The 10 Best Bartending Kits Of 2023

Mixology & Craft's 10-Piece Bar Tool Set boasts a little bit of everything. For starters, it’s got a cocktail shaker for shaken drinks (like margaritas and daiquiris) and a long-handled spoon for ones that need stirring, like a Manhattan or martini. The Good Housekeeping Institute experts say that the two liquor pourers help ensure “mess-free” and “easy” bottle pouring without dribbling. The bottle opener is another perk, as Papantoniou says it’s uncommon in smaller sets.

The sleek wooden stand keeps everything in order and will look great on your bar cart. And while this set doesn’t come with a mixing glass, the experts says it’s “not a deal breaker” since you can use another glass in its place.

• Number of pieces: 10
• What's included: Cocktail shaker with built-in strainer, double sided jigger with imperial and metric markings, mojito muddler, mixing spoon, two liquor pourers, Hawthorne strainer, ice tongs, double lever corkscrew, bamboo stand
• Materials: Stainless steel alloy accessories, bamboo stand
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

For the friend who's always hosting, this Barfly Deluxe Cocktail Set is a great pick for their next party. The 19-piece set not only comes with “everything you need to make cocktails,” says Almonte, but it even has helpful extras like an orange peeler and citrus zester that are great for adding garnish or whipping up a tasty specialty cocktail. And they don't skimp on quality, either. Almonte notes the stainless steel pieces are all super durable, adding that “you’ll most likely never need to buy anything else for your home bar again."

While everything is technically dishwasher safe, the brand recommends hand-washing each piece and avoiding detergents with bleach or heavy chlorines to preserve their quality.

• Number of pieces: 19
• What's included: Cocktail shaker Set, mesh strainer, straight tong, bar spoon with muddler end, spring bar strainer, jigger, bar spoon, Y-peeler, channel knife, composite muddler, ice pick, juicer, orange peeler, citrus zester, corkscrew, bar zester, round tip bar knife, pointed tip bar knife
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but hand-washing is recommended by the manufacturer

If you have experience with mixology, consider going for the one Estes personally uses: A Bar Above 14-Piece Professional Bartender Kit. “It’s a bit on the pricier side, but you do get some of the highest quality products,” he says. Each piece has an ergonomic design for easier handling, and one of the main highlights is the weighted Boston shaker, which pros will love. “These take a little more skill,” Estes notes. “You can strain them by lightly cracking the seal, allowing the liquid to run out.”

• Number of pieces: 14
• What's included: Two-piece Boston shaker set, Hawthorne strainer, fine mesh strainer, julep strainer, muddler, and six cocktail picks
• Materials: Stainless steel, natural hardwood (muddler)
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Sur La Table's stainless steel bar kit comes with essentials like a Boston shaker, double-sided jigger, Hawthorne strainer and muddler. Plus, it features some unlikely extras: a cutting board and bar knife that are perfect for people who cut a “lot of fruit and garnishes for their drinks,” says the Good Housekeeping Institute. They especially like how the bar knife “incorporates a forked edge” for easily picking up ingredients.

This Boston shaker is a favorite of Papantoniou, who mentions that it's “easy to use and clean” and also doesn’t suction or splatter when opening like some traditional shakers. Since there's no mixing spoon or glass included, this set truly caters to people who prefer shaken drinks.

• Number of pieces: 6
• What's included: Boston shaker, double-sided jigger, Hawthorne strainer, acacia wood muddler, bar knife and cutting board
• Materials: Stainless steel, acacia wood (muddler), fiberboard (cutting board)
• Dishwasher-safe: No

For the beginner who’s ready to take their at-home bar to the next level, Estes loves the Barillio Elite Mixology Bartender Kit Cocktail Shaker Set. “It has all you need and more with a nice wood stand to keep it displayed all in one place,” he says. On top of featuring essentials like a jigger, muddler, and mixing spoon, the 23-piece set includes extras like bottle stoppers, ice tongs, and cleaning brushes to make the process as seamless as possible from start to finish.

Estes also says this kit is great for mixology newbies since it “comes with some recipes,” too.

