Upgrade your home bar setup with these must-have home bar accessories and tools. From shakers to strainers, make sure you have everything you need to craft the perfect cocktail.
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Your ultimate guide to home bar accessories
When you love making drinks at home, the right tools really do make a difference. Over the years I’ve tested more bar accessories than I can count: some winners, plenty of flops. I’ve fallen for shiny new gadgets only to be disappointed (like the shaker that blew its top mid-margarita and sent tequila raining from the ceiling. RIP, top-shelf tequila).
Now I always reach for the pieces that are sturdy, well-made and satisfying to use. Quality tools don’t just last longer — they make mixing your favorite drinks smoother, so you can spend less time fussing and more time enjoying the drinks and the people you’re with.
Start with the basic bar essentials, then you can add in the less-essential, but still insanely-fun-to-have enhancements.
Tips for choosing bar tools
When you’re building up your home bar, whether it’s your first or you’re just upgrading, it’s easy to fall for the cutest new thing. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned: Not all bar tools are created equal, it’s true. (I’m looking at you, plastic lemon squeezers that break within a year!)
- Invest where it counts. Splurge on the tools you’ll use constantly (shaker, jigger, strainer) and save on the extras you’ll rarely touch.
- Look for durability. Stainless steel, solid wood and heavy glass tend to outlast cheaper plastic versions.
- Trust premium brands. Bartender-designed tools, like the ones from A Bar Above, Barfly and Cocktail Kingdom, are ones you’ll see in quality bars. The tools at big box stores just don’t compare (and I’ve tried a lot).
Essential home bar accessories
There are lots of high-quality bar accessories out there that get the job done — and do it well. With the right bar tools, you’ll be mixing drinks worth raising a glass to — cheers to that! Let’s start with the essentials.
In addition to the basics, every bar should also have versatile glassware that work for more than one type of drink, like martini glasses *, rocks glasses * and highball glasses * for simple mixed drinks.
Bartending set
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This complete basic bartending set * from A Bar Above is my favorite. It’s a little spendy, but it includes premium versions of the essential tools: a Boston shaker *, a jigger with measurements, three kinds of strainers, a muddler * and a bar spoon *. This one is great choice for anyone starting from scratch or fully updating their gear, but you don’t have to have a matching set. You can buy all of these items individually.
Cocktail picks
favorite cocktail picks
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stainless steel cocktail picks
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Cocktail picks are a great way to level up your cocktail garnishes. Try skewering some olives for your next martini and cocktail cherries for a Manhattan, instead of dropping them inside. It looks more professional and they make it easier and less messy to munch on your garnishes.
Coasters
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Coasters may seem like a small detail, but they pull double duty. They protect your tables and bar from water rings and sticky spills, while also adding a little style to your setup. Whether you go for sleek leather, colorful cork or fun printed designs, coasters make serving drinks feel more intentional and put-together.
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Leveled-up bar tools
Once you’ve stocked your bar with the basics, it’s fun to add a few specialty tools that take your cocktail game up a notch. These leveled-up accessories aren’t strictly necessary, but they open the door to new techniques, cleaner presentation and more polished drinks. From tools that help you master garnishes to gear that makes mixing faster and smoother, these extras are what turn a simple home setup into a true bar experience.
Bitters bottles
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A reusable bitters bottle * is a stylish and functional addition to your bar setup. Decant Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters *, orange bitters * or any bitters you like into one of these pretty bottles to dress up your bar cart *.
Rimmer dish
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For margarita lovers, a reusable salt rimmer is a stylish and functional addition. It’s perfect for rimming glasses with salt as well as sugar. You can even use it with flavored sugars and salts, like lemon sugar on a lemon drop martini.
Bartender’s knife
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Knives aren’t just for cooking. Bartenders need sharp knives for cutting fruit, trimming herbs or shaping peels into decorative twists. A dedicated bartender’s knife * makes these tasks easier and more precise, earning its spot as a true home bar essential.
Channel knife
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A channel knife is a small bar tool with a sharp, V-shaped blade designed to cut thin strips of citrus peel. It’s the tool you reach for when making a lemon twist, since it carves clean, decorative ribbons of zest without digging too deep into the bitter pith.
Bar mat
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I’m just going to say it: Making cocktails is messy. (Just ask my husband.) But a simple bar mat * just like the ones you see behind restaurant bars is a great way to minimize the mess. They catch spills and add grip to your countertop, making it less likely you’ll send a glass tumbling.
Decanter
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A whiskey decanter * adds instant sophistication to a home bar, keeping spirits fresh while displaying them in style. And they’re not limited to whiskey: You can use them for rum, vodka, gin or any spirit you’d like to showcase or that you grab often. A well-chosen decanter doubles as both storage and décor, making every pour feel a little more elegant.
And don’t forget bottle stoppers to keep wine or open spirits fresh when you don’t finish a bottle in one sitting.
Drink dispensers
party essentials
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If you love hosting, a large vessel is essential for serving batch cocktails to a group of guests. While they may not live on your bar cart * full-time, pitchers, punch bowls and spigot-style dispensers are lifesavers when you need to mix drinks for a crowd. They keep serving simple and stress-free, look great on the table and free you up to actually enjoy the party instead of playing bartender all night.
Cocktail smoker
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A cocktail smoker kit lets you infuse drinks with dramatic, smoky aromas right at home, bringing a craft cocktail bar vibe to your counter. It’s a natural match for bourbon and whiskey cocktails, but it also adds intrigue to tequila drinks and even zero-proof creations. The ritual of smoking a cocktail feels theatrical, and the flavor it imparts makes each sip more layered and memorable.
Clear ice maker
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This unique ice mold creates crystal-clear ice that melt slowly, keeping cocktails chilled without watering them down. It’s a must-try for old fashioned fans, or anyone who loves sipping spirits in style.
Ice designer
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The ice designer * imprints striking patterns or shapes onto cubes, turning ordinary ice into a statement piece. The result is show-stopping, artistic ice that adds instant flair and sophistication to your cocktails. Beyond looks, it sparks conversation and makes even a simple drink feel like it came from a high-end bar — a small detail that elevates the whole experience.
Syrup dispensers
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Syrup dispensers make it easy to keep homemade simple syrups and infusions neat, fresh and ready to pour. They give you more control than storing in mason jars or random bottles, since the spouts measure smoothly without sticky drips. Plus, they look polished on your bar cart or coffee bar, and make it effortless to swap in seasonal flavors for cocktails, coffee or mocktails.
Hydroponic garden
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With a hydroponic garden *, you can grow fresh herbs at home year-round for garnishes like mint, basil, rosemary and thyme. They add brightness and flavor to cocktails, and they’re cost-effective and eco-friendly since you’re not constantly buying those little plastic clamshells.
Cocktail aging barrel
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A cocktail aging barrel * lets you add layers of depth and complexity to spirits right at home. By resting your cocktails or base spirits in oak for a few weeks, you infuse them with warm, woody notes that mellow sharp edges and create a rich, rounded flavor. They’re especially perfect for spirit-forward drinks like Manhattans or Negronis, giving your home creations the same nuanced character you’d expect from a bar.
Travel bartender kit
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A travel bartender kit bag * is a lifesaver if you’re the friend who always gets asked to make drinks, or if you love mixing cocktails while traveling. These compact bags keep all your essentials — shaker, jigger, strainer, spoons — neatly organized and protected. Instead of juggling random tools in your luggage or showing up empty-handed, you’ll have everything you need to set up a bar anywhere.
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