Cork Pops

Bartender & Cocktail Gifts

Home bartenders don't need more gadgets. They need the few tools that make the drink better. Start with a double jigger, 1 oz at one end and 1.5 oz at the other, because most home cocktails go wrong for one dull reason: nobody measures.

From there: the Ice Breaker 4-Martini Shaker, with a breaker bar in the cap that crushes the ice as you shake; muddlers for the mojito; stainless steel cocktail picks topped with olives, arrows or a fleur-de-lis; and Stircicles that stir and chill without watering anything down.

Why the right tools matter: why home cocktails taste different from the bar’s.

Questions

What should every home bar have?

A jigger to measure, a shaker, a muddler and something to garnish with. Everything else is a nice-to-have.

What's a good bartender gift under $20?

The double jigger ($10), a beechwood muddler ($8.50) or a set of stainless steel cocktail picks ($15 to $17).

Is the Ice Breaker shaker only for martinis?

No. It holds 32 oz, enough for four drinks, and the breaker bar chills anything you shake over ice.