The Webtender
Bartender's Handbook

Setting up a bar

Basic set of tools

When setting up a bar, you will need quite a lot of equipment. The following is a list of basic bar equipment you should have in your bar to allow you to make most drinks. You may also want to take a look at the list of additional equipment that will make life behind the bar a bit easier too.

  • Bottle opener
  • Corkscrew
  • Can opener
  • Measuring cups and spoon set
  • Bar spoon with long handle and muddler on the end
  • Juice squeezer
  • Electric blender
  • Cutting board and a sharp knife
  • Ice bucket with an ice tong
  • Mixing glass
  • Shaker and strainer
  • Bottle sealers
  • Towels
  • Boxes/jars to store garnishes in
  • Glassware (See separate page)

You will have to buy new supplies of the following equipment regularly.

  • Cocktail napkins and coasters
  • Swizzle sticks
  • Straws, both long and short ones
  • Cocktail picks
  • Sugar and salt (for coating rim of glasses)

Additional equipment

In addition you may wish to buy some other equipment to make things a bit easier and to be able to make additional drinks.

  • Ice crusher, preferably electric
      You can crush ice manually, but an electric crusher it a whole lot easier than using a hammer.
  • Wooden muddler
  • Ice pick or chipper
  • Vegetable peeler or a twist cutter for fruit peels
  • Ice scoop
  • Funnel
  • Nutmeg grater

Source: International Bartender's Guide.
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