Having an at-home bar takes more than a few bottles of your favorite alcohol, a handful of tumbler glasses, and some ice cubes. After all, a proper cocktail party requires a proper bar setup. Stocking up on the liquors and mixers of your favorite drinks is a great first step in laying the foundation for your at-home bar. If you are a fan of Santiago Cocktails, then it is natural for you to stock your bar with rum, grenadine, and lemon juice. Do you enjoy Tequila Sunrises? Then you’ll want tequila, orange juice, and grenadine ready and on hand. Having the correct ingredients is the most critical step in operating a successful at-home bar, but it’s merely the fundamentals. Once you’ve got your bar stocked with your preferred ingredients, the next step is purchasing the slew of accessories specifically designed for prepping and mixing cocktails with ease, whether it be a generic measuring jigger or a blunt muddler.
Here are our handpicked choices for the best at-home bar accessories, directly culled from our favorite drink experts — ourselves. So, dust off you best cocktail attire and let us help you put the finishing touches on the perfect at-home bar — with specific suggestions you can actually afford. Additionally, check out our picks for the best food and drink apps for iOS and Android, along with the eight best grilling gadgets for the upcoming BBQ season.
Generic Premium Cocktail Shaker ($9) or Bottles-Up Boston Shaker ($19)
Both the cocktail and Boston shaker are quintessential, at-home bar accessories that serve similar purposes despite varying slightly in design and function. The cocktail shaker is a tall metal cup possessing a tight-fitting lid covering a strainer. The traditional cocktail shaker is easier to use than the Boston shaker, and best suited for martini lover who prefer their cocktails shaken not stirred. However, shakers of the Boston variety are handy because of their dual-purpose nature. The first component of a Boston shaker’s two parts is a mixing glass, which you use as a standalone device to stir drinks over ice, while the second component is a larger metal tin used to cover the mixing glass when shaking cocktails. Though not outfitted with a strainer, advanced bartenders can still manage to strain a drink’s ingredients with practice and a steady hand, while amateurs typically opt for a loose strainer to perform the action on their behalf.
Uber Bar Tools ProStirrer Spoon ($20)
As clearly evident in the picture above, a barspoon isn’t your run-of-the-mill spoon. Substantially longer than a typical version of its namesake, a barspoon uses its extended shaft to reach the bottom of tall glasses. Most additionally feature a spiraled handle designed to make it easy to rotate in your hand while stirring your cocktails, and though it may not be the flashiest item on our list, it’s also one of the most convenient if you intend to craft layered shots, cocktails, and other alcoholic drinks. You can also use a barspoon to measure out small amounts of ingredients — a typical barspoon approximately equates to one teaspoon — or perform banal tasks such as fetching olives and cherries. Simply put, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to purchase the utensil once added to your repertoire.
Winco Hawthorne Strainer ($4) or Winco Julep Strainer ($4)
Even if you have a quality cocktail shaker in your bar inventory, having a standalone strainer on hand is always a great idea. A strainer of the Hawthorne variety features a perforated metal top and a wire coil that works flawlessly with the metal component of the Boston shaker, thus making it ideal for shaken cocktails. Used to not only separate ice from your cocktails, the Hawthorne strainer also works well when straining fruits, herbs, or any other solid ingredient into your mix. The Julep strainer on the other hand, is like the Hawthorne strainer with slight aesthetic variations rendering it less fine and more apt for stirred cocktails. Though both the Hawthorne and Julep strainers tout a perforated top, the latter’s top is shaped more like a spoon, allowing better control when used with a mixing glass. It also separates ice, fruit, herbs, and any solid ingredient from your cocktails. Still, we recommend the Hawthorne strainer the best type for all-around use.
Stanton Trading Muddler ($4)
There’s no finer device to add to your accessory quiver when it comes to making Old Fashions, Mint Juleps, and Mojitos than a muddler. The simple device is typically made of wood or metal, allowing you to easily mix sugars, mash bitters, and extract juices from fruits alongside essential oils from herbs. Although you can feel free to crush fruit herbs as forcefully as you’d like given your sole goal is extract pulp and juice, you should aim to merely bruise herbs as they often contain their flavor on the outside of the leaves while housing unwanted pigments such as chlorophyll within. The muddler’s build isn’t crucial — it’s designed to smash regardless of the material — but we do recommend going with an unvarnished muddler if you choose the classic option. Varnished wood will only degrade and wear away with time given the acidity of the fruit.
