Bar Equipment Basics – Complete Setup Guide

Bar Equipment Essentials: The Complete Professional Setup Guide

Master the craft of mixology with the right tools. From precision jiggers to must-have ice equipment.

Building Your Bar: Equipment Fundamentals

Great cocktails need more than good spirits. They need the right tools. I’ve watched bartenders at Ripsaw Saloon crank out Old Fashioned after Old Fashioned on a Friday night, and the difference between a decent drink and a great one usually comes down to what’s in their hands. Quality bar gear gives you consistency. It makes you faster behind the bar. And honestly, it just feels better to work with tools that aren’t falling apart.

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1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556

(715) 428-2042

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Must-have Bar Equipment Categories

1. Measuring Precision Tools

Every drink starts with a ratio. Get the measurement wrong and nothing else matters.

Japanese Jiggers: The slim profile makes them easy to hold, and the pouring is dead-on. Most pros I know won’t use anything else.

Double Jiggers: The classic hourglass shape. Usually 1oz/2oz or 1.5oz/0.75oz. Cheap and reliable.

Bitters Bottles: You need these for consistent dashes. Commercial bottles give you unpredictable drops, and that throws off the whole drink.

2. Mixing and Shaking Equipment

How you chill and aerate a drink changes everything about how it tastes.

Boston Shaker: A 28oz tin and 16oz glass (or a smaller tin). Industry standard because the seal is tight and the speed is hard to beat once you get the hang of it.

Cobbler Shaker: Three pieces with a built-in strainer. Good if you’re just starting out and don’t want to deal with a separate strainer.

Mixing Glass: Heavy-bottomed glass for stirred drinks. Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Martinis. You don’t shake these. You stir them, slowly, and the mixing glass lets you see what you’re doing.

3. The Straining Trio

Hawthorne strainers go with shaken drinks. The spring catches ice chips and fruit pulp.

Julep strainers fit inside a mixing glass. Use them for stirred drinks.

Fine mesh strainers are for double-straining. When you want a crystal-clear drink without tiny ice shards floating in it, pour through one of these after your Hawthorne.

The Most Overlooked Essentials: Ice and Glass

Ice is the single most used ingredient in your bar. People forget this constantly.

Lewis Bag and Mallet: For crushed ice. Swizzles, Juleps, anything that needs dry, packed ice. You hit the bag until the ice is right. It’s loud but it works.

Large Molds: Slow-melting spheres or big cubes for spirit-forward cocktails. The bigger the ice, the slower it melts, the less dilution you get.

One thing I tell everyone: chill your glass first. Fill it with ice and water while you mix the drink. Dump it out right before you pour. A cold cocktail hitting a room-temperature glass is a waste of good work.

Wisconsin-Made Craftsmanship

We’re partial to local stuff at Borrachos.bar. Wisconsin has some genuinely good artisans making bar tools. Hand-carved maple muddlers, custom-blown glassware. Wisconsin hardwoods have a look you can’t get from factory-produced gear. It supports the community and it looks right in a Northwoods bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the single most important tool for a beginner?

A quality jigger. Without precise measurement, you’re guessing. And guessing is how you end up with a drink that’s too sweet, too boozy, or just off.

How often should I replace my equipment?

Good stainless steel lasts basically forever. Replace things when you see pitting, rust, or when your Hawthorne strainer spring gets loose and stops gripping the tin.

See also: our signature Wisconsin Old Fashioned

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Last updated: May 2026

By Ripsaw Saloon Staff | Prentice, Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment do I need to set up a home bar?

You need a cocktail shaker, strainer, jigger, bar spoon, muddler, and citrus press. Add a cutting board, paring knife, and ice bucket, and you can make nearly any classic cocktail at home.

What’s the most important bar tool for making Old Fashioneds?

A muddler. You use it to press the cherry, orange, and bitters into the glass. A bar spoon for stirring and a mixing glass round out the setup. At Ripsaw Saloon, the bartenders muddle to order for every single Old Fashioned. No shortcuts.

How much does it cost to set up a basic home bar?

A functional setup runs $75-$150 for tools and glassware, plus whatever you spend on spirits. You don’t need top-shelf everything. Start with a solid bourbon, bitters, and the basic tools listed above.

What type of ice is best for cocktails?

Large, clear cubes melt slow and dilute drinks minimally. That’s what you want for stirred cocktails like Old Fashioneds. Crushed ice is better for tiki drinks and juleps. A standard ice tray works fine at home, but silicone molds make cocktail-worthy cubes that look the part.

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Bar Equipment Basics – Complete Setup Guide

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