Bar equipment and glassware

Bar equipment and glassware

BAR EQUIPMENT

Bar Utensils and Tools

  • Corkscrews: Used for opening wine bottles with a cork stopper.
  • Bottle openers: Essential for opening sealed caps on beer and soda bottles.
  • Shakers and Stirrers: Used for mixing cocktails; a shaker is used for a quick mix and chill, while stirrers are used for a slow, controlled mix.
  • Bar Spoon: A long spoon for stirring and layering cocktails.
  • Ice scoop: Used to handle ice cubes, ensuring hygiene is maintained.
  • Cocktail strainer: Used to separate the liquid from solid ingredients in a mixed drink.
  • Jiggers: This two-sided tool measures spirits; one side typically holds one shot of alcohol, and the other side usually holds a double.
  • Muddler: This tool crushes fruits, herbs or spices in cocktails.
  • Speed Pourers: These are put onto liquor bottles to pour rapidly and consistently.
  • Cutting board and knife: Used for cutting garnishes such as lemon slices or mint leaves.

Small Equipment

  • Blender: For making smoothies, frozen cocktails or crushing ice.
  • Ice machine: Generating a consistent supply of ice is crucial in a busy bar.
  • Beer taps: Used for dispensing draft beer.
  • Bar mats: Rubber mats collect spilled liquid and provide a non-slip surface.
  • Refrigeration units: Essential for keeping beer, wine and mixers chilled.
  • Glasswasher: Ensures glassware is clean and ready for use. Some bars will have manual glass cleaning equipment if no machine is available.

GLASSWARE

  • Pint and Half Pint Glasses: Mostly used for serving beer in the UK.
  • Highball Glass: A tall, straight glass used for long drinks with a higher ratio of mixer to spirit.
  • Lowball Glass/ Old Fashioned Glass/Lounge Glass: Used for spirits served on the rocks (with ice), shots, and short cocktails.
  • Martini Glass: Used for served-up cocktails (without ice) like Martinis.
  • Margarita Glass: Used for margaritas and some desserts.
  • Shot Glass: Used for serving measures of spirits neat or concocted shots.
  • Wine Glasses: Come in red and white variances, the shape of the glass affects the taste and aroma of the wine.
  • Champagne Flute: Tall and narrow, it is used for serving Champagne and other sparkling wines.
  • Brandy Snifter/ Brandy Balloon: Used for brandy; its shape helps concentrate aromas.

Recognising the correct glassware and equipment for each drink helps to provide a high standard of service. It’s necessary to know how to use bar tools appropriately to create a variety of drinks, and aware of the crucial role that equipment maintenance has on the effectiveness of the bar and the quality of the drinks served.