Bonny Bar Jigger ($5)
A jigger is essentially a shot glass with options. The accessory is made of two components, a 1½-ounce and a smaller cone typically measuring under an once, making it perfect for drinks that rely on precise measurements. It’s not a necessary accessory given most bartenders tend to just free pour drinks, but it is a crucial tool if you desire precise proportions and accurate liquor levels for your drinks.
Next Page: Five more of the best at-home bar accessories
Zak Designs Cocktail Tray ($20)
Having a cocktail tray among the accessories of your at-home bar is crucial in maintaining a clean and organized work space. Not only does it allow you to organize your bar, but it’s dual-action functionality allows you to cut back on trips to the kitchen and deliver a swath of drinks to your guests with one fell swoop. It’s simple and perhaps a no-brainer in many regards, but it’s serves a purpose.
OXO Liquor Pourer ($7)
Showcased every night in nearly every bar across the country, a liquor pourer allows you to pour drinks with ease and efficiency. The basic device fits snugly in any open bottle of liquor, providing a steady stream when turned upside down to allow for greater control over the pouring process. It’s the perfect companion for the jigger, and though it may seem more of a luxury item than an essential, it will continually ensure you never overpour a cocktail again.
Chef’n Fresh Force Juicer ($25)
Adding a juicer to your repertoire takes your at-home cocktails to the next level. Sure, you could use any of the array of Dole juices at your local store, but nothing beats fresh-squeezed lemon and lime in a handcrafted margarita. There are many juicer options on the market, most of which vary in terms of sheer functionality and power, but a traditional hand juicer often provides the simplest means of juicing without requiring external power, preparation, or patience.
Hamilton Beach 58148 Blender ($25)
Although electric blenders need little introduction, the devices remains a key component for bartenders who relish serving margaritas, daiquiris, or any other drink containing heavy amounts of ice or fruit. The device grants you more robust flexibility with your cocktail making, providing a straightforward solution for crushing, blending, and pureeing ingredients you would otherwise find difficult to combine. Blenders are available in a variety of incarnations much like juicers, but a classic multi-function blender like Hamilton Beach’s offering will suffice for the average bartender at home.
Progressive International Cutting Board ($16)
No one likes to cut on the counter or using a large plate if they don’t have to. A proper cutting board greatly assists when slicing up garnishes for your drinks, providing a solid surface on which to cut various cocktail ingredients while allowing for easy cleanup afterward. It’s a standard tool you likely already possess, but it’s also never too late to pick one up if you haven’t already.
Next Page: Four honorable mentions for the best at-home bar accessories
Pendrini Corkscrew Bottle Opener ($10)
Like the aforementioned cutting board, you probably already have a corkscrew bottle opener tucked away somewhere in your kitchen. However, the device remains a staple for any aspiring bartender looking to open a bottle not equipped with a twist-off cap, one typically combining a manual corkscrew and a top-resting bottle opener for dual-purpose functionality.
Ice Bucket and Tongs ($19.99)
Having an ice bucket is another luxury item which makes cocktail making a little easier. Sure, running to the freezer takes a matter of seconds, but having a bucket specifically for ice helps complete the desired motif. When purchasing an ice bucket for your at-home bar, you’ll likely want one coupled with a set of tongs and a scooper, as tongs present a clean and efficient way to add ice to drinks requiring more than one or two cubes. Plus, it allows you to refrain from using your mixing glass or dedicated shaker to gather your desired amount of ice when mixing cocktails requiring more than one cup.
Martini Glass Pitcher ($23)
If you’re planning on having a large amount of people over to show off your new at-home bar, then you’ll want the proper pitcher in handle to cater to the masses. A pitcher allows you to prepare a copious helping of a particular drink beforehand, ensuring you’ll have far more time to mingle among your guests than you would if you were forced to constantly mix drinks. Just create a large batch of your favorite cocktail, mix in some ice to chill it, and spend more time drinking than pouring.
Prodyne Cocktail Picks ($14)
If you’re feeling a James Bond-type night, one with martinis on the menu, then a laudable selection of cocktail picks is a must. Perfect for skewering olives in said martinis, or impaling your fruit of choice in your favorite cocktails, cocktail picks help add a simple aesthetic touch designed to complete the package. That said, you can always opt for either a large quantity of disposable picks or splurge for a set of reusable, stainless-steel picks such as Prodyne’s.
Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide ($11)
The Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide is an excellent companion for your growing at-home bar. Chock full of cocktail recipes for nearly any type of alcohol — including non-alcoholic drinks — there’s no denying you’ll want the guide readily available at your next social function.
What did you think of our selection of the best accessories to complete your at-home bar? Which do you find the most crucial? Let us know in the comments below.
