The home bar essentials: the tools you really need

You do not need a professional bar to make really good drinks, but a few tools make the difference between "somehow thrown together" and "just like in a bar". Here is our list of everything a home bar needs. No more, no less.

1. The shaker

No shaker, no daiquiri, no whiskey sour, no espresso martini. Two designs are common:

• Boston shaker: two parts, usually a metal tin plus a glass or a second tin. Bartenders use it because it is fast, easy to clean and holds a lot.
• Cobbler shaker: three parts with a built-in strainer. Ideal for beginners, as you do not need a separate strainer.

You will find a selection under shakers & measuring cups.

2. The jigger

Good cocktails depend on balance, so measure instead of guessing. A double-sided jigger, for example 2 and 4 cl, is enough for almost every recipe.

3. The bar spoon

Long, slim and often twisted: with a bar spoon you stir drinks such as a Martini, Negroni or Old Fashioned in the mixing glass without adding air bubbles. The twist also helps when layering liqueurs. You will find it under bar tools & presses.

4. The strainer

The Hawthorne strainer with its spring holds back ice and pieces of fruit when you pour from the shaker. If you like it really fine, also pour through a small tea strainer. This is called a double strain and gives you a clear drink without ice shards.

5. Muddler and citrus press

For a mojito, caipirinha or smash, limes, mint or berries are crushed directly in the glass. That is what the muddler is for. Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice cannot be replaced, so a hand press is worth it. You will also find both under bar tools & presses.

6. Ice, and plenty of it

Ice is the most underrated ingredient. Better to plan too much than too little. An ice container or ice bucket keeps it fresh on the counter for longer. For drinks on ice: the bigger the cube, the more slowly the drink is diluted.

7. Pourers and bar mat

Two little helpers that keep things tidy: pourers on the bottles make measuring easier and prevent drips. A bar mat protects the work surface and catches splashes.

8. Three glass shapes

Three are enough to start with: highball glasses for gin and tonic and co., tumblers for short drinks on ice and a coupe for everything served without ice. Which glass is meant for what is explained in detail in our glassware guide.

Don't feel like putting everything together yourself? Our bar bundles come with matching combinations.

Your first drink: whiskey sour

A classic that needs only a few ingredients and uses every tool once.

Ingredients (1 drink)

• 5 cl bourbon whiskey
• 3 cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cl sugar syrup
• optional: 1 egg white for the foam
• ice cubes, a cocktail cherry or lemon zest to garnish

Method

1. Measure all ingredients with the jigger and pour them into the shaker.
2. With egg white: first shake for about 10 seconds without ice (dry shake) so the foam forms.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds until the outside frosts up.
4. Strain through the strainer into a tumbler over fresh ice and garnish.

Cheers, and have fun with your new home bar!