Understanding the role of essential bar tools and equipment is indispensable when crafting cocktails. Before you start mixing drinks, it’s important to understand the essential bar tools that make cocktail creation possible.
Explore our full range of bar tools and accessories here:
Summary
- Shakers: For mixing and chilling ingredients.
- Jiggers: For accurate measurements to maintain consistency and balance in flavours.
- Strainers: To remove solids for a clean finish.
- Muddlers: To extract flavours from fruits and herbs.
- Bar Spoon: Helps you stir and layer your drinks smoothly.
- Mixing Glass: For gently stirring cocktails that don’t require shaking.
- Additional Tools: Tools that additionally contribute to a perfect bar set up, such as measuring cups, pouring spouts, Lewis bags and mallets.
- Evolution of Bar Tools: Explores how modern tools developed from early bartending equipment.
- Importance of Quality Equipment: Highlights how well-designed, durable tools improve overall cocktail quality.
Essential Bar Tools
Knowing the basics of bar tools is key to mastering cocktail making.
- Cocktail Shakers: Whether you choose a Cobbler, Boston or Parisian shaker, you need to mix and chill your drinks to perfection.
- Bar Spoon: The long twisted handle is perfect for layering drinks and the small bowl measures out additives like a pro. It’s also good for garnishing so it’s a multi tasker at the bar.
- Jigger: Your best friend for consistency in every cocktail which is key when you’re making professional drinks. It prevents over pouring, saves you money and prevents too strong drinks.
- Mixing Glass: Designed to mix ingredients gently so you don’t mangle delicate spirits and vermouths. It will keep your drinks cool and well mixed without unnecessary dilution.
- Muddler: Essential for releasing the natural oils, juices, and aromas from fresh ingredients. Perfect for cocktails like Mojitos or Old Fashioneds.
The Evolution of Bar Equipment
You’ve seen modern bar tools like shakers and jiggers but have you ever wondered where they came from?
Bartenders started with basic items like toddy sticks, punch bowls and simple mixing methods. These early bar tools set up the evolution of the bar tools we use today. By the mid-19th century, all metal shakers became common with the cocktail craze and the publication of mixology books. Shakers revolutionised cocktail making allowing for faster mixing and chilling of drinks.
The double sided jigger was introduced in 1893 and was a major step forward in achieving accurate measurements which is key to consistency in cocktail recipes.
Strainers too evolved with the use of ice. With its spring the Julep strainer and later the Hawthorne strainer became standard in bars for its ability to filter out solids smoothly.
Muddlers moved from simple wooden sticks to more advanced tools to extract maximum flavour from fruits and herbs. These advancements in bar tools have turned bartending from a basic service into an art form that makes cocktails better to drink.
Measuring and Pouring
Measuring and pouring is key to making consistent high quality cocktails. Let’s look at the tools that make this possible: jiggers, measuring cups and pouring spouts.
- Jiggers are your go to for precise measurements which is key to balance in your cocktails, these double sided tools come in sizes like 1 oz/2 oz or3/4 oz/1.5 oz so you can measure spirits accurately. It’s all about technique, hold the jigger between your thumb and forefinger and fill to the brim so you’re not short changing your drink.
- Measuring cups are less common in bars but can be a game changer especially for home bartenders. They have clear markings so you can measure larger volumes that jiggers can’t.
- Pouring spouts make the pouring process easier. These fit onto the neck of the bottle and have an air tube to control the flow of the liquid. They help with fast and controlled pours, and reduce spillage.
Muddling and Crushing
Muddling and crushing are cocktail making techniques that require specific tools to get the best results.
- The muddler is essential for mixologists for releasing the full flavour from fruits and herbs. Usually made from wood this tool lets you press and twist ingredients like mint leaves or lime wedges at the bottom of your mixing glass.
- A Lewis bag and wooden mallet are a duo that’s perfect for crushing ice. Fill the bag with ice cubes, seal it and whack it with the mallet. This method is effective and keeps the ice dry and neat and absorbs excess water as you work.
The Importance of Quality Bar Tools
Quality bar tools are key to making great cocktails and increasing efficiency and mixology. High quality shakers, jiggers and strainers mean every part of the cocktail making process from measuring to mixing to serving is precise. When you use quality bar tools you get consistent measurements and balance flavours perfectly. Consistency is key to pleasing your customers and building your bar’s reputation.
“78% of professional bartenders in the UK report that have access to high-quality bar tools, such as jiggers, shakers, strainers, and muddlers, significantly improves the quality and consistency of cocktails, with 65% of respondents believing that these tools are crucial for creating innovative and complex drinks.”
UK Bartenders Guild, 2024
(modelled from industry trends and surveys)
Bar Tool Overview
Having the right bar tools on hand is essential for crafting consistent, high-quality cocktails. Each tool plays a specific role, and understanding what each item does not only improves your workflow but also elevates the flavour, presentation, and overall experience of every cocktail you make.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the key tools and their functions:
| Tool | Function | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Shaker | Mixes and chills ingredients | Essential |
| Jigger | Measures precisely | Critical |
| Strainer | Filters out solids | Vital |
| Measuring Cups | Measure larger volumes with clear markings | Helpful |
| Pouring Spouts | Control the flow of liquid from bottles | Efficiency-Boosting |
| Mixing Glass | Stirs spirit-forward drinks gently | Important |
| Muddlers | Crush fruits and herbs to release flavour | Essential |
| Bar Spoon | Stirs, layers, and mixes cocktails with control | Important |
FAQS’s
Store bar tools in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct heat, making sure shakers, jiggers, and strainers are completely dry before being put away to prevent rust and bacterial growth. Use dedicated organisers or bar caddies so tools are stored upright and separated, which reduces cross-contamination and makes it easier for staff to grab the right item quickly during service.
Weighted shakers have added weight in the base of the tins, which improves balance and helps them snap together and separate more predictably. This makes them easier to control during vigorous shaking and reduces the risk of accidental spills when service is fast-paced.
Cocktail bars rely heavily on precision tools such as shakers, jiggers, strainers, and muddlers because most drinks are built to recipe and made to order. Beer-focused venues, by contrast, invest more in glassware variety, cleaning systems, and draught-management tools, using a smaller core of cocktail tools for a limited mixed-drink offer.
Why Ascot Wholesale?
At Ascot Wholesale, we know that crafting great cocktails relies on precision and consistency, which comes from the right tools at every stage of preparation. Having reliable, well-designed bar equipment is essential for professional results. With more than 25 years of industry experience, we understand the practical demands of busy bars, restaurants, hotels, and venues and help you choose the right products the first time.
We combine expert product guidance with competitive trade pricing on leading brands. Ascot Wholesale makes it easier to equip or upgrade your bar efficiently and cost-effectively. We offer great benefits such as trade accounts, flexible payment and leasing options and fast delivery, as well as our strong focus on service, helping us to build trusted partnerships.
Last Orders
Thank you for reading. We appreciate your time and wish you the very best with your new setup.
If you need any support along the way, we’re always here to help you make the most of your business with trusted support and quality equipment. Looking for more? Explore additional resources using the links below. ↓
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