Crafting the perfect cocktail is both an art and a science, a delicate dance between flavors, aromas, and presentation. Just as a painter relies on a fine brush and vibrant palette, a mixologist needs the right tools to transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary libations. Quality cocktail tools are essential. From precision jiggers that measure with accuracy to shakers that chill and aerate, each tool plays a pivotal role in the cocktail-making process. The right instruments not only enhance efficiency and consistency, but they also allow for creativity and experimentation, empowering bartenders and enthusiasts alike to elevate their mixology skills. In the world of cocktails, where every detail matters, using the appropriate tools can make the difference between a mediocre drink and an unforgettable experience.

Cocktail tool preferences can be very personal. While not all bartenders and mixologists agree on the best jigger or shaker style, we all agree on the importance of quality and understanding of why each tool is necessary.

For home mixologists, investing in quality cocktail tools is essential for several reasons. Premium tools enhance the overall experience of mixing drinks, making the process more enjoyable and rewarding. High-quality barware not only performs better, allowing for smoother shaking, more precise measuring, and better chilling, but also instills a sense of confidence in the home bartender. With reliable tools at hand, aspiring mixologists can experiment with techniques and recipes, paving the way for personal creativity and growth in their craft.

As home mixologists embark on their journey to create perfect cocktails, having the right equipment at their fingertips empowers them to explore a world of flavors, impress guests, and elevate their gatherings from ordinary to exceptional.

Here are some recommendations to set yourself up to mix it up like a pro!

Cocktail Shakers

A seasoned mixologist founded the family-owned company, A Bar Above, because he was frustrated by the lack of quality bar tools on the market. They sell everything from cocktail shakers, strainers, mixing glasses, and more. You can find everything you need to set up your bar like a pro with A Bar Above’s selections.

My favorite tools are their Boston-style weighted shaker tins. The added weight of weighted shaker tins provides greater stability during shaking, easier control of the mix and pour without spills, and a tighter seal because of added rigidity. This is especially beneficial for professional bartenders making many cocktails.

A Boston shaker is a 2-piece shaker, whereas a cobbler shaker has three pieces. With the Boston shaker, you simply fill the smaller tin and fit the two cups together to form a tight seal — then shake! The tight seal and a good quality tin are key in this shaker style. You need durable material that is well made with clean edges to achieve the best seal.

There is also more room in a Boston shaker for the liquid and ice to move inside the shaker and make more than one cocktail. And straining the cocktail out of a Boston shaker is faster and cleaner. With this shaker, you will need a separate strainer. A Bar Above has great quality strainers as well, and as a bonus, they have bar sets. Their basic bar sets come with a Boston shaker, a Hawthorne strainer, and a Japanese jigger.

Their products come in several colors like black, gold, silver and antique gold. Bar sets begin at $42. [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Cocktail Jiggers

Another company founded by bar professionals is Portland, Oregon based Bull In China (BIC). Their signature mixing glass launched the company and became a beloved tool by bar professionals nationwide. BIC offers everything from cocktail tools, ice tools, garnishes, and glassware. A particular favorite tool of mine from BIC is their bell jiggers. Although I prefer a Japanese jigger most times, my second go-to jigger is the bell and BIC makes one of the best bell jiggers on the market.

A jigger is a crucial piece of equipment to have when crafting cocktails, as precise measurements are the foundation of a well crafted cocktail. A Japanese jigger is tall and slender and easy to flip between the top and bottom by rotating your hand. The Japanese jigger takes a bit of time to master and it can be a little more difficult than the bell jigger to see the amount of liquid in the jigger. A bell jigger can be an easier tool for moving quickly and building multiple drinks at one time.

BIC’s bell jigger has a very nice weight to it which makes it more sturdy and the measuring line is clear and easy to see. If you are going to have a bell jigger in your arsenal, this is the one. BIC’s bell jiggers come in various finishes and colors from gun metal black to matte white and antique brass.

Bell jiggers start at $21. [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Also check out Drew Beard’s review of Bull In China’s mixing glass.

Cocktail Strainers

If you are looking for a wow-factor gift for your favorite mixologist, Tepotztli is the place to go. Offering beautifully hand-crafted barware, hand-painted drinking vessels, engraved and hand-hammered copper pieces, they are the unique barware products on the market.

A favorite from the Mariposa collection is the hand-painted scenarios Hawthorne strainer. Tepotztli products are pricey, so purchasing items from their collection is a splurge. I opted for a beautiful strainer to hang on the wall in my kitchen, and use it for special occasions. Strainers are another critical tool when mixing cocktails to keep the ice inside a mixing glass or Boston-style cocktail shaker from entering your cocktail. Broken-down ice from stirring or shaking will melt faster in your cocktail than fresh ice, altering the water ratio and potentially watering it down or adding ice to a drink that should be served up. Strainers can also keep pulp or pieces of fruit from entering the cocktail.

