home bartender. Your bar set should include:

• Strainer: Whether it’s a Hawthorne or julep strainer, you’ll need one of these to separate your ice, herbs and other solids from your beverage.
• Jigger: This metal measuring device will help you make precise, consistent drinks every time. If your favorite bartender doesn’t use one, it’s because they’ve committed all their measurements to memory. Until you get that familiar with your drink recipes, having a jigger on hand is nothing to be ashamed of.
• Bar spoon: Sure, you can stir your cocktail with a regular spoon, but you’ll quickly find the handle is too short to reach all the way down into the depths of your drink. Instead, bar spoons feature a long spiral handle that allows you to easily mix the entire contents of your glass. Every bartender swears by them, and once you try one you’ll know exactly why.
• Muddler: Resembling a very short baseball bat, your muddler is not for hitting a home run. Instead, use it to mash drink ingredients such as sugar and bitters together. You can also use it to squeeze juices from fruits and herbs like mint. Trust us, your mojito will be lacking if you don’t have a muddler on hand.

Other items, like a speed pourer, ice bucket and scoop, blender and juicer can also come in handy. So go on, shake your cocktail maker and mix up a mean martini. Shaken, not stirred, Mr. Bond.