Bartending tools

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED IN BARTENDING

1. BARTENDING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS

2. COCKTAIL STRAINER / BAR SIEVE A strainer is used with a Boston shaker to strain mixed drinks. It helps a lot when straining into several glasses. The standard shaker has a built-in strainer.

3. BAR SPOON This is a spoon with a long handle used to stir mixed drinks in tall glasses. You can also use the back of the spoon for layering drinks.

4. BOSTON SHAKER / TIN AND MIXING GLASS Ingredients for mixing drinks are poured into the mixing glass, ice is added and the stainless steel B oston shaker caps over the top of the mixing glass to form a seal.

5. BOTTLE POURERS / TAPERED POUR-SPOUTS Stainless steel pour spouts are preferred and the 285-50 model is known for its consistent quality and pour speed, and used to free-pour on regular 750 ml and 1 liter spirit, liqueur and smaller cordial bottles.

6. BOTTLE OPENER / BAR BLADE Every bartender should have a bottle opener. It's one of the main tools at the bar . Used as an efficient tool for opening beers at speed.

7. GAS TORCH Torches come in various sizes and a small gas torch is the preferred choice for bartenders to brulee foams and caramelise fruit garnishes.

8. HAWTHORNE STRAINER For straining ice and fruit from a Boston shaker. Other uses include separate egg yolk from egg white by cracking the egg into the spring side of the strainer and draining the egg white into a container.

9. JIGGER / MEASURER Stainless steel thimble measure used for measuring liquids. Sizes vary from 5 to 175 ml (1 tsp to 6 fl oz ).

10. JUICER An electrical juicer is useful when preparing large quantities.

11. JULEP STRAINER The julep strainer is used in conjunction with a mixing glass for straining ice and fruit.

12. LIGHTER Every bartender should have one. A versatile tool used to make flambe garnishes, sprinkle cinnamon through and light candles.

13. COCKTAIL MUDDLER A wooden stick used for muddling ingredients. It is used a lot to crush cherries and mint leaves for some mixed drinks.

14. PINEAPPLE CORER Used to hollow out pineapple so that the shell can be used as a drinking vessel.

15. TONGS Used for holding fruit garnishes. Larger bar tongs are used for handling ice.

16. WAITER’S FRIEND A very useful tool of the trade as it fulfills a number of bottles, as well as opening wine and beer bottles.

17. WHISK Mainly used for whipping up egg white to use in cocktails.

18. CITRUS ZESTER/STRIPPER A special tool that cuts 1/4 inch wide strips of citrus rinds.

19. PENS A bartender always needs three pens: one to use, one to lose and one to give away.

20. BAR TOWELS Any absorbent towel will do. You need it in case of a spill and to keep your bar clean.

21. BARTENDER BOOK It is a mixed drink recipe book and bartender guide. It is a great reference when you need to look for recipes. I highly recommend, The Bartender's Black Book.

22. BLENDER A blender is essential to make your frozen drinks. Make sure you get a heavy duty blender for blending your mixed drinks.

23. CAN OPENER/PUNCH A can opener is a tool to remove one end of a can. A can punch is a tool to make a hole in juice cans.

24. CHAMPAGNE / WINE STOPPER A special stopper with two wings that clamps over the lip of a champagne bottle. It keeps the champagne sparkling.

25. ICE BUCKET & ICE TONG The ice bucket is a container that holds the ice. The ice tongs is a tool to pick up ice cubes for your drinks.

26. JUICER / CITRUS REAMER There are many different types of juicers. There are manual juicers and electric juicers. The main purpose of a juicer is to extract the juice of citrus fruits.

27. KNIFE & CUTTING BOARD A sharp paring knife and a small cutting board is necessary to cut your fruit garnishes.

28. MEASURING CUP & MEASURING SPOON Measuring cups are useful for adding ingredients to punches. Measuring spoons are useful for measuring some ingredients like sugar and spices.

29. SHOES (COMFORTABLE SLIP RESISTANT Bartenders are standing all night behind the bar. They need comfortable slip resistant shoes to get them through a busy night.

30. “A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory” -end-