Anyone who enjoys partaking in delicious cocktails knows that there are certain items one must have in order to recreate the drinks. We’re not just talking about a bottle of vodka or rum, every home bar needs a number of bar essentials. Sure you can concoct a cocktail shaker out of two glasses, but it’s less than impressive and kind of messy. Barware not only includes glasses, it also refers to the tools and accessories you will need to have your own mini bar at home.
Before we talk about glassware, you need the right equipment to create the perfect drink. The most important piece of barware is, of course, the cocktail shaker. Most are made of stainless steel, feature a built-in strainer, and have a jigger lid that doubles as a measuring device. If your shaker doesn’t come with a strainer, you can purchase one separately. The strainer will separate the ice and other solid ingredients from the drink. A bar spoon is easier to use than a regular one because it has a longer handle. Makes it easier to stir and layer drinks. Any Mojito fan will need a muddler, which is a thick wooden or metal stick used to crush ingredients.
Some little items to make life easier include a bottle pourer, bottle opener, and corkscrew. Corkscrews are cheap and easy to use, but there are a variety of fancy battery-operated and electric wine openers. A small cutting board is perfect for slicing garnishes, and you’ll want a pairing knife to go with it. A citrus grater, twister sticks, and lemon/lime squeezers are also good to have on hand. You can get away with without them, but if you’re serious about your barware, then they’re a worthwhile investment. If you’re serving guests, wear an ice bucket and flip flops instead of leaving the ice cube tray out. It’s also good etiquette not to touch other people’s ice.
Glassware is very important to any good bar. Serving a mojito in a martini glass is wrong on so many levels. You don’t have to have every variety of glass out there, but you should at least start with red and white wine glasses, martini glasses, and flute glasses. Please note that red wine glasses have a larger bowl to enhance the aroma of the wine. Beer mugs, pint glasses, and pilsner glasses are preferred to drinking from the bottle. (Unless you’re a beer advocate, don’t worry about which beers go in which glass.) Mixed drinks made with sodas or tonics usually go in tall or old fashioned glasses. Shot glasses do double duty as measuring devices and glasses. If you’re looking to go all out with your barware, you might want to invest in some furniture. Wine racks and hanging stemware racks will save you a lot of space. Wine enthusiasts may want to invest in a wine cooler or wine cooler. If your bar is stocked with all of these barware essentials, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a mixologist.