There are many types of cocktail strainers, Hawthorne is a flat, disc-shaped bar tool used in mixology to strain cocktails, featuring a perforated metal plate with a coiled spring around its edge that catches ice and other solid ingredients while allowing the liquid to pass through, creating a smooth drink; essentially, it’s a flat strainer with a spring mechanism to filter cocktails being the most popular effectively. You might also be familiar with the julep strainer, a perforated, spoon-shaped strainer that fits over a mixing glass or shaker tin. And there is the fine strainer, a small, cone-shaped, wire mesh screen that filters out small particles from cocktails.

Add a bit of flair or give the gift of a gorgeous and unique hand-crafted cocktail tool to the cocktail enthusiast in your life. $58 and up. tepotztli.com

Mixing Glasses

For serious cocktail makers, a good mixing glass is essential. Its controlled stirring action ensures perfectly chilled, balanced drinks. When preparing spirit-forward cocktails like a Manhattan or a Negroni, the mixing glass becomes indispensable.

Its broader shape allows for a gentle integration of ingredients, preventing the harsh, rapid agitation that shaking can impose. This careful stirring minimizes excessive ice melt, ensuring that your cocktail maintains its rich character without becoming watery. The result is a silky-smooth texture and a well-rounded flavor profile that enhances the distinct notes of the spirits used. Achieving this level of finesse is difficult with other methods or less specialized containers. In short, a mixing glass is key to elevating your cocktail experience, transforming a simple drink into a sophisticated delight.

When selecting a mixing glass, it’s essential to ensure that it is lead-free, particularly if it’s made of crystal. A well-crafted mixing glass should feature a heavy, thick base that provides stability and prevents tipping during use. The design should include a finely crafted pour spout for controlled pouring. It should also work with most cocktail strainers for easy serving.

For those who enjoy crafting multiple cocktails at once, opting for a larger mixing glass is advisable. It not only increases efficiency but also enhances the mixing process. One standout option is Viski’s Professional Extra Large Crystal Mixing Glass, which combines elegance with functionality. This glass delivers exceptional performance while remaining attractively priced, making it a fantastic investment for any cocktail enthusiast.

Standing at 6.5 inches in height, this mixing glass has the desired capacity with an attractive cut crystal cross hatch design and it is dishwasher safe, hallelujah!

Viski has a large selection of quality cocktail tools, drinkware, wine accessories and more. Viski’s Professional Extra Large Crystal Mixing Glass is $28. [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Cocktail Smokers

Smoked old fashioneds are beloved by cocktail drinkers far and wide. There are dozens of contraptions to smoke cocktails available online from guns to boxes to domes. It’s difficult to weed through the options and know what works best to impart smoke into your cocktail. If you’re a home bartender, the flair factor may not matter, so apparatuses like smoking domes may take up space on your home bar without being used often enough. If you’re accustomed to ordering smoked cocktails at your favorite watering holes, you may have seen bartenders preparing smoked cocktails with nothing more than a board, some smoking chips, and a torch. So the question becomes, do you need a cocktail smoking apparatus? The answer is no. Do you want one? That’s a different question.

Search through Amazon or the internet and you’ll find a host of cocktail smokers. It’s challenging to weed through the reviews and discern whether something is decent. When I think of my whiskey enthusiast friend Daniel who has a killer full-on Tiki bar in his backyard and hosts multiple guests often, he pulls out showy apparatus that has some pizazz, and that works for him. For those basement dwellers who like to sip on a quality beverage while enjoying some alone time, a more simple cocktail smoker is probably best.

If you are looking to gift a smoker or just wish to have a clean, single glass smoker that doesn’t take up a lot of space but delivers the smoke, I recommend kits like the Nusican Cocktail Smoker Kit. The kit contains a 6 pack of wood chips, 2 wooden smoker hats, 2 mesh ash filters, and a torch. The smoker hat fits most sizes of glassware and has a good seal, which is important. Since this kit comes with two smoking hats, it’s a better option for the price, as you can smoke two cocktails at a time. Invite a friend over to share the love.

This particular kit can be found online for $30. [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Having the right cocktail tools can really take your cocktail-crafting to the next level. Whether you are a professional bartender or just love mixing up cocktails at home, good-quality equipment makes a noticeable difference in how your drinks taste and look. Gather your shaker, jigger, and strainer, then have fun experimenting with new recipes. Your friends will be impressed, and your gatherings will be a sure hit.

Cheers!