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A good cocktail kit is so much more than just a shaker, and any bartender worth their margarita salt will tell you the difference strainers, muddlers, jiggers, and stirrers can make in the quality of the finished beverage. Extras like pour spouts and bottle openers don’t hurt either.
What Are the Best Home Cocktail Kits?
We look for cocktail kits that include all necessary tools, which are made of high quality materials and work the way they’re supposed to (harder to find than you might think).
What’s in a Basic Cocktail Kit?
For newbie mixologists a little confused by all these tools, here are some brief descriptions of bar kit essentials including how they’re used and what to look for.
Shaker:There are three basic types of cocktail shakers: Boston, Cobbler, and Parisian. A Boston shaker, comprised of two mixing tins which fit together, tends to be the type favored by professional bartenders because they are simple, less likely to cause leaks, and are better at keeping beverages cool. Beginners, however, may prefer a Cobbler or Parisian style, which are sealed with a lid and built-in strainer. This is because they are easier to fit together and don’t require an extra strainer.
Jigger: A jigger is the name for the double-ended measuring tool bartenders use to portion the correct amount of liquor and mixers in a cocktail. Generally, a standard jigger will contain 1.5 ounces on the large side and three quarters of an ounce on the small.
Strainer: Cobbler and Parisian shakers come with a strainer built in, while a Boston shaker always requires an external Hawthorne strainer. These strainers are all more or less the same in design, with a perforated disc and spring which fits over the shaker and holds back all herbs, fruits, and solids (and ice!) while pouring.
Muddler:Often called a “mojito muddler” for the most popular cocktail that requires the tool, a muddler is useful for flavoring a wide variety of cocktails with fresh fruit and herbs. This long, heavy-bottomed tool is used to mash fresh ingredients to release their juices and flavor the drink.
Stirrer: Essentially just a very long spoon, classic cocktail stirrers have a spiraled shaft which helps more evenly layer a beverage’s components.
Pour Spout: You may have noticed most bartenders don’t pour liquor straight from the bottle, but instead from a narrow nozzle which slows the flow of the liquid. Pour spouts aren’t strictly necessary for home bars, but they can be especially helpful if you plan to eyeball ingredient quantities without bothering with a jigger.
