With the right tools, anyone can make drinks that are delicious, consistent and professional.
Finding the right kit to meet your needs without overwhelming you can be a daunting task. We’ve selected three awesome bartender starter kits and broken them down to help you find the one that’s right for you.
With a total of 22 pieces included, this kit is absolutely massive. It contains everything you need to make perfect cocktails, as well as a few extras that seem to be thrown in more for fun than function.
- 28oz steel cocktail shaker
- 16oz steel cocktail shaker
- 16oz high-impact mixing glass
- “The Bartender is Always Right” print (for your wall or bar front)
- Tall spiraled steel mixing spoon
- High-impact plastic muddler with serrated tip
- Bartender’s knife (blade is half sharp, half serrated) with a garnish-picking fork “classy no touch
- 6 steel pour spouts
- LED bottle opener and key chain
- Pen with “The Bartender is Always Right”
- 2-in-1 steel juice can punch and bottle opener
- 2-in-1 steel double-hinged wine key with serrated knife and bottle opener
- Multi-function stainless steel wallet gadget with 11 built-in tools
- 4oz steel ice scoop
- Steel jigger
- Lime squeezer
- 4-prong steel strainer
- Steel julep strainer
Pros: There’s no denying that this kit has tons of goodies. In fact, there’s almost nothing absent from this kit that you would need to make a perfect cocktail. There are even portable tools included for those rare occasions when you’re out and about and suddenly have the urge to start whipping up perfectly-mixed concoctions for friends and party-goers!
Cons: Sometimes less is more and there are definitely several items included in this bartending kit that simply aren’t necessary, while some even border on tacky. Others are redundant and just don’t add additional value for a bartender of any skill level.
The tools in this kit come in a heavy-duty carrying case that rolls up for easy portability. A total of 15 of the most essential bartender’s tools are included, each with its own slot in the case.
- 2 speed-pourers
- Stainless steel strainer
- Jigger with four volume measurements
- Stainless steel knife
- Boston shaker (tin and glass)
- Stainless steel stirrer
- Muddler
- Aluminum citrus squeezer
- Stainless steel julep strainer
- Double strainer
- 12-inch tweezer
- Knife
- Corkscrew
- Combination lemon zester/channel knife
- Peeler
Pros: This kit has all the tools a bartender needs to shake, stir, muddle and squeeze properly-measured ingredients to create perfect cocktails. Even better, there isn’t an over-abundance of tools or extra items that aren’t really necessary. The roll-up carrying case offers a nice touch, making this kit an awesome choice for talented home bartenders who might wish to mix the drinks for friends and family having get-togethers at their own homes. The case also gives you a way to keep your tools together and organized.
Cons: If you’re naturally organized, enjoy artfully displaying the tools within your bar or just know that you won’t ever be doing any “guest bartending” outside of your home bar, the case is superfluous and you would do better to handpick your tools individually.
Sometimes all you need are the basics and this 14-piece bartender starter kit will help you get started making consistent, quality cocktails.
- 28oz shaker
- 16oz shaker
- 11″ bar spoon
- 4-prong bar strainer
- Jigger
- Corkscrew
- 6 clear plastic bottle pourers
- 7″ flat bottle opener
- Muddler
Pros: If you’re a minimalist who likes to do things right while keeping it as simple as possible, this is an ideal choice for you. Everything you need to make consistent, professional-quality drinks is included. With this kit, you’ll have exactly what you need and nothing that you don’t.
Cons: This is a bare-bones kit that includes the basics, but there aren’t any bells and whistles. If you like having fancy extras to show off, this isn’t the one for you. There are also a few components absent for more complex and advanced cocktails that are not included, so advanced bartenders would benefit from a more advanced kit.
Whether you’re a beginner bartender just honing your skills or an advanced mixer and shaker with lots of experience, the most important thing is to find a kit you’re comfortable with. Choose a kit that will help you improve your skills and showcase your talents and the rest will fall into place.
