Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Barware for Your Home Bar To Make Amazing Cocktails

We know you have a bar tool or two but what if you need a more extensive setup that goes beyond the wine glasses or the whiskey rocks glass? We've put together some of the best of the best barware products out there that focuses on quality, style, and function. Yes, you can have style AND function. Never let anyone tell you differently.

There are some items that we didn't cover in this list because we just feel they may be unnecessary. For instance, while an ice bucket can look cool, it's really unrealistic because you'll have ice melting faster than you can drink, especially if you're using specialty ice such as spheres, cubes, or cocktail ice. We suppose that if you want a small ice bucket to hold a round's worth of ice, that would work but for us, keep the ice where it belongs, in the cocktail glass.

Here are our selections of the best barware you can buy to furnish your home bar cart so you can make the perfect craft cocktail.

West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart
The Best Bar Cart
West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart
Jump to details
Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
The Best Cocktail Shaker
Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
Jump to details
Everyday Cut Mixing Glass
The Best Mixing Glass
Everyday Cut Mixing Glass
Jump to details
Premium Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger
The Best Jigger
Premium Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger
Jump to details
Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler
The Best Muddler
Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler
Jump to details
Tear Drop Bar Spoon
The Best Bar Spoon
Tear Drop Bar Spoon
Jump to details
Mercer Barfly Fine Mesh Strainer
The Best Cocktail Strainer
Mercer Barfly Fine Mesh Strainer
Jump to details
Brass Bottle Opener
Tools For Your Barware and Bar Cart
The Best Bottle Opener
Jump to details
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Sommelier Stainless Steel Waiter's Knife
The Best Corkscrew
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Sommelier Stainless Steel Waiter's Knife
Jump to details
Paring Knife
The Best Bar Knife
Misen Paring Knife
Jump to details
Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray
The Best Ice Mold
Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray
Jump to details
Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar & Cocktails
The Best Cocktail Book
Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar, & Cocktails
Jump to details
Hatch Rocks Glass
The Best Whiskey Glasses
Hatch Rocks Glass
Jump to details
Stella Crystal Highball Glasses
The Best Highball Glass
Stella Crystal Highball Glasses
Jump to details
Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses
The Best Coupe Glass
Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses
Jump to details
Vintage Set of 2 Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses 10 oz.
The Best Martini Glass
Vintage Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses
Jump to details
Wine glass Set
The Best Wine Glass
Made In Wine Glass Set
Jump to details
Wine Decanter
The Best Wine Decanter
Made In Wine Decanter
Jump to details
Stündenglass Gravity Infuser
The Best Cocktail Smoker
Stündenglass Gravity Infuser
Jump to details
Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology for Smoothies, Ice and Frozen Fruit (BL610)
The Best Cocktail Blender
Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender
Jump to details
wooden bar cart by West Elm.

The Best Bar Cart

West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart

You can have all the barware you want but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't have somewhere to store it. Sure, you can put it all in the cupboard but why when you can get this gently-used West Elm Mid-Century Bar cart from Kaiyo? The online pre-loved furniture marketplace plants a tree for every purchase and has kept almost 3 million pieces of furniture out of landfills. It's sort of an online consignment store meets high-end furniture shophh.

West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart
The Best Bar Cart
West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart
stainless steel boston shaker.

The Best Cocktail Shaker

Stainless Steel Boston Shaker

You ever used a cocktail shaker that has the shaker, the lid with a built-in strainer, and that little cap? The problem is once you start shaking it, the cold fuses everything together and you have a heck of a time trying to remove the cap to get the booze out. No need to worry about that with this Crate and Barrel Stainless Steel Boston Shaker. It's a two-piece shaker set that has a large and small shaker that fit together so you can shake like a pro. We love this Boston Shaker so much!

Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
The Best Cocktail Shaker
Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
barware full of cocktails.

The Best Mixing Glass

Everyday Cut Mixing Glass

Let's say you just DON'T want your drink shaken, but actually stirred. (Sorry Double O 7). We're pretty sure that if James saw this mixing glass, he'd be all over it too. Check out how sexy this mixing glass is though with it's vintage-inspired cuts of diamond patterns. It'll hold up to almost 18 ounces of liquid and ice, perfect for a few rounds of drinks.

Everyday Cut Mixing Glass
The Best Mixing Glass
Everyday Cut Mixing Glass
stainless steel japanese cocktail jigger.

