barillio Bartender Kit, 8-Piece
Last updated date: January 29, 2020
DWYM Score
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We looked at the top Bar Sets and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Bar Set you should buy.
Editor's Note January 29, 2020:
Checkout The Best Bar Set for a detailed review of all the top bar sets.
Overall Take
The barillio Bartender Kit is a stainless steel, machine washable set that should equally serve the needs of amateur drinkmakers or seasoned mixologists. If you need inspiration, the kit includes a recipe book in both pocket reference and e-book format. The velvet bag makes for a cozy grab-and-go container, and the company offers a lifetime guarantee on the set.
In our analysis of 28 expert reviews, the barillio barillio Bartender Kit, 8-Piece placed 1st when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
Cocktail shaker LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE SECRET… Any mixologist knows that a superb cocktail requires more skill than just pouring spirit with soda into a shaker. Want to get the full potential of flavors out of your cocktails, but don't know how to start? You MUST have the right premium bar tools! (SPOILER: WE HAVE THEM FOR YOU!) bar set After many years of experience behind the bar (using hundreds of barware accessories), Barillio crew assembled most essential top-grade bar tools with fair offering: Amateur or experienced mixologist - this cocktail set is perfect for you! Stainless steel shaker Quality, Not Quantity Our solid, ergonomic bar equipment is made of heavy gauge, 304-grade stainless steel with high end finish. martini shaker bartender kit Sweet Bonus #1 - Smooth Carry Bag The perfect way to carry your equipment to friends and parties and show your bartending skills away from home. No more losing bar essentials (even when you're tipsy...)! Keeps all tools clean when it’s not being used and prevent it getting scratched. TAKE YOUR COCKTAIL GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Elite mixology bar tools for home bartenders 24 oz cocktail shaker - RUSTPROOF stainless steel grade. Including a built-in strainer for holding back ice when pouring. Muddler - Maximize the true flavors of herbs, spices and fruits. Mixing spoon - features a spiral pattern design that gives you a steady, firm grip and makes drink mixing easier than ever. 2 Pourers - The sleek liquor pourers were designed to fit into most standard-sized alcohol bottles. Jigger - Two-sided (O.5/1 oz) to insure proper balance in your cocktails. Shaking cocktail All Cocktail Mixing Basics in ONE Set Shaking Shaking cocktail Shaking Mixing cocktail Muddling Shaking cocktail Pouring Shaking cocktail Mixing & Straining Sweet Bonuses #2 and #3 cocktail kit
Expert Reviews
Expert Summarized Score
User Summarized Score
What experts liked
What experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
1. barillio Bartender Kit, 8-Piece
2. Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit, 11-Piece
3. ALOONO Cocktail Shaker Bar Set, 11-piece
4. Appolab Cocktail Shaker Bar Set, 13-Piece
5. Mixology & Craft Bar Kit, 10-Piece
6. Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit, 10-Piece
7. 34andMore Bar Set, 17-Piece
8. Mixology & Craft Cocktail Shaker Set, 4-Piece
9. FineDine Cocktail Shaker Bar Set, 14-Piece
10. Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit, 14-Piece
An Overview On Bar Sets
When friends are on the way to your place, anyone can stock the fridge with a few beers and wine bottles. What truly elevates a get-together into a party are cocktails. Mixing drinks shows that you care about your guests, and even when you’re not entertaining, it’s always nice to have the option to make yourself a nice martini or mai tai to cap off a long work week.
Of course, it takes more than just the booze. A good set of bartending tools makes the whole process of mixing a drink into a ritual to look forward to.
If you’ve never owned a home bar set, don’t be intimidated. You likely won’t need the entire arsenal of gadgets you see behind the bar at a fancy cocktail lounge, but there are a few essentials that every good home bartender should own.
First and foremost, there’s the shaker. Shaking drinks is the flashiest, most physical part of any cocktail preparation — and also the messiest if you don’t know what you’re doing. Amateurs might want to stick with a cobbler shaker, which is a drink container covered with a tight-fitting lid. The lid usually incorporates a cap with a strainer, so you can easily filter ice and other solids out as your pour.
The version you’ll see most commercial bartenders using is the Boston shaker, which is essentially two cups (usually metal), one smaller than the other. Making a watertight shaker out of the two — and pulling them apart to strain the drink — takes a bit of practice, but nothing says “I know my cocktails” more surely than doing it right.
Another must-have implement is a good jigger. That’s the tiny, double-ended cup bartenders use to portion out their liquor, and they come in two standard measurements: One ounce on one side, 1/2-ounce on the other; or 1 1/2 ounces on one side and 3/4-ounce on the other. Let the usual serving size of your drinks dictate the type you want to use.
Even if your shaker incorporates a built-in strainer, you’ll usually want a full-size strainer — especially if you plan on mixing drinks with a lot of fresh fruit, mint or other solid ingredients. The most common and effective type is the Hawthorne strainer, a perforated disk that’s fitted with a metal spring. It should fit snugly onto the shaker cup and makes light work out of filtering those tropical drinks. There’s also a Julep strainer, a simplified version that’s basically a perforated spoon that fits over the top of pint glasses. Need to filter the juice out of some seed-heavy fruits? You might also want a set with a mesh strainer, which is harder to find but effective at keeping seeds and leaves out of your drink.
Last but not least on the basic bar kit all-stars is the bar spoon. It’s a long spoon with a spiral handle, made specifically for stirring drinks without unduly bubbling up or “bruising” the alcohol. American, European and Japanese bar spoons offer subtle variations on the same basic design, but all of them will do the job.
Beyond those absolute musts, there is a wide array of tools that will make your bartending experience easier (or just more fun to watch). They include pour spouts, muddlers, wine keys, ice tongs, or even ice mallets (for making your own fresh-crushed ice). Let your experience level be the guide, and don’t be afraid to try some of these tools out even if you’ve never used them before. Evey mixologist has to start somewhere.
The Bar Set Buying Guide
- You want your bar tools to look good, and there are many options out there to suit any style. But when it comes to materials, you should stick with the classics. Most bar sets (and especially shakers) are made out of stainless steel for good reason. It doesn’t rust, it’s easily cleaned in a dishwasher and it won’t hold onto smells from those fruity drinks you mixed the night before. You can find copper shakers and jiggers out there, but unless you don’t mind cleaning them frequently, stainless steel is the way to go.
- Flair aside, making drinks is a lot like baking: Follow the recipe and you can’t go too wrong. That goes for the ingredients as well as the way they’re mixed. Shaking a drink that’s meant to be gently stirred will result in a vastly different experience.
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