| TIPS FROM THE PROS |

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BY MELISSA DOWLING AND KYLE SWARTZ

At-home mixology was already on the rise before the pandemic . But when the Covid-19

BUBBLES crisis brought on lockdowns ,

Text bar and restaurant closures and restrictions , more people embraced their inner bartender .

This past year has been “ a great time to experiment ” with home bartending , says Jason Shelly , resident mixologist for Firestone &

Robertson Distillery , the company behind TX Whiskey . “ Making cocktails at home has come a long way in the last five to six years ,” he notes . “ At-home cocktail bars are super in-vogue right now .”

It ’ s easier to make drinks at home when you have the right tools . What exactly do you need ? Presumably you have a wine / bottle opener and a decent knife ; if not , you might start there . Here are the basics that most experts suggest .

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

If you ’ re looking for more of an all-in-one system , Elevated Craft just came out with a 750-ml . shaker designed for making craft cocktails at home . The stainless-steel , dishwasher-safe shaker boasts double-wall vacuum insulation ; a high-capacity jigger top with measurements from ¼-oz . to 6-oz .; a no-leak , easy-twist lock lid and top ; a built-in strainer ; and an ergonomically

Elevated Craft ’ s new 750-ml . cocktail shaker is specifically designed for making drinks at home .

designed , shape for one-handed shaking . Priced at $ 69 , the Elevated Craft shaker includes a 50-page cocktail journal .

Not looking to spend on any new bar gear at the moment ? Jason Shelly of Firestone & Robertson Distillery suggests rummaging around your kitchen for substitutes .

For instance , if you don ’ t have a jigger , keep in mind that 2 tablespoons equals 1 fluid ounce . No shaker ? No problem : “ A mason jar can become a shaker ,” he says .

A SHAKER . Most pros use Boston-style shakers , essentially two cups that fit into each other and form a tight seal to keep liquid from splashing out . These can be two metal cups , or one glass cup ( so that you can see the ingredients as you add them ) that fits into a metal shaker tin .

Many home bartenders prefer a cobbler shaker , which is smaller than a Boston-style shaker and has a strainer built into the lid . That eliminates the need for a separate strainer ; the top can also serve a

NAME jigger to measure ingredients .

JIGGER . If you want to emulate the pros , you need to measure your drinks . A metal jigger typically has a 2-oz . measure on one end and 1-oz . on the other and should also have marks for ½-oz . and ¾-oz . pours .

There are different types of jiggers — for instance , the Japanese style is taller and thinner , while the Leopold jigger , inspired by vintage jiggers of the 1930s , is bell-shaped . An oversize shot glass with measurements in ounces , milliliters and tablespoons is super handy for making drinks , though it doesn ’ t look quite as elegant as a metal jigger .

MUDDLER . If you plan to make drinks that require crushing sugar cubes , herbs , fruit or vegetables , you might want a proper muddler . These can be metal or wood , and sometimes have a textured bottom for mashing .

STRAINER . If you don ’ t use a cobbler shaker , you ’ ll need a strainer . The Hawthorne strainer has a spring coil along the bottom that keeps it in the shaker to prevent ice from pouring out . A julep strainer looks sort of like a wide mini colander spoon , and works well with cocktails made in a mixing glass vs . a shaker .

MIXING GLASS . You don ’ t really need a professional mixing glass for stirred cocktails such as a Martini or Negroni . Any pitcher or glass beaker that ’ s large enough to hold the drinks will do , though a cut-glass mixing beaker does add to the presentation and looks great on a bar or bar cart .

BAR SPOON . Mixing or bar spoons are used with stirred drinks ; many recipes will call for a “ bar spoon ” measurement of some ingredients . While these typically have a long , twisted metal handle , there are different styles . The European-style bar spoon has a flat top that you can use to muddle or crush ingredients , which will save you the trouble of buying a muddler .

JUICER . Fresh juice is a must for craft cocktails , so you ’ ll want a juicer . An old-school juicer with a reamer is fine for most , but many professional bartenders like the convenience and performance of handheld citrus presses .

14 | SUMMER 2021 • CHEERS @ HOME WWW . CHEERSONLINEATHOME . COM