The Best Jigger

Premium Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger

Sure, you can totally eyeball the cocktail ingredients, but let's first start out with the jigger and precise measurements so you can prove to all your friends what a great mixologist you are. Once you set the tone (and everyone is enjoying the drinks) you can absolutely ditch the jigger and just pour. Until then, use this Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger. It's tall, slender, and comes in 1 and 2 ounce options.

Premium Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger
The Best Jigger
Premium Japanese Style Double Cocktail Jigger
wooden muddler sitting on a table surrounded by garnishes and cocktails.

The Best Muddler

Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler

Who knew a muddler could be so sexy?! There are tons of muddlers out there, even stainless steel muddlers, but we recommend solid wood. Why? Because it's about style, aesthetics, and mixing of textures. Interior design tricks but in this case, it really is form and function. This Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler from FOOD52 says it all. It's made from black walnut and finished with natural oils and beeswax. You can really crush it (see what we did there) by taking your fresh herbs and fruit to the next level.

Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler
The Best Muddler
Hand-Turned Walnut Muddler
tear drop bar spoon with twisted handle.

The Best Bar Spoon

Tear Drop Bar Spoon

Can we talk about bar spoons please? We were literally today years old when we found this on TikTok. Okay, maybe not today years old, but definitely was a shock and awe moment. Watch the video and tell us that isn't the most amazing thing ever!

@likeablecocktails Reply to @hey_merideth The old Spoon Trick! #drinktok #bartok #cocktailtiktok #bartender #homebar #bartendertips ♬ breadwinner - Kacey Musgraves

Now that you watched the spoon trick, go out and buy this Tear Drop Bar Spoon. You won't be disappointed. We promise!

Tear Drop Bar Spoon
The Best Bar Spoon
Tear Drop Bar Spoon
mercer barfly fine mesh strainer made from stainless steel.

The Best Cocktail Strainer

Mercer Barfly Fine Mesh Strainer

Add a bit of sophistication by using an actual fine mesh strainer instead of that clunky cocktail shaker strainer that has slits in it or that julep strainer -- you know, the one with the holes in it. Those slits and holes can allow your muddled fruit or herbs to slip through. With this fine mesh cocktail strainer, it'll keep the fragments out and only allow the cold liquid of spirits into the glass. Unless of course, you want those floaty bits in your drink...

Mercer Barfly Fine Mesh Strainer
The Best Cocktail Strainer
Mercer Barfly Fine Mesh Strainer
brass bottle opener.

Tools For Your Barware and Bar Cart

The Best Bottle Opener

We think we've all been there, you go to twist off that beer cap only to find out it shredded your fingers. OR maybe you want a step up from the ol' lighter trick to pop that top. That's when you go with this little beauty. A solid brass bottle opener that is hand-cast. Sleek, slender, beautiful.

Brass Bottle Opener
Tools For Your Barware and Bar Cart
The Best Bottle Opener
henckels somelier stainless steel corkscrew wine key.

The Best Corkscrew

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Sommelier Stainless Steel Waiter's Knife

We already know Henckels makes some of the best knives, but they also have a line of products that aren't knives. Well, technically, this wine key is called a waiter's knife. They go by many different names; corkscrew, wine key, and waiter's knife, Sommelier knife, waiter's friend, well, you get the idea, and we can go on and on with the names. This Sommelier Knife is a stainless steel corksrew with a foil cutter and bottle cap opener (just in case you lose the bottle opener).

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Sommelier Stainless Steel Waiter's Knife
The Best Corkscrew
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Sommelier Stainless Steel Waiter's Knife
misen paring knife with a blue handle.

The Best Bar Knife

Misen Paring Knife

Sure, you can use any old kitchen knife you want but why when your setup can include this amazing Paring Knife from Misen? It will last (almost) forever and let you cut through the herbs, fruit, and all the other garnishes needed. It's made from premium steel, has a sloped bolster for an easy grip, and has a 15-degree blade for more precision cutting.

Paring Knife
The Best Bar Knife
Misen Paring Knife
peak ice works sphere ice tray with ice.

The Best Ice Mold

Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray

Maybe there's a bit of a debate here, maybe not. Ice. Should you use spheres or cubes or just regular ice from the freezer? Well, we're here to tell you that you should leave that freezer-made ice alone and use these Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray from Sur la Table. The silicone tray makes 4 perfectly round ice that melts slower than regular ice. It will chill that cocktail without the excessive watering down.