• Number of pieces: 23
• What's included: Cocktail shaker, muddler, mixing spoon, double-sided jigger, Hawthorne strainer, three liquor pourers, six pourer caps, two cleaning brushes, two bottle stoppers, ice tongs, double lever corkscrew, bamboo stand, and velvet bag
• Materials: Stainless steel, bamboo (stand), velvet (bag)
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Here's a budget-friendly option worth gifting or adding to your collection. FineDine's Bartender Kit comes with 14 pieces for under $25, including two shot glasses and a two-side bottle opener that usually “aren’t seen with many other kits,” the Good Housekeeping Institute team notes. With over 19,500 reviews and an average 4.6-star rating on Amazon, customers rave that this stainless steel set is durable and easy to use for mixology novices. While some reviewers did say that it's not the most elegant pick, it does come with a book of 16 recipes so you can try out new cocktails for you and your guests!

• Number of pieces: 14
• What's included: Boston shaker (2 metal cups), 6 liquor pourers, double-sided jigger, 2 shot glasses, bar spoon, two-sided bottle opener and Hawthorne strainer
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Available in range of sleek finishes, this Crate and Barrel's Bar Tool Set “looks just as stunning in person as it does online,” says the Good Housekeeping Institute. But don't be fooled by its pretty exterior. The experts also found the set to be super functional. They mention the tools feel “sturdy” and “durable” for long-lasting use and that their long handles are great for keeping the pieces “upright” and “organized.” Plus, the included metal bucket doubles as both an ice bucket and storage container.

One thing to note: It doesn’t come with a cocktail shaker.

• Number of pieces: 7
• What's included: Bottle opener, double-sided jigger, long spade-end spoon, strainer, ice scoop, muddler and ice bucket
• Materials: Stainless steel, metallic finish, and lacquer top coat
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Both Estes and Perry highly recommend the Cocktail Kingdom Essential Cocktail Set.“These are the fundamental tools that I think about myself as a bartender, and when I’ve had to work events or travel, these are the essentials I would bring,” Perry says. “Being able to focus on these key items, you’re able to create a quality product and put more intention behind it. These tools are a great vehicle that allow you to create cocktails at home.”

The set features two weighted shaking tins, a jigger, mixing glass, Hawthorn strainer and a bar spoon. In addition to the classic stainless steel option, the set also comes in a handful of aesthetically-pleasing finishes including copper plated, gold plated, and matte black.

• Number of pieces: 6
• What's included: Weighted shaking tins, Hawthorne strainer, a double jigger, mixing glass, and bar spoon
• Materials: Stainless steel, glass (mixing glass)
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

For those who like their vodka martini stirred, not shaken (sorry James Bond!), this Rabbit Craft Cocktail Set is just what you need. During the Good Housekeeping Institute’s tests, experts said this kit stood out for its dome-shaped silicone strainer, instead of the typical metal Hawthorne or julep strainers found in many other kits. The silicone “helped hold the strainer in place” and the “weighty bottom” of the mixing glass kept it from tipping over. Like the Barfly kit, this one also comes with a peeler and grater for zesting and peeling garnish. You’ll get a reamer to juice fruits, too, and it doubles as a muddler. If you do want a shaken drink, keep in mind that you’ll need to buy a shaker separately.

• Number of pieces: 6
• What's included: Spin spoon, strainer, jigger, muddler/reamer, garnish tool and mixing glass
• Materials: Metal (spin spoon and jigger), silicone (strainer), wood and plastic (muddler/reamer), metal and plastic (garnish tool) and glass (mixing glass)
• Dishwasher-safe: No

You’ll get double the strainers in Williams Sonoma’s sleek matte-black bartending kit. The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends the fine-mesh strainer when you’re making citrus or fruit drinks and still “want to get the last remaining bits that make it through the Hawthorne strainer.” Aside from the usual essentials like the Hawthorne strainer, shaker, and muddler, this one also comes with two liquor pourers for more precise pours. Unlike many sets that might require hand-washing, the experts like how all the accessories in this one are dishwasher safe. The only downside is that this set doesn’t have a mixing glass for stirred drinks.

• Number of pieces: 8
• What's included: Shaker, strainer, fine-mesh strainer, bar spoon, muddler, double-sided jigger, 2 wine pourers
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes