Tools of the Trade

You've probably noticed bartenders break our various shiny tools while preparing drinks. What exactly are they, and what are they used for? Here are some items that are commonly found in bars, and you might want to pick up to make cocktails in your home.

Shaker: A shaker is used to vigorously shake the ingredients of a cocktail with ice to rapidly chill it to the coldest possible temperature. There are generally two types of shakers: A Standard shaker, which has the strainer built into the top, or a Boston shaker, which consists of the stainless steel cup, a glass cup, and a separate strainer.

Strainer: The strainer is the strange object with the coil. You use this type of strainer with a Boston shaker to separate the cocktail from the ice used to cool it. With this type of strainer, care must be taken to always use it to strain the cocktail from the metal end of the shaker, because the metal and coils could scratch or damage the glass end.

Barspoon: A barspoon is a teaspoon-sized spoon with a very long handle that is used for stirring cocktails durectly in their glasses. (James Bond would have no use for a barspoon.) The long handle ensures that the spoon will reach to the bottom of any glass. Another use for the barspoon is to layer different types of liquors in a glass. Pouring a liquor over a spoon lets it fall into the glass more slowly and steadily than pouring from a bottle.

Muddler: A muddler is simply a long, hard tool that is used to mash ingredients, such as fruit, sugar or herbs, for drinks. Muddlers come in a wide variety of materials, from wood, to acrylic, to steel. Some have knobs or spikes on the end for better mashing of fruits.

At Joe Canal's, we have a wide variety of bar tools and accessories to help you recreate your favorite special cocktails in the comfort of your own home. We also stock an incredible inventory of mixers, juices, sodas and garnishes, from bar staples like Rose's Lime Juice or Grenadine, to more obscure ingredients like Falernum. Spice up your martini with a jalapeno stuffed olive, or try something different and pick up some olives that are stuffed with blue or feta cheese. We've got salt for your margaritas, onions for your Gibsons, bitters for your Old Fashioneds, tabasco sauce for your bloody marys and lots more!