For anyone who loves to drink – not get drunk – and likes to mix different liqueur, fruits, and flavors, a home bar is a must. And if you are planning to throw some parties and entertain guests, you will need some basic bartending tools. It doesn’t matter if you serve alcohol or not, you will still need these bar accessories to mix your awesome mocktails and wow your guests.
A well equipped bar with the right bartending tools will help you function smoothly and not go hunting for odd kitchen tools to crush ice at the last moment. I remember wrestling with a small kitchen knife and hunting for some heavy object to break the ice slab. But I also remember the ease of having an ice-bucket at hand when treating guests outdoor.
Bartending Tools
You may think you don’t need some of these things, but believe me, having these basic barware will come in handy when you are busy with your guests. Most bar sets won’t have everything you need. Get the one which has the most tools and buy others separately.
Spirit Measure
A Spirit measure lets you measure the quantity of alcohol, of course. The standard spirit measure comes with a dual measure – a 30ml and a 60 ml side. It not only comes in handy while mixing cocktails and mocktails, but is the basic tool you will often use to measure and keep your alcohol intake in check. This is one bar accessory you can’t do without.
Wooden Muddler
Different drinks are mixed in different ways. Some are simply mixed and stirred, while others need to be blended. And then there is everybody’s favorite Mojito, which needs to be muddled. Some fruit infused drinks require that the fruit be muddled than be blended. A good wooden muddler should be long enough to reach the bottom of a tall glass and have a good grip. The muddler helps you crush a few things by pounding a lemon or herbs at the bottom of the glass and mix the drink in the glass.
Ice Tongs
Anyone who has tried to scoop a single ice cube from an ice bucket knows how much of challenge it can be. You don’t want to fiddle around in the bucket when offering an ice cube to your guests at a party and get frustrated. An ice tong can help you pick cubes quickly and add them to the glasses without making a mess. There are a lot of bar sets available online that will come with ice-tongs that match the design and color with your other bar accessories.
Bar Spoon
Bar spoons are much like conventional spoons but have a long handle so that you can stir the drinks in tall glasses and jugs and pitchers. Some designs come with a spindly handle so that you get a better grip with wet hands – something you should look out for when selecting a bar spoon for your home bar.
Bottle Opener
Well, I don’t need to tell you why you need a good bottle opener. While most of the bottles now are made of plastic and come with a turning cap, you will still come across some glass bottles that need a little tug. And then there are always the beer bottles that mostly come with a crown cap.
Can Opener
If you see yourself as a serious amateur mixologist, you will use a lot of ingredients that come in cans. Out of season fruit or some syrups and mixers mostly come in cans – like coconut milk and cream that you need for a Pina Colada. Wrestling with a can with odd equipment like a knife is not a good idea when time and finesse is of importance. Plus, there is always a danger that you will injure yourself with the knives while wrestling with the cans. A good can opener is also an essential tool for your kitchen.
Ice Bucket
A good ice bucket is not only a stylish bar accessory, but an essential tool to store ice. Summers often mean evening social engagement s outdoor, on the roof or the garden. Ferrying ice from the house is impractical and will make you weary by the end of the evening. The ice bucket will help you fulfill your guests’ needs and allow you to mix some quick drinks without constant trips to the house.
Corkscrew
Not something you will need everyday, I agree. But if you enjoy that odd bottle of wine every now and then, this is one bartending tool that you cannot do without. Getting the cork out of the wine bottle without the corkscrew is almost an impossible task – I know because I have done this. There is always that danger of the bottle slipping out of your hands and you making a huge mess.
A corkscrew can do the job in minutes and make your job of mixing a Sangria or Punch that much more easy.
Straws
Once again, this not something that you will need every day. But there will always be some kids around who will want their straws. There’s something relaxing about sipping on the drink with a straw and we all enjoy that once in a while. Have a packet of straws handy as you don’t know when someone would request one.
Cocktail Shaker
What’s a bar without a cocktail shaker. You can use a pair of glasses that fit into one another, but that will still spill some precious liquid out. And then there is always that rush to find a non-food strainer. A cocktail shaker is the best investment you will make in equipping your home bar. Some of these cocktail shakers also come with quick and easy recipes on the shaker’s surface that you can use.
You can get most of these bartending tools at your local store that sells kitchen tools and crockery. Or you can get these online. You will find various combinations in different bar sets and buy the remaining separately.
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