If you never feel like going out but always crave your favourite cocktail, you can learn how to mix it on your own. It is easy to mix cocktails with professional equipment, which means you can create bar-quality cocktails for any event or simply for yourself to enjoy.
Whether you like margaritas, martinis, or mojitos, the right tools make all the difference in taste and presentation. Here is the essential cocktail equipment you need to prepare your favourite cocktails at home.
Cocktail Shaker
A cocktail shaker is a must-have for making cocktails with multiple ingredients. This is especially important for cocktails with syrups and juice. A shaker will allow you to blend and chill your ingredients to the perfect temperature.
You can choose between two main cocktail shakers in most cases. The Boston shaker consists of a metal tin and a glass. You can easily use it to make multiple cocktails at once.
A cobbler shaker has a tin, a built-in strainer, and a cap. It is slightly smaller but a lot more manageable. If you have never made cocktails, the cobbler shaker is beginner-friendly.
Shakers are indispensable for drinks like cosmopolitans, margaritas, and daiquiris. You will get the blend of flavours you want and the aeration you need for a smooth texture.
Mixing Glass
If you prefer drinks stirred and not shaken, you need a mixing glass. A mixing glass allows you to stir cocktails like a Manhattan or a martini gently with ice. The stirring ensures your drink is chilled without over-diluting it.
Mixing glasses are made of thick glass and come with a spout for easy pouring. You can choose an elegant, textured mixing glass if you want a special one for your home bar. These glasses also help maintain the spirits in stirred cocktails. This preserves their flavour profile for the perfect taste.
Jigger
Measurements are important when mixing cocktails, so you will need a jigger to do this properly. A jigger is a small, hourglass-shaped measuring tool with two different-sized cups. These cups typically come in 25ml and 50ml.
Having a jigger means you can replicate your cocktails perfectly every time. When using it, hold it level and pour carefully. You should aim to fill it to the top without spilling. Some jiggers come with special measurement markings for different cocktail recipes.
Bar Spoon
You may think an ordinary spoon is good enough to mix cocktails, but a bar spoon is far better. It is a versatile, long, thin-handled spoon you can use in a mixing glass without melting too much ice.
A bar spoon also helps you layer your cocktails, with the spiral design controlling the pour rate.
For example, if you want to make a pousse-café, the bar spoon allows you to pour the different spirit densities to create a visually gorgeous drink. Some bar spoons have a flat muddler at the end to help you mash fruits and herbs for your cocktails.
Muddler
If your bar spoon does not have a muddler, you must get a separate one. Muddlers are great for crushing fruits, herbs, and spices for drinks like mojitos. The muddler helps achieve a well-rounded taste. So, if you press mint with it, you can infuse your mojito without bringing out the herb’s bitterness.
You can get a muddler in wood or stainless steel. The stainless steel ones usually last longer and are easier to keep clean.
Other Tools For the Perfect Cocktail
If you hate tasting bits of fruit and herbs in your cocktail, you will know how important a fine strainer is. This handy tool filters out all small particles and usually works best when you use it alongside a Hawthorn strainer. The Hawthorne strainer is flat and spring-coiled, fitting over a shaker tin or mixing glass.
You need a citrus juicer if you like a fresh citrus taste in your cocktails. A reamer or squeezer will work well enough to give your cocktails a taste that bottled juices cannot replicate.
The Final Touch
You must round off the perfect cocktail with spherical or large ice cubes and ensure you use the right glass. Highball glasses work well for cocktails with a lot of mixers like gin and tonics. Rocks glasses are good for spirit drinks. Martinis and similar cocktails require martini glasses.
Chill your glasses before you pour cocktails. When you create shake cocktails, give the mixture a firm shake for around 15 seconds. But do not overdo it because it can dilute the cocktail.
Always rinse your shaker and other equipment between each cocktail, even if you make the same ones over again.
Mixing great cocktails at home depends on the right equipment. So, get the tools you need, pick an easy recipe, and you will soon be a pro at creating your favourite cocktails.
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