Every great home bar starts with the right tools. Whether you’re just getting started or upgrading your setup, having the right equipment makes mixing drinks so much easier — and a lot more fun. From cocktail shakers and jiggers to muddlers and ice trays, this guide covers everything you need to stock your home bar.
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Your ultimate guide to home bar essentials
When it comes to making cocktails at home, there’s something that’s almost as important as the ingredients for the drink themselves: your bar tools. Trust me on this, properly measured and mixed ingredients make better-tasting cocktails!
You don’t need to buy every gimmicky item you see on social media. A handful of tools will cover most drink recipes. And don’t settle for the cheap stuff that could leak or lacks measurement markings — a high-quality bar tool set will last for years and help you grow as an at-home bartender.
Once you have the essentials, you can work on adding in some of my favorite bar accessories. Be sure to stock up on cocktail mixers, bitters and spirits, too.
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).
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.
Essential home bar tools
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.
Tools for making 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 set 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. Here’s a little bit about what each of them does:
Jigger
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The jigger is essentially a measuring cup for alcohol. To measure out any liquid ingredient, a double-sided Japanese-style jigger shaped like an hourglass is just the thing you need. In fact, I recommend having two, so you aren’t slinging spills around when you flip it.
One side is the standard 1.5 ounces, and the other is 1 ounce. You’ll need one of these to measure any alcohol for cocktails. It’s key to get one with measurements marked in both ounces and milliliters, so you don’t have to guess at how much booze or simple syrup you’re adding.
A bell jigger * is another option. It is designed with a wide middle and flared shape, which makes it easier to grip and less likely to slip when your hands are wet. Many bartenders prefer its rounded shape and balanced weight for speed and accuracy.
Cocktail shaker
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cocktail shaker lids for mason jars
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Cocktail shakers are the centerpiece of any home bar, the key to mixing cocktail ingredients properly. You can certainly stir, but shaking is more aggressive and necessary for some drinks, especially when you want to make a drink cold without serving it on ice. They come in two main styles:
- Cobbler shaker *: This is a 3-piece shaker which has a metal body, a built-in strainer top and a separate lid. The built-in strainer lets you add ingredients, like fruit, without the pulp ending up in your drink. These are great beginner-level designs, and they are what everyone thinks of when you picture a cocktail shaker. But when you’re ready to advance, graduating to a 2-piece shaker and a choose-your-own-adventure strainer yields more professional results.
- Boston shaker *: This is the 2-piece style you’ll see every professional bartender using behind the bar. They are simply two cups that fit together and seal up when you tap them against the counter. They come apart easily with another tap against the counter. Bostons are easy to clean, and you can use any kind of strainer (Hawthorne, julep, fine-mesh) with them.
You can also make a shaker out of a mason jar. No need for a special lid, but they are fun to have around or gift with my favorite cocktail infusion kits.
Mixing glass
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The next level up from a shaker is the mixing glass * — because not every cocktail is shaken! A sturdy one is an essential tool for stirred cocktails like the martini. Plus it adds touch of classic bar style to your bar cart *! But you can, of course, stir a cocktail in a shaker and just… not shake it.
Bar spoon set
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For the drinks that don’t require shaking, a long, skinny bar spoon * does the trick. You can also use the bar spoon to float liquors over top layered drinks, such as in these Baby Guinness Shots.
It’s built for control — the slim, twisted handle makes it easy to stir cocktails smoothly without melting too much ice or over-diluting the drink. Its length helps you reach the bottom of tall mixing glasses or shakers. The back of the spoon doubles for layering ingredients (like a float on a New York Sour or mini beer shot).
Strainers
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The Hawthorne strainer is the most classic design, but there are really three types of cocktail strainers, and all of them have an important place at the bar:
- Hawthorne strainer *: With its coiled spring, this strainer fits snugly over a shaker tin and flexes to catch ice. It’s the workhorse for shaken drinks and works well with most glassware.
- Julep strainer *: A perforated, spoon-shaped strainer that sits inside a mixing glass. It’s perfect for stirred cocktails like a martini or Manhattan, keeping ice back while you pour.
- Fine-mesh cocktail strainer: Used in tandem with another strainer, it catches tiny bits of fruit pulp, herbs or ice shards. This gives you an extra-smooth, elegant finish in the glass. Think of it as a filter that polishes your cocktail.
