Vodkas

Shaker

The cocktail shaker will be your most used tool in your bar. This is your main tool for mixing your favorite spirits together to make that perfect drink, shaken and chilled to your satisfaction. Your shaker may have two or three pieces depending on the type. A two part shaker is known as a “Boston Shaker” or a three piece that is becoming more popular that has the cup (mug), cap (used to measure) and the strainer. Simple but very useful. You simply add half with ice, measure your contents and place the strainer and cap on and start shaking. Simple, fun and enjoyable? I suggest you use glass our stainless steel as plastic has a way of not chilling very well. My favorite shaker actually came with a bottle of Grey Goose and was free with the purchase of the bottle. So, they need not be expensive!

Blender

A blender allows you to make those frozen drinks that you crave on a hot day by the pool. With the right cocktail blender you can make drinks with ice, fruit, dairy and anything you need pulverized. I know people who have even put candy in their drinks to make it a frozen desert drink. Let your imagination run wild and you can mix anything up in a cocktail blender and have loads of fun too. Make sure though that you want a heavy duty blender because if not, you will be burning up motors left and right, so it is worth the extra money up front. You do not want to ruin a fun day at the pool if your blender burns up!

Measuring Cup

Use this when you do not want to use the shaker. You can stir your drinks for a little different taste. This is basically a kitchen measuring cup, but you can get a fancy one at a restaurant supply or upper end home goods store. Get creative and try both ways, some people like their drinks “Shaken and not Stirred” as Mr. James Bond would say!

Glasses for your Bar

I am a believer that a drink tastes better in a quality glass. It is proven that the right shape glass for the right drink is a must. You would not want to taste your favorite Champagne from a rocks glass. It simply does not hit the correct spot on your tongue. It sounds odd but the proper glass is not just a marketing ploy for you to have several different types of glasses, it is a must! Get the right glass and you will enjoy your drink all that much more. Although I believe you do not have to spend a fortune on your glasses you need the right glasses. Some of the more popular are as follows:

• Champagne Glass or Flute, this is the traditional long skinny glass we have all seen. This glass is a must if you are drinking any sparkling wine or champagne.
• Rocks Glass, Rocks glasses are most suitable for liquor like whiskey or bourbon, something that is typically served over ice. Sometimes called “low ball” glasses, these common glasses are essentially short tumblers used to serve beverages over ice. Rocks glasses can be sleek and smooth, slightly rounded or flared, and with a normal or heavy, thick base. They are used for Whisky, Bourbon, Gin, Vodka etc.
• Martini Glass, as you may know, it has a long stem with a funnel appearance. A must if you drink martini’s.
• Highball Glass similar to the rocks glass but much taller and used in soda drinks.
• Brandy Snifter, a fat almost wine looking glass used to drink brandies and cognacs and is meant to use the heat from your hand to heat the beverage. This is the fat cat’s drink of choice in lots of movies and takes on the fish bowl appearance.
• Red Wine Glasses are the big bold wine glasses that you may see in steak houses.
• White wine glasses are smaller, similar to red but are meant to be enjoyed with your wine chilled.
• Ales are slope sided glasses traditionally known as pint glasses.
• Many more glasses are available this is just a little sneak peak into the world of your favorite beverage and spirit glasses.