Sure, there’s a time and a place for tossing vodka and orange juice into a glass and calling it a day, but every now you might want to get a little more inventive. Something a little more… crafty, perhaps. If you’re considering making any sort of craft cocktail, you’re going to need some barware.
As the name suggests, barware are the tools that allow professional bartenders mix those stunning craft cocktails. The right set will allow you to create more involved concoctions—from an Old Fashioned to a Martini—with a professional twist, right from the comfort of your home.
Most barware sets include a jigger to measure out ingredients, a shaker to put them into, a bar spoon for stirring and a strainer. Various sets will add more specialized pieces, but the fundamentals remain the same. Now, you just need some practice to make that Don Draper-worthy Old Fashioned. Here are four of our favorite sets to get you started.