The Julep strainer *‘s bowl-shape fits nicely into a glass at an angle, but the spring in the Hawthorne allows it to fit most any glass or cocktail shaker *. And the fine mesh strainer * will be useful even outside of drinks. Which one should you get? Any will do the trick, but it can’t hurt to get one of each.
Citrus press
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Though there are many ways to juice citrus, there’s nothing more precise than a citrus press juicer *. It’s easy to store in a drawer or on the bar, and it easily pushes out fresh lemon or lime juice right into your shaker or mixing glass *.
The citrus press is what you’ll see in most bars, but I don’t mind using an old-fashioned glass juicer. They do a better job of getting all the juice out than the squeeze kind. Be sure to pour it out over a strainer to avoid the pulp.
But you need to juice a lot of citrus, say for a pitcher of margaritas, you may enjoy having an electric juicer * instead. I absolutely love mine!
Muddler
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For drinks like the mojito, a muddler * is helpful to mash fruits and herbs and enhance the flavor. If you don’t have one, you can substitute the handle of a wooden spoon. Instead of tearing herbs or crushing fruit to a pulp, use the muddler * to gently press on the ingredients — not smash them — to release oils and juices, which add vibrant, fresh notes to cocktails.
Other must-haves
Bottle opener
stainless steel bottle openers
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A bottle opener is good to have on hand for the beer drinkers, but it might come in even handier for an old-fashioned soda with a bottle cap. I always buy more than one because they tend to get lost!
Wine opener
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Just as it’s a good idea to have a few beers on hand for your beer-drinking friends, a wine opener is just as helpful for your wine-drinking ones. A wine key * is more manual and what you will see a sommelier use in a restaurant, but I have also become quite fond of my electric wine opener *. A wine foil cutter * is also great to have around to cut through the annoying packaging on some bottles.
Bar towel
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Every bar needs a dish towel (or three) to wipe up splashes and spills! (They happen to the best of us.)
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Ice bucket
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And of course, where there’s ice, there should be an ice bucket *. If you’re mixing a lot of drinks for a gathering, it will come in handy to have the ice on hand, ready to go so you don’t have to make multiple trips to the freezer.
Garnish essentials
Ice molds
favorite ice molds
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A lot of bartenders would argue that ice is the unofficial ingredient of every cocktail. Ice can easily take on the flavor of whatever is in your freezer, so fresh ice is key to better drinks. Plus, pretty ice cubes take a cocktail to the next level if you ask me. I often use the machine-made stuff from my freezer, but nothing beats perfect cubes. (Psst… Want clear, not white, ice? There’s a trick for you in my clear ice guide.)
Vegetable peeler
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For those gorgeous orange zest garnishes on your old-fashioneds, you’ll want a good peeler. I swear by this vegetable peeler *, which makes it so easy to precisely sear off the orange zest — not the bitter white pith underneath.
Bartender’s knife
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A sharp paring knife is key in bartending. You’ll use it again and again to cut citrus for juicing or to prepare garnishes like fruit slices, orange peels and herbs.
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.
Cocktail napkins
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A good hostess and bartender knows presentation is important, so cocktail napkins are an important detail. Keep some washable ones at your bar to serve with drinks. Paper ones are fine, too!
explore more gift guides
Whether they’re a baker or a cocktail maker, I’ve got a guide for every kind of drinker and foodie :
How I chose items for this guide
When I put together a gift guide, I’m pulling from a mix of personal favorites, things I’ve actually used and loved, and products I’d happily buy for people in my own life. I browse trusted retailers, check reviews, revisit brands I know well and keep an eye out for small businesses with thoughtful, well-made items. I sometimes hear about products directly from brands or receive samples, but I only include pieces that genuinely fit the theme and feel right for you. I skip anything gimmicky or low quality, and I try to include a range of price points so there’s something for every budget.
My goal is always to make choosing the right gift feel easy and inspired — no matter who you’re shopping for or what the occasion might be. I want you to feel supported and excited as you discover new favorites. Some links may be affiliate links, as noted in my disclosure policy and at the top of the post, but every recommendation is chosen independently with you in mind.
Don’t forget to explore my other gift guides for even more ideas across every interest and personality.
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