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The Best Bar Set

Last updated on August 31, 2022

We looked at the top 10 Bar Sets and dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Bar Sets.

Best Bar Set

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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. Every mixologist has to start somewhere.

Our Picks For The Top Bar Sets

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

barillio Professional-Grade Stainless Steel Bar Set, 8-Piece

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barillio

Professional-Grade Stainless Steel Bar Set, 8-Piece

This bar set 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.

Overall Take

Durable, Portable SetThe velvet bag and digital cocktail book allow you to mix anywhere with this bar set.

Pros
" What we love about Elite is that they offer a lifetime satisfaction, no questions asked, guarantee on their products, showing how are confident in their materials and workmanship. Barillio is known for good customer service and a varied catalog"
Cons
"Some buyers report that the shaker leaks and the shaker top can easily get stuck. The muddler is too large to fit in the storage bag."
 Runner Up

ALOONO Complete Beginner Bar Set, 11-piece

ALOONO

Complete Beginner Bar Set, 11-piece

If you want to tend bar like the