Tips & Techniques Beverages Tools and Supplies
Tools and Supplies

You'll need the essentials below for the basic operations of bartending. The extras are handy for specialty drinks or large gatherings.

Essentials:

Bar spoon
Bar towels
Boston shaker and strainer (or cocktail shaker)
Hawthorne strainer
Church key or bottle-and-can opener
Citrus juicer
Cocktail napkins or coasters
Corkscrew
Cutting board
Ice bucket
Ice scoop or ice tongs
Jigger
Muddler
Paring knife
Straws
Swizzle sticks


Extras:

Water carbonator
Over-sized ice cubes
Blender
Cheesecloth
Cocktail picks
Foil cutter
Glass pitcher or carafe
Ice crusher
Martini pitcher and stirrer
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Punch bowl or attractive large vessel with ladle

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Guides, The Bar Guide, by Ray Foley (Time-Life Books, 1999).