Make Any Drink Special with These 5 Essential Bar Tools

Setting up a fabulous at-home bar is a must for anyone who likes entertaining or is interested in how to make mixed drinks at home. With the right home-bar essentials, you can make your own cocktails that look and taste like they were made at your favorite watering hole. Grab a barstool and join us at Pottery Barn in exploring the essential bar tools that every home bartender needs to make every drink a special one.

Measuring Tools

Every well-equipped home bar has easy-to-use measuring tools on hand. A jigger is the hourglass-shaped measuring device that you’ve probably seen in bars. On one side, the larger cup gives you one jigger, which is 1.5 ounces. On the other side, the smaller cup measures out 3/4 ounce, or half a jigger. Also, measuring cups are a must when you're mixing up a pitcher of margaritas, daiquiris or martinis.

Cocktail Shakers

Of all the bar accessories you could buy, this one is likely going to give you the most mileage. You can use a shaker to make everything from a Mai Tai to a martini. The benefits of using a shaker include a better mix of ingredients, proper dilution (rather than watering down the mix) and incredible flavor. But before you start shopping, know that there are two types of shakers: the cobber, with its built-in strainer and fitted top, and the Boston shaker, which is basically a pint glass with a metal canister. If you go with a Boston shaker, buy a separate strainer.

Bar Spoons

If you prefer your drinks stirred rather than shaken, a good bar spoon is a must. The best spoons have a long, twisted handle and a blunt end that can double as a muddler for crushing sugar cubes. There’s a technique to stirring cocktails, too. Its whole purpose is to keep the air bubbles to a minimum. To that end, you want to start with a well-chilled glass. Then, add the liquor or spirit. Place the spoon in the glass and add ice. While you’re stirring, use your fingers and not your wrist to stir the drink gently for about 10 seconds in both directions.

Glassware

Even if you have the very best tools behind the bar and all the information you need on how to make mixed drinks at home, presentation is important, too. For the best presentation, you need the right bar glasses. Understanding the different types of these essential bar tools is key.

• Beer mugs are classic beer containers. They have thick walls that help insulate the drink and handles for easy lifting. Pint glasses and pilsners, which are tall, fluted glasses with no stems, are also popular glassware for beer.
• Tumblers (glasses that many people call old-fashioned, or rocks, glasses) come in different shapes and sizes. They’re ideal for serving spirits neat or on the rocks.
• Martini glasses have a V shape and a stem like a wine glass. They’re ideal for classic martinis and any of the new martini recipes you might be concocting.
• Coupes look similar to martini glasses, but with a rounded lip. They give any home cocktail a classic speakeasy vibe. They work equally well for champagne or for drinks served up, including Manhattans and martinis.
• Collins or highball glasses are sleek, tall glasses ideal for most classic mixed drinks like gin and tonic or rum and coke.
• Flutes offer an elegant touch when you’re serving champagne or sparkling wines. Wine glasses come in several shapes and sizes, including stemless red wine glasses, white wine glasses and wine glasses that work for either type.

Drink Dispensers

Pitchers, dispensers and stands, oh my! Just as bar glasses are essential home bar tools, so too are drink dispensers, especially if you plan to entertain a crowd. These essential bar tools allow you to make a big batch of your signature cocktail for easy entertaining. And when you’re serving the under-21 crowd, they double as elegant dispensers for non-alcoholic drinks like lemonade, iced tea or fancy mocktails.