We love drinking in a bar as much as the next person, but there’s something to be said for making yourself a cocktail in the comfort of your own home while sitting in front of a roaring fire.Sowe’ve rounded up the essentials you’ll need to either start your own home baror elevate your existing bar to a transcendent level.
RBT by Rabbit Cocktail Shaker ($50)
Three-piece cobbler shakers (a tin, strainer,and lid) eliminate a lot of the guesswork and potential mistakes that beginners often make while trying to use the more cumbersome Boston shakers. You can find cheaper shakers than the , but this one actually looks good on your bar cart, and it has a removable reamer attachment so you can juice fresh fruit directly into the tin.
Viski Jigger and Bar Spoon ($19 and $14)
Viski makes every possible thing you could need to stock a home bar, but these are our favorites of the lot. Aesthetically, they’re gorgeous:a mix of earthy and modern, thanks to a combinationof polished teak and stainless steel. They’re also practical:you’ll need both tools for 75 percent of the cocktails you make at home.
Whiskey Peaks Mountain Glasses ($30 for two)
Class up any situation with , whichfeature tiny versions of the world’s most iconic mountains on the bottom of each. We dig the , but the hasitsown charmas well.
Yarai Mixing Glass ($33)
Shakers are fun and will make you feel like Tom Cruise in Cocktail, but the majority of your drinks will actually be stirred in a mixing glass. These also come in handy if you’re making more than one drink at a time. has become the industry standard because it’s pretty, durable, and dishwasher safe. Add ice, the cocktail ingredients, and use that Viski bar spoon to stir.
W&P Bartender’s Knife ($35)
You’d be surprised how often you need to slice something while making a drink. The straightforward, multipurpose stainless-steel blade on makes short work of the ubiquitous orange- and lemon-peel garnishes you’ll need. Welike the heft of the handle and that it comes with a sharpening stone.
High Camp Firelight Flask ($99)
takes a double-wall shaker and flask andadds a leakproof lidand two magnetic tumblers, so you can take your cocktail game into the backcountry with style. Mix a batch of drinks at home, throw the kit into your backpack, and enjoy a beverage on a ski lift.