Equipment
The right tools make the job easier. For a home or professional bar you'll have to have handy:
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[1] Can and bottle
openers
[2] Easy-to-use corkscrew [3] Waiter's corkscrew [4] Glass stirring rod or long spoon [5] Coil rimmed bar strainer [6] A tall, heavy-duty mixing glass or shaker [7] Small, sharp stainless-steel paring knife [8] Wooden muddler or the back of a large wooden spoon [9] Large pitcher [10] Fruit juice extractor [11] Set of measuring spoons [12] A jigger measure with 1/2 and 1/4 graduations [13] Ice bucket and tongs An electric blender is essential for mixing frozen drinks. Since grinding ice is a heavy duty job, most manufacturers recommend using crushed or cracked ice rather than cubes in the blender. Your bar should also have an assortment of straws, swizzle sticks, coasters, and cocktail napkins |
Glassware
The best glasses should be thin-lipped, transparent, and sound off in high registers when "pinged". Clean, sparkling glasses show off good drinks to great advantage. The proper glass enhances a drink. Here are illustrations showing a comprehensive selection. In practice, however, only a few basic types are necessary. For example glasses 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, and 17 will answer virtually all your needs. Each recipe includes the proper glass type. You might also need a coffee cup, coffee mug, or punch cup for some of the recipes.
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[1] Collins
[2] Shot [3] Highball [4] Old-Fashioned [5] Beer Mug [6] Beer Pilsner [7] Irish Coffee Glass [8] Pousse Cafe [9] Parfait [10] Red Wine [11] White Wine [12] Sherry [13] Champagne Flute [14] Brandy Snifter [15] Cocktail [16] Cordial or Pony [17] Whiskey Sour
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