Essential Cocktail Making Equipment: Tools for Crafting and Serving Perfect Drinks

When it comes to crafting the perfect cocktail, having the right tools is essential for bartenders to achieve precision, consistency, and finesse. From measuring ingredients to presenting the final drink, a variety of equipment is needed to ensure a delightful drinking experience. Let's delve into the essential cocktail making equipment that every bartender should have in their arsenal:

Cocktail mix equipment

• Jiggers:   These are used to measure out the alcoholic drinks for cocktails and other mixed drinks. They are measure in ounce and an ounce is equivalent to 30ml. A double-ended stainless steel jigger has a small cup in one end and a large on the other and the sizes of these cups are different.It may be available in many combinations such as 1/2 oz and 1oz,1 and 1.1/2oz 3/4 to 1.1/2 oz etc , and what combination a bar needs depend on the sizes of the drink.It is also termed as pag measure in most Indian bars.A plain glass often shot glass. with a line marking to indicate various measure such as 1/2,3/4,1,1.1/4,1.1/2,2 oz is also used.

• Pourer: It is a plastic or stainless device inserted into the neck of an alcohol bottle to control the flow of the drink. The rate of flow may be slow, medium and fast depending on the device selected.    The amount of liquid to be poured for each turn of bottle may be preset for better control. The pourers are available in a wide range of colours and the bars use devices of different colours for each type of drink for easier identification.

• Mixing glass: It is a heavy glass container with a lip, in which the ingredients are stirred together with ice. The capacity of mixing glass is 16oz. However, mixing glasses of various sizes are also available. The glass is rinsed after every stir. Mixing glass should be tough, clear, hear,treated and chip-proof.

• Cocktail shaker: It is used for mixing ingredients that may not be blended properly by stirring such as cream, egg, juice, and so on. There are two types of cocktail shaker:   
• 1.Boston Shaker: It has 2 cones one fitting over the other. They may be made of metal or the bottom may be made of glass and the other cone is made of metal.  It is the most preferred shaker of bartenders. The ice and the measured-out ingredients are put inside the bottom container and the top container is placed over. They are held together vertically and shaken. The shaken drink is then strained through a hawthrown strainer. Some bar use regular mixing glass with a cone to cover it while shaking.                                                                 
•    2.Standard shaker: It has 3 pieces made entirely of electroplated nickel silver or stainless steel .  It has a cone shaped base with the provision for holding the strainer piece and a close fitting top or cape. The  measured-out ingredients  are placed with ice, strainer piece is placed in the slot provided and turned to secure it,and finally closed with the cap, The shaker is held tightly and shaken briskly and  starined.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

• Strainer: Strainer are used to strain the cocktail and juices, strainers of different sizes are used for various applications. The hawthorn strainer is the most popular strainer, It is a flat perforated spoon with a spring coiled around its head to retain the ice while straining the drink.                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Bar Spoon:- It is a spoon with long handle,often with bead and muddle end.The measure of the bar spoon is equivalent to  1tsp. It is used for stirring the drinks either in amixing glass or in a drink glass. The muddler end is used for crushing the mint and suger in the drinking glass.

• Muddler:- It is a wooden tool with a flat end on one side to crush pepper,sugar etc..and round end on the other side to break the ice.

• Ice scoop:- It is used for scooping up the ice from the ice box . A standard size scoop makes to get right quantity of ice for each scoop.

• Ice tongs:- It is used to pick ice cubes from ice bucket during the service.

• Ice bucket:- It is used for keeping the ice cubes required during the service without melting for a long time .

• Fruit Squeezer:- It is a small tool used for squeezing half an orange, lime,and lemon for a single portion. The juice is strained to remove the seeds.

• Funnels:- It is used for transferring liquid from the large container into the smaller ones faster without spilling for bar use. Some funnels may have a screen at the wide end to strained the transferred liquid.

Cocktail mix equipment

• Glass rimmer:- It is a device containing 3 small tray as a unit-one holding the sponge soaked with lemon juice,the holding fine sugar,and the third holding salt.

• Cutting board:- A small board of plastic or rubber is used for cutting the fruits and preparing garnishes.Most bartenders don't prefer wooden cutting boards as it is hard to keep it bacteria-free.

• Bar knife:- It is used for preparing garnishes and cutting fruits, Hence knives used should be of different sizes. The knive should be very sharp to get neat cut. Stainless steel should be prefered.

• Relish fork:- It is a long,thin two-pronged fork desgined to pick up olives,onion etc from the narrow necked bottle. Some forks have a spring between the prongs to firmly secure onion or olives.

• Zester:- It is used to peel away the green and yellow part of the citrus fruit which contains oil,without taking the white skin underneath which is bitter.

• Bottle opener:- It is used for opening the bottles with crown.

• Can opener:- It is the device used for cutting the top side of the tin at its edge.

• Corkscrew:- It is used for opening the wine bottles that are closed with cork. The screw or worm should be 2.1/4 to 2.1/2 inches  long and its diameter should be around 4.1/2mm. It is made of stainless steel.

• Cork extractor:- It is used for extracting the broken cork.

• waiter's friend:- It is a tool containing corkscrew, bottle opener and a small knife to cut the foil which can be folded like a jackknife.

• Champagne stopper:- It is used to close the open champagne bottle to retain the gas.

• Coaster:- It is used for placing the prepared drinks on them.

• salver:- It is used for carrying drinks and glassware. The salver should be lined with a cloth or rexene to prevent the articles from slipping.

• Cocktail Sticks:- It is used for presenting garnishes with drinks and to pick up snacks while eating with the drinks.

• Jug:- It is used for serving cream,juice etc.

• Straw:- It is thin tube made of paper or plastic used for sucking a drink through.

• Swizzle stick:- It is a stir stick.

• Glassware:- There are different types of glasses for various types of mixed drinks.

In conclusion, the art of cocktail crafting relies heavily on the use of specialized equipment and tools. From measuring and mixing to straining and serving, bartenders utilize a range of instruments to create delicious and visually stunning drinks that delight customers. With the right equipment at their disposal, bartenders can elevate the cocktail experience to new heights.