And fine. If you do want cubes, they offer a silicone tray that makes 4 perfectly square cubes. Same principle, different shape.

Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray
The Best Ice Mold
Peak Ice Works Sphere Ice Tray
barkeep mixology, bar, and cocktail recipe book.

The Best Cocktail Book

Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar, & Cocktails

Ok, so we don't know how to make EVERY cocktail out there. I know, we should since we've had so much, ahem, practice, but we just don't and that's OK because that's why they made Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar, & Cocktails. It is 522 pages (!!) worth of boozy information. If the drinks aren't in this book, it just simply doesn't exist. Yet...

The Best Glassware For Your Bar

Ok. so now you have your set up sitting nicely on the bar cart. Now what? Well, you can't make a craft cocktail without the glasses. Thankfully, we've put together this must-have list of glasses to complete your bar.

Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar & Cocktails
The Best Cocktail Book
Barkeep - The Art of Mixology, Bar, & Cocktails
diamond patterned rocks glass with ice and a cocktail in it.

The Best Whiskey Glasses

Hatch Rocks Glass

So you bought some of the best whiskey out there which means you can't just dump it into any old glass and call it good. That's why you need these diamond pattern Hatch Rocks Glasses, plus as an added bonus, they match the mixing glass!

Hatch Rocks Glass
The Best Whiskey Glasses
Hatch Rocks Glass
pair of empty highball glasses.

The Best Highball Glass

Stella Crystal Highball Glasses

We feel that a highball glass is an absolute necessity. You can have a Mojito, Tom Collins, or even a Whiskey Soda. These glasses cover all the bases. The sleek Stella Crystal Highball Glasses are perfect for any tall cocktail need. They hold just over 14 ounces of cold beverage and this glassware is made of top quality crystal clear glass. You can't go wrong.

Stella Crystal Highball Glasses
The Best Highball Glass
Stella Crystal Highball Glasses
set of 8 coupe cocktail glasses.

The Best Coupe Glass

Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses

The coupe glass is pretty much one of the most versatile glasses out there. Did you know that you can use the coupe glass for Champagne, Prosecco, margaritas, or just a regular mixed drink? That is how amazing these coupe glassware are. You can grab a set of 8 Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses and celebrate your find with splash of bubbly. Or margarita, or just about anything.

Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses
The Best Coupe Glass
Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses
vintage lead free crystal martini glass with olives and a toothpick.

The Best Martini Glass

Vintage Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses

You definitely need a martini glass or 4. They are perfect for those Espresso Martinis, Classic Martinis, or even a fancy Lemon Drop Martini. Make a drink with these Vintage Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses by Nude. They are sturdy, sexy, and have that timeless feel to them toss in a couple of bleu cheese stuffed green olives and you're all set.

Vintage Set of 2 Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses 10 oz.
The Best Martini Glass
Vintage Lead Free Crystal Martini Glasses
person pouring wine into a wine glass next to a plate of pasta.

The Best Wine Glass

Made In Wine Glass Set

The wine glass varies not only between reds and whites but even within each red wine, rosé, or white wine. Pick up a set of red wine glasses and a set of white wine glasses. You won't regret it. This new line of wine glass sets from Made-In are awesome and elegant. They are break-resistant and dishwasher-safe, although, we NEVER recommend you place wine glasses in the dishwasher. They should always be hand-washed, just like you would never place your knives in the dishwasher. Right? RIGHT??

Speaking of wine...

Wine glass Set
The Best Wine Glass
Made In Wine Glass Set
wine decanter and two wine glasses with wine in them.

The Best Wine Decanter

Made In Wine Decanter

We all know that wine should breathe. Why you ask? Well, wine needs to aerate to \enhance the bouquet. Alcohol actually evaporates, which brings out the true scent of the wine. If you have issues with sulfates, then you're in luck because letting the wine breathe allows for the sulfates to dissipate. This brings us to the Wine Decanter. Another Made-In product that is simple for everyday use, but also elegant enough for those candle-lit dinners. It's a perfect vessel to showcase your wine.

Barware Extras

Wine Decanter
The Best Wine Decanter
Made In Wine Decanter
stundenglass gravity infuser with accessories.

