Mixing with State Line: Tools to Start Your Home Bar
At State Line Distillery, we're passionate about empowering you to craft exceptional cocktails from the comfort of your own home using State Line Spirits. Whether you're a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or just dipping your toes into mixology, having the right tools is essential in crafting a delicious, balanced drink. Let’s explore essential tools to kickstart your home bar and elevate your cocktail game.
Jigger: Precision is key in mixology, and a jigger ensures that you're measuring your ingredients accurately & consistently every time. With dual-sided measurements, a jigger lets you pour precise amounts of spirits, liqueurs, juices, and other mixers, ensuring that your cocktails are balanced and consistent for yourself & your guests. Measurements can vary between jiggers, so find one jigger you love and stick with it.
We recommend: Cocktail Kingdom’s Leopold Jigger for style & durability and Oxo’s Steel Double Jigger for its additional ⅓ measurement, but it has no 2oz measurement.
Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker is a must-have tool for any home bartender. Whether you're shaking up a classic like a Bee’s Knees or Pegu Club or experimenting with your own creations, cocktail shakers allow you combine, aerate, and chill your citrus-based drinks to perfection. We recommend a weighted cocktail shaking tin set. Boston shakers are classic, but they are not always the easiest to operate. Consider getting a large & a small tin for quick service.
We recommend: Cocktail Kingdom’s Shakers and Bull In China Shakers
Mixing Glass & Bar Spoon: For stirred cocktails like the Old Fashioned, the Martini, and other spirit-based cocktails, a mixing glass and bar spoon are indispensable. These tools allow you to mix & chill your ingredients while preserving the clarity and texture of your drink. Invest in a quality mixing glass with a sturdy base, size depending on how many people you’ll be making cocktails for. A larger stirring vessel allows you to make multiples of the same drink at once, while a smaller stirring vessel is easier to transport & store. A long, spiral-tipped bar spoon can allow for effortless stirring; take the time to find a spoon that fits your fingers & your style.
We recommend: Bull in China “The Flagship” Mixing Glass and Cocktail Kingdom’s 40cm Teardrop Barspoon
Strainers: When it comes to straining your cocktails, there are a few options to choose from. A Hawthorne strainer is ideal for use with a cocktail shaker, allowing you to strain out ice and other solids while pouring your drink into a glass. A fine mesh strainer is necessary for removing ice shards and any undesirable bits from muddled fruit, fresh herbs, and other small particles that may have slipped through the Hawthorne’s coils. For stirred cocktails, a julep strainer fits neatly over a mixing glass to catch ice as you pour. A Hawthorne strainer can easily be used with a stirring vessel, but a julep strainer will have an easier fit & look better stylistically.
We recommend: Cocktail Kingdom’s Koriko Hawthorne Strainer, Bull in China Fine Mesh Strainer, and Cocktail Kingdom’s Premium Julep Strainer
Citrus Juicer & Knives: Fresh citrus juice is a cornerstone of many cocktails, from Gimlets to Daiquiris. A citrus juicer makes it easy to extract juice from lemons, limes, grapefruits, and more. Fresh juice is essential for ensuring that your cocktails are the best they can be. Look for a hand-held or countertop juicer that's easy to use and clean. Investing in a good chef’s knife or paring knife not only to cut fruit for juicing but also to prepare garnishes like lime wheels, lemon disks, and grapefruit slices.
We recommend: Cocktail Kingdom’s Queen Beehive Juicer, Overlord’s 3.5” Paring Knife, and Overlord’s 8” Chef’s Knife
Y-Peeler & Channel Knife: Don't forget the finishing touches! A Y-peeler is great to create peels for insertion in cocktails like Tom Collins and for expression in cocktails like a White Lady. Horizontal Y-peelers are safer and more comfortable to use while bartending. Channel knives are used to create twists like a Martini.
We recommend: Oxo’s Y-Peeler and Cocktail Kingdom’s Walnut Chanel Knife
With the right tools at your disposal, the possibilities are endless in the world of home bartending. Whether you're shaking up a classic cocktail or putting your own twist on a timeless favorite, State Line Distillery is here to provide you with the inspiration and guidance you need to craft unforgettable drinks at home.
Ready to elevate your home bar? Explore our spirits and start mixing with State Line today!
Compiled by our Bar Manager/Mixologist Mike McDonald.