Checklist · 10 picks · 3 categories
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Home bartenders love good tools, and the best ones are the pieces people never buy for themselves. Every pick here is an America's Test Kitchen winner or named pick from my home bar list: shakers in three styles, a jigger for measuring every pour, a bar spoon and strainer for stirred drinks, a muddler, a fast citrus press and a corkscrew that pulls corks without a fight. Most are small and affordable, so two or three make a great set. The citrus press and shaker are the easiest wins. For the hosts in your life, the host gift list has more ideas.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they don't drink; the coffee lover list fits better.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houdini by Rabbit 24 oz Boston Cocktail Shaker | budget | $15-25 | someone learning to shake like a bartender | 1 outlet |
| Tovolo Stainless Steel 4-in-1 Cocktail Shaker | mid | $25-50 | a first shaker that's easy to use | 1 outlet |
| Yukiwa Stainless Steel Jumbo Cobbler Cocktail Shaker | splurge | $25-50 | a classic shaker for the bar cart | 1 outlet |
| Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon | budget | under $15 | the Manhattan and martini drinker | 1 outlet |
| Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Hawthorne Strainer | budget | under $15 | smooth, chip-free drinks | 1 outlet |
Best cocktail shakerbudget pick · Compact
Best for someone learning to shake like a bartender
America's Test Kitchen's top Boston-style shaker: inexpensive and easy to clean.
Heads up. Takes some practice, and your hands get cold while shaking
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best boston shaker.
$15-25
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mid pick · Compact
Best for a first shaker that's easy to use
America's Test Kitchen's easiest shaker for a beginner bartender.
Heads up. Not the best-looking, and the silicone top faded a little after 10 washes
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen easiest-to-use cocktail shaker.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Compact
Best for a classic shaker for the bar cart
America's Test Kitchen's best classic cobbler shaker, the style with a built-in strainer and a tight seal.
Heads up. Expensive, and sometimes sealed so tight it was hard to open
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best classic cobbler shaker.
$25-50
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for the Manhattan and martini drinker
America's Test Kitchen's winning bar spoon: the right length for most shakers, with a twisted handle and a bowl big enough to lift garnishes.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning bar spoon.
under $15
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for smooth, chip-free drinks
America's Test Kitchen's best Hawthorne strainer: it caught nearly all the lime pulp, mint and ice chips.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best hawthorne strainer.
under $15
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup | budget | under $15 | measuring every pour | 1 outlet |
| Fletcher's Mill Maple Muddler | budget | under $15 | mojito and old fashioned fans | 1 outlet |
| Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer | budget | $15-25 | margaritas with fresh lime | 1 outlet |
Best jiggerbudget pick · Tiny
Best for measuring every pour
A tiny angled cup you read from above, marked in ounces, tablespoons and milliliters. One of America's Test Kitchen's co-winning jiggers.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-winning jigger.
under $15
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for mojito and old fashioned fans
America's Test Kitchen's best muddler: an 11-inch maple muddler with a good weight and an easy grip.
Heads up. America's Test Kitchen gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best muddler.
under $15
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budget pick · Drawer
Best for margaritas with fresh lime
Fresh lime and lemon juice makes the biggest difference in cocktails. America's Test Kitchen's winning handheld press works fast with little effort.
Heads up. Sized for lemons and limes, not oranges
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning citrus juicer.
$15-25
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
Best wine openermid pick · Drawer
Best for the friend who hosts every holiday
America's Test Kitchen's winning corkscrew: a continuous-turn opener that pulls corks easily.
Heads up. The thin plastic body flexes a little
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning corkscrew.
$25-50
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mid pick · Countertop
Best for party-size batches of fresh juice
America's Test Kitchen's best countertop press, quick and powerful for juicing a lot of fruit for a party.
Heads up. It can't be bolted down, so you steady it by hand, and only the bowls are dishwasher-safe
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best countertop citrus press.
$25-50
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
Tools they use every time: a good shaker, a jigger, a bar spoon and a citrus press. A set of two or three small tools often lands better than one gadget.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.
It is less useful if they don't drink; the coffee lover list fits better.
No. I have not reviewed them. I read published reviews and name the outlet on the pick.
Budget is the cheaper one that still does the job. Mid is what most people should buy. Splurge is only if you will use it often.