Bar tool time

No matter what task an individual is presented with, they must have the right tools to get the job done. If he’s a chef, he’ll need good quality knives and a wide range of pots and pans. If he is a gardener, he will need various sizes of pruning shears and pruning shears as well as digging tools to keep his garden clean and beautiful. And if he wants to run a bar, whether at home or professionally, to make quality drinks that everyone will enjoy, he’ll need his bartending toolbox, which will enable him to produce delicious concoctions.

Having the right tools will make the job of making good drinks easier. Let’s take a look at the most essential tools:

• A BOTTLE OPENER It is essential, both for speed and for the health of your hands. Using your bare hands to open beer bottles can quickly turn your palms and fingers into loads of cuts and scrapes, not to mention rubbing raw on them. There are many varieties of bottle openers available to suit individual tastes.
• The “waiter wine opener” is probably the most versatile type of WINE OPENER/CORKSCREW. Very effective, it will not break the cork (famous last words!). This tool is versatile: it includes a bottle opener; a sharp blade to cut the wine seal; and the all-important corkscrew or worm. Corkscrews can be found in all kinds of novelty shapes. Also, if possible, get an opener with a two-level lever for maximum efficiency. A winged corkscrew is screwed into the cork which is opened by pulling down on the handles.
• A must for all bartenders is the COCKTAIL SHAKER, a stainless steel container used to vigorously shake the ingredients in a martini. A good bartending rule is to remember that the colder a drink is, the better it will taste. Hence, the shaker. Pouring the pre-chilled ingredients into the shaker with ice, shaking vigorously and serving the drink in a chilled glass will give your guests a tantalizing libation.
• The two basic types of shakers are STANDARD AGITATOR and the BOSTON COOKER. Tea STANDARD Prayed SHOEMAKER The shaker is a three piece stainless steel shaker with a built in strainer. It consists of the shaker glass, a lid with strainer and the stopper. Tea BOSTON Shaker is a bit simpler in design than the standard. It’s simply a shaker glass and a slightly smaller shaker glass. All that needs to be done with a Boston shaker is to seal the two parts. You must be careful not to close it so tightly that it cannot be reopened.
• There are many different types of STRAINERSthe most popular of which is the ESPINO, a flat spoon-shaped tool. A coiled spring fits around your head, allowing you to fit all shapes and types of bar glasses, via prongs, for straining cocktails. On the other hand, stainless steel JULEP Strainer fits smoothly inside glass at an angle.

Several other tools will help you service the bar with professional ease.

• A BAR SPOON It is mainly used for stirring, measuring ingredients, and crushing flavoring ingredients (fruit, etc.). Made of stainless steel, most bar spoons are 10 inches long and hold 1/6 ounce (one teaspoon) of liquid.
• On most high-end bar spoons, the top of the handle is a disk known as the MUDDLER which is used to crush (crush) pieces of fruit, sugar cubes or herbs, such as mint leaves, in the bottom of the glass.
• A good BLENDER It is essential for the preparation of frozen drinks, such as Daiquiris or Margaritas. There are many blender spells with various speeds. Be sure to put your liquid in the blender before adding ice; doing this will increase the life of your blade. Try to get a blender with the ability to crush ice. If you can’t get such a blender, you should invest in a standalone ice crusher, separate from the blender.
• FLIP FLOPS not anymore ICE BUCKET They are necessary for the sanitary storage and transfer of ice cubes. Not only will things be more sanitary, but the ice bucket will help prevent melting ice cubes (and the mess that follows).
• Tea BAR MEASUREMENT Prayed MEASURE It is essential for making accurate measurements. One side of a stainless steel MEASURE holds 1-1/2 oz (50 ml) of liquid; the other side, called PONY, contains 3/4 oz (25 ml). There is usually only one size for a glass measure, one ounce (2 tablespoons).
• A KNIFE Y CUTTING BOARD They are important tools to have on hand for cutting ingredients and garnishes. A sharp paring knife that is 4 inches long and a sharp paring knife about 8 inches long, such as a bread knife or tomato knife, with a lance-shaped tip is recommended. The sharper the knife, the easier it will be to make a clean cut. Watch your fingers!
• A FOR NOZZLE Prayed CAN Gives you greater control when pouring from a bottle. It is usually a small bar tool made of plastic or rubber/metal that is attached to the neck of the liquor bottle. Gives you better control than pouring straight from the bottle. The most accurate pour spouts are made up of a rubber cork fitted into the bottle and a metal spout that fits into the cork. Different styles of pour spouts include plastic, metal, neon, glow-in-the-dark, slow-pour (3 seconds per ounce), fast-pour, shielded, finned, and metered.
• Finally, to add something special to your bar, use a SIDE TRAY to store all the accoutrements that give class to your presentation. Be sure to remember to place skewers, plastic swords, paper umbrellas, flags, etc. along with your cocktail napkins, straws, and stirrers. Suggested garnishes may include lemon and orange slices/wedges, maraschino cherries, celery stalks, olives, and cocktail onions—whatever your imagination conjures up to tantalize your taste buds.

Health!