Bartending - Equipment Essentials

Cocktail Shaker

A tool used by bartenders to mix cocktails by shaking ingredients together, often featuring a sealable lid and a built-in strainer. It helps incorporate air and chill the mixture for optimal flavor.

Jigger

This hourglass-shape cocktail measuring device often has a standard “measure” of 1 ½ ounces on one end and 1 ounce or a “pony” on the other end. 1 (fluid) ounce is the same as 2 tablespoons. As long as you keep the proportions of the various ingredients consistent, you can use the jigger of another size.

Mixing Glass

This is used for making stirred cocktails. You can use any large container or pitcher.

Muddler

This miniature masher is used for crushing ingredients, such as herbs, in the bottom of a glass.

Strainer

A bar or a Hawthorn one of these is the perfect tool to prevent ice and other ingredients from being poured from the shaker or mixing glass into the serving glass.

Bar Spoon

This long-handle tool is used for stirring cocktails in a mixing glass.

Martini Glass

The most immediately recognizable cocktail glass. This glass has a conical shape that helps stop ingredients from separating while the stem keeps the drink cool.

Highball Glass

This glass is tall and suitable for simple drinks that have a high proportion of mixer to liquor. This glass is versatile enough to be substituted for the similar, but slightly larger, Collins glass.

Margarita Glass

This glass is based on the earlier champagne coupe that was originally used for serving bubbly. The wide bowl is perfect for adding sad to the rim.

Old-Fashioned Glass

This term, “rocks”, and “lowball” are often used to refer to short, squat glasses with a heavy bottom. They are perfect for holding ice and are used to serve any liquor “on the rocks”. They are useful for short mixed drinks.

Hurricane Glass

The shape of this large, short-stemmed glass is said to resemble the hurricane lamp, from which it gets its name. It was originally used for the famous New Orleans cocktail.

Shot Glass

This glass holds just enough liquid to be downed in a single mouthful. This glass has a thick bottom that can withstand being slammed on the bar.

Champagne Glass

This tapered shaped tall, thin glass is designed to reduce the surface area of the liquid.

Irish Coffee Glass

The two key features of this glass are heatproof glass and a handle. These features make this glass suitable for hot cocktails such as hot toddies.

Moscow Mule Mug

A copper mug that is traditionally used to serve one drink. The copper mug is believed to enhance the drink, the flavors, and keep the temperature the same.