Bar Tools & Shakers
Bar tools turn recipes into consistent drinks. Shakers, jiggers, strainers and bar spoons are the foundation of any home bar.
Best Julep Strainers
Compare the best julep strainers for stirred cocktails at home. Perforated bowls that fit mixing glasses snugly and hold ice back for a smooth, clean pour.
Best Bar Tool Sets
Find the best bar tool sets for a complete home bar. Compare shaker, jigger, strainer, and spoon kits that cover the essentials in one ready-to-use box.
Best Cocktail Shakers
Find the best cocktail shakers for your home bar. Compare cobbler, Boston, and French styles for leak-free shaking, easy pouring, and effortless cleanup.
Best Hawthorne Strainers
The best Hawthorne strainers for shaken cocktails at home. Compare spring tension, fit, and finger rests that hold back ice and pulp for a clean pour.
Best Boston Shakers
Compare the best Boston shakers for home bartenders. Two-piece tin-on-tin and tin-on-glass sets that seal tight, chill fast, and break apart with one tap.
Best Bar Spoons
The best bar spoons for stirring cocktails at home. Compare lengths, twisted shafts, and weighted ends that give you smooth control over dilution and chill.
Best Cocktail Jiggers
Find the best cocktail jiggers for accurate pours at home. Compare dual-sided, stepped, and Japanese jiggers with clear markings for consistent drinks.
Best Cocktail Muddlers
Compare the best cocktail muddlers for home bartenders. Wood, stainless, and nylon tools that crush mint, citrus, and berries without shredding or scratching.
Best Fine Mesh Strainers for Cocktails (2026 Buying Guide)
Compare the best fine mesh strainers for double-straining cocktails. We cover mesh tightness, build quality, handle design, and size for silky, ice-chip-free drinks.
Best Bar Blenders for Frozen Cocktails (2026 Buying Guide)
Compare the best bar blenders for frozen margaritas and daiquiris. We cover motor power, ice-crushing ability, jar size, and durability for smooth frozen drinks.
Best Margarita Machines for Home (2026 Buying Guide)
The best margarita machines for frozen drinks at home. We compare shaved-ice vs blend-and-freeze designs, capacity, ease of cleaning, and consistency of results.
Best Frozen Drink Makers (2026 Buying Guide)
Compare the best frozen drink makers for slushies and frozen cocktails. We cover single vs multi-flavor machines, capacity, freeze time, and cleanup.
Best Cocktail Stirrers
Choosing a cocktail stirrer by the specs that matter: matching 12 inch and 18 inch lengths to your mixing glass, twisted shafts, and which end caps do work.
Best Cocktail Recipe Books
Cocktail books compared on how they are organised: recipe counts from 150 to 400 plus, template-based teaching, technique depth, and measurement units used.
Best Home Bar Cabinets
Bar cabinets judged on interior shelf clearance for 12 to 14 inch bottles, corner versus 40 inch console footprints, bottle cradles and stemware racks.
How to choose
- Start with shaker tins, jigger, strainer and bar spoon.
- Choose jiggers with interior markings.
- Pick weighted tins for a secure seal.
- Add a citrus juicer for fresh juice.
Common questions
What bar tools do I need to start?
A shaker, jigger, Hawthorne strainer, bar spoon and citrus juicer make most classic cocktails.
Do I need a mixing glass?
It helps for stirred drinks, but a shaker tin works in a pinch.