These tools will make cocktails the stars at parties.

If you are a huge fan of cocktails, you know that nowadays they are incredibly expensive in bars and clubs, so making them at home is exactly what you need. Professional bartenders are well known for using high-quality tools to create the best cocktails but, for now, you will need the basics since you’re starting.

Sara Probst, cocktail writer and experienced bartender, says that you don’t need fancy tools to become “the bartender” among friends and family, just the basics and most useful. Sarah has written several articles for Refinery29, Brooklyn Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and in her interview with MentalFloss she gives several tips about cocktail tools. Let’s see what she recommends.

Probst’s Choices!

Shakers

The first part of this process! According to Sarah, Koriko cocktails tins are the best because they have a tighter seal that prevents spilling the mix. Remember that the greatest cocktails are the ones that are well mixed and, after the party, you won’t want to spend all day cleaning a mess because the shaker didn’t seal correctly.

Jigger

Cocktails are like any recipes: you will follow steps and measure every ingredient to have a balance in its flavor. For that, a jigger es what you need; this is a small two-ended cup design for measuring. Sarah recommends OXO jiggers that measure up to one ounce on one cup and one and a half ounces on the other.

Bitters bottle

Bitters are the liquid extractions of seeds, roots, flowers, herbs, leaves, and bark that can be used to level up the flavor in a cocktail. Thanks to their concentration, the taste is highly strong so they should be put in the mix in small portions; for this, you will need a bitters bottle that will allow you to add the right proportion. Probst recommendation is the Japanese brand Yarai, which functional and gives a great visual for your bar at the same time.

At-home carbonator

It can be a huge addition for your bar at home, especially if you love to throw parties at your place. It is normally used to make soft drinks, but it can be quite helpful when you need to make a large number of cocktails. Probst said that it’s excellent to carbonate punch or to prepare tonic water for gin and tonics.

Bar spoons

Using a regular spoon to stir cocktails looks unprofessional and strange; for that reason, bar spoons are recommended, they are slim and fancy no matter what kind of material you are using. Sarah loves the ones that have a small cocktail fork at the opposite end, which would help to fish olives that can be at the end of the glass.

Extractors

Freshly squeezed juices are super important for every bartender, that way the cocktail’s flavor will be delicious. Sarah has a lot of experience with the Hamilton Beach Juicer, which is a little expensive but it can last a lifetime with the correct use and maintenance, plus it will provide fresh juice for your family anytime you want.

Hand juicer

If you think the extractor is really expensive, you can go with a basic hand juicer. Probst uses one at her home, and its use is very simple. Besides, it is an excellent addition to your kitchen for daily cooking.

Ice mold

The last thing that you will add to your amazing cocktails is the ice, it can be the finishing touch after all the tryouts and failures at making homemade cocktails. Sarah said that the best ice molds are the ones from Tovolo, which come in the form of rigid cubes, elegant rectangles, or the fancy spheres.

With these few tools, you can have the home bar that would be the favorite of your family and friends, so start making and experimenting with flavors and liquors that can produce tasty cocktails. Come to Davide Punto Cucina and degust an exquisite dinner accompanied with a good cocktail!