10 Bar Tool Essentials | Best Equipment for Home & Pros!

In this video I recommend some of my favorite bar tools and essentials, tried and tested in real bars over the years. These bar accessories are great for home use as well as professionally behind the bar. I also share the specifics of why certain bar equipment works better for certain uses, and do some bar tool comparisons. What are some of your favorite tools?

TIME STAMPS
0. Intro 0:00
1. jigger 0:43
2. shaker 2:49
3. hawthorne strainer 4:11
4. fine mesh strainer 6:06
5. mixing glass 6:26
6. spoon 7:29
7. knife 8:25
8. wine key 8:59
9. juicer 9:39
10. muddler: 10:18
11. bonus 11:28

THE TOOLS

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Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨

[Inliner]

A towel. The most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.

[marvymaxee]

For years, I didn’t have a mixing glass, thinking they weren’t necessary. But last year, I thrifted a beautiful crystal one, and now I don’t know how I lived without it! This is a great list! 👍🏻

[sethandrew]

For an optional number 12, I’d add a bar mat. Before, I’d set up on paper towels (or plates) to avoid counter spills. But it is very helpful when setting up. It also helps if you have housemates who don’t clean the counters after they use them. Now I always have a clean work space.

[slkjohn]

Dude, awesome channel! You have a knack for explaining things super clearly, you're not fucking annoying and you're almost clairvoyant about anticipating questions from your viewers. Excellent video production values as well. My wife and I are fully addicted.

So about a month ago I decided to add a "small" bar to our home theater game room, and that's when I found your channel. Your videos have proven to be an absolute masterclass for this home bar novice. I've got just about everything ready now, but the custom bar we're having built is still a few weeks away from shipping out. in the meantime, I'm perfecting my homemade syrups and honing my ice carving skills (crystal clear ice, thanks to you).

Just wanted to say thanks, and keep up the awesome content! This channel is primed to explode...

[deniscurnow]

Watched this video about 2 years ago when I'd been making cocktails as a lockdown hobby, and now watching it again having worked as a bartender for a year and built up my own collection of favourite bar tools. Agree with everything on this list, and for the exact reasons you give! Love the channel and the pure joy you bring to bartending, keep it up :)

[tomclausing]

I just started watching your videos and they are great. It's nice to see an expert on a given subject who doesn't act like he's doing all of us a favor by sharing his knowledge. Food and drink are professions that can get taken over by the "snobs, " but you make it fun, and you make me want to try the various drinks you have demonstrated. Thank you.

[SebQtaneus]

Anders, I learned something the other day that I think you’ll enjoy as I’ve noticed you use your Mexican citrus press (half round lemon juicer) the same way I and millions of others have always used it.
We’ve been doing it wrong this whole time.
Instead of cut side down, trim some of the small pointy end of the lemon off so that you can see the flesh of the fruit. Then put it in the press cut side up. Now the juice has a way to get out and you will not only get more juice, it will squeeze easier. I was amazed at how well this worked and couldn’t believe I’d been doing it cut side down for decades. Try it.

[hanbala]

Idk if anyone is gonna read this, but if you wanna go cheap, a chopstick intead of barspoon, the french press glass works perfect for mixing. A Tupperware for clear ice and a thermus for shaking. I know i might get bullied here because of this, but it works perfectly

[corytoews]

Totally agree with this list. #11 for me would be one of those rubber drink mats. My wife got me one for nights where we have friends over and I'm making more than just 1-2 drinks, and it is a game changer for limiting the sticky situation on my bar. Also, bitters stain a lot of countertops real fast (even our quartz!)

I have the same Oxo jigger. I love it for all the reasons Anders outlined, but my one complaint is there is no 2 oz measure. Considering how many drinks use 2 oz of the base spirit, this becomes a legitimate annoyance after a while.

[darma]

So Anders…As a brand spankin’ new home mixologist, I followed your tips, tricks and recipes. I wanted to be as smooth as you and got everything on this list. I practiced long enough to start liking Campari even. I dripped and spilled from the OXO jigger no matter what I did and opening my Boston shaker was a Laurel & Hardy cartoon. I finally caved and bought an OXO cobbler and the heavens opened! 😮 I swear I heard choirs of angels as my smaller hands mastered the beautiful new tin!! What I didn’t expect was how much I L O V E the integrated jigger! I cannot spill from that thing. I think it’s has something to do with the surface tension across the wider mouth like how a frisbee can hold a pint of beer. I also keep most of my pours less than 1.5 oz which makes this perfect! I was rubbish at barspoon spinning and I grabbed a chopstick to end the misery. I discovered a double ended weighted stirrer and now I’m spinning like a champ! The spout on my crystal mixing glass broke off so now I use the base of the cobbler. It’s minimal and won’t crack. I started out with your exact kit and now I have what suits me perfectly!! Anyway, I thank you for being such a great teacher as I had my training wheels on. I’m still teetering somewhat with my technique but I’m in class every week because it’s so darn fun!

[elevenjordan]

Legend has it that one fruit fly still haunts his dreams. Leaving him hearing buzzing sounds throughout the day 😳

[XscarpettaX]

hands down the best video on bar essentials. it should be a training video.

[thelightgrenade]

Pretty proud of myself having had almost all the EXACT items u did then again I did get pretty much all my stuff off cocktail kingdom, couldn’t recommend them enough, everything I have is INCREDIBLY sturdy, well built, and effective

[cassanthemum]

Thank you so much. I'm trying to learn as much as possible to become a bartender. I'm 60 years old and finally doing what makes me happy.

[daledavis]

You have got to be one of the funniest people I have never met. I didn't even drink before watching your videos. Now I have a cocktail with dinner... And lunch, snack, breakfast, second breakfast and whenever I feel stressed. Thanks, bud. ❤ Lol!

[davidjones]

Turning 21 this year (can't wait). Been starting to watch this channel cause I'd like to get really good at cocktails. This video is great for a beginner like me so thanks!

[HGNMyles]

This is exactly what I needed and it's presented in a way that's fun and easy to understand. I have to go back and watch all of your vids now. Thank you for putting this out.

[alexandermeyer]

I've seen that jigger finger on the edge of the glass technique in action! Lighting fast!

[davidallen]

Thanks, just completed stocking my home bar with tools. It's a "Murfey" bar, stealth in nature, but usable when needed. I really appreciate your help. I think I have, at least, all the bar tools on your list. My first order contained an order of 2 dozen bar towels as I think they will be the most used of all on your list. Now I'm after the perfect stirring spoon, ha, bar tools could become an obsession, kinda like hats, always something new to try.

[TheGuitarlad]

I found this entire video very helpful and enjoyable to watch, especially as I had just bought the double jigger right before watching this!