The buyer's guide
Good tools. Better drinks. A home bar that works for you.
Build a home bar around the drinks you love. Explore tested tools and glassware, learn what makes them useful, and find out what is worth buying before you make room on your shelf.
Bar tools
Measure, stir and strain with confidence. Explore practical tools that make preparing a good drink more consistent, from the first pour to the final strain.
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Glasses
The right glass brings a drink together. Find glassware that suits your favourite recipes, feels good in the hand and earns its place on your shelf.
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Gear
Take a closer look at the equipment behind a well-equipped home bar, from a soda siphon for fresh fizz to a sous vide container for your next infusion project.
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Supplies
Keep the small essentials close to hand. Our guide helps you choose the everyday supplies that keep your equipment ready for the next round.
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More about the buyer's guide
A useful home bar starts with a few well-chosen pieces, not a cupboard full of gadgets. Our guide puts everyday use first.
A reliable measure, a comfortable spoon and a strainer that fits your mixing glass can make a bigger difference than a long shopping list. We look at how tools handle, how easily they clean up and how naturally they fit into making a drink.
Glassware deserves the same attention. Shape and capacity influence how a cocktail is served, while a balanced stem or a comfortable rim can make the finished drink more enjoyable. Choose glasses for the recipes you return to most often.
Buy for the drinks you actually make
Start with your favourites and work backwards. Stirred drinks need a different set of tools from shaken drinks, and a compact collection can cover plenty of ground. Add specialist equipment when it gives you a technique you genuinely want to use.
Before buying, check dimensions, care instructions and replacement supplies. Equipment that fits your storage, works with what you already own and stays easy to maintain is more likely to become a lasting part of your bar.