The Best Cocktail Smoker

Stündenglass Gravity Infuser

Smoked food is amazing but so are smoked cocktails. The process seems simple enough and it's made even easier with the Stündenglass Gravity Infuser. This gravity infuser is a contactless smoker that is gravity fed. Just fill the glass globes with water, connect the tubes, add your smoke chips, and rotate the globes to begin the gravity feed and force the smoke out in a steady stream. Add the Beverage Cloche to the system and you can start smoking glasses of cocktails over and over.

Stündenglass Gravity Infuser
The Best Cocktail Smoker
Stündenglass Gravity Infuser
ninja professional blender filled with ice.

The Best Cocktail Blender

Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender

Every bar setup needs a blender. Sometimes someone needs a blended margarita, a smoothie, or perhaps a Daiquiri or Piña Colada. Whatever you make, this Ninja Professional 3-Speed Blender will whip it up in a jiff. All you need to do is add ice and your booze ingredients and blend away Merrill, blend away.

Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology for Smoothies, Ice and Frozen Fruit (BL610)
The Best Cocktail Blender
Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender

Should You Have a Barware Set?

Well, if the above didn't give you enough indication of the things you should have, we'll explain a little further. Yes. You definitely need a barware set. Let's not confuse it with a bartender kit because that's not the same. A bartender kit includes most of the items listed above but sometimes the quality just isn't there in those kits. That's why we pieced everything together. Life should be about more quality and not so much quantity. Choose your pieces individually and you can build yourself an arsenal of quality products that will last through the years.

Editors' Recommendations

The 9 best rums for Mojitos that you can get behind
Making a Mojito? You're going to need a nice light rum, like one of these standout selections
A hand serving a glass of Mojito on a table.

In the vast land of rum cocktails, the Mojito is an elite player. This classic cocktail, born in Cuba, is both a cinch to make and extremely rewarding to drink. Made of rum, lime, mint, sugar, and soda water, the beverage is basically the liquid definition of refreshing.

While often pegged as a summer drink, the Mojito is really accessible year-round. In fact, like a good tiki drink, the cocktail can be even more desirable during the colder months as it can deposit you somewhere sun-kissed and tropical. Yet, because the drink is so dependent on its spirit base, it can only be as good as the rum that goes into it.

Read more
Incredible St. Patrick’s Day drinks: Check out these fantastic cocktail recipes
These fun and dynamic drinks will be a surefire hit at any St. Patrick's Day celebration
Cocktail Crossing Currents Knappogue

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday for imbibers. Whether you gravitate toward spirits or beer, there's a St. Patrick's Day drink or riff for you to enjoy as America pours celebratory dye into its rivers and dons every article of green clothing it has. (There's even Irish wine, if you feel so inclined.)

Here, we're focused on mixed drinks, ones that flex some Irish flair or are at least inspired by the land of rolling green hills and shamrocks -- the kind of drink you can clutch triumphantly in hand as you observe a holiday more than 1,000 years old. We won't quiz you on who St. Patrick was, nor will we check your plate to make sure you're eating traditional Irish bacon and cabbage (though you probably should). We just want to give you another excuse to celebrate.

Read more
Cook perfect meat every time with this Ninja indoor grill and save $80
ninja foodi smart xl indoor grill with air fryer deal best buy february 2023

Are you ready to get your grill on? If there's snow outside, you don't have to forego grilling your favorite foods and snacks, especially with a Ninja indoor grill. Best Buy has a tantalizing deal today for the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 indoor grill with an integrated 4-quart air fryer. Ninja's versatile kitchen countertop appliance can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. If you score this deal today, the Ninja Foodi Smart XL  is yours for $180, an $80 savings from the regular $260 cost.

Why You Should Buy the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Ninja Indoor Grill
The concept of a combined grill and air fryer may sound kludgy, but when you cook with this multifunction cooker, one of the best Ninja air fryers, you'll quickly realize the Ninja Foodi Smart XL indoor grill is designed to help you turn out snacks or meals perfectly, every time, with no guesswork or hassle. You can easily select the type of food you're about to cook and then choose from nine levels of doneness. The Foodi Smart Cook System includes a smart thermometer that monitors the cooking progress, so you don't have to cut or stick a manual thermometer in your food to be sure you don't under-cook or overcook it. Want to save even more hassle when you grill? You don't have to flip to food while grilling because the Ninja Foodi Smart XL has a cyclonic air system that surrounds the food with 500-degree heat to match the 500-degree grill surface temperature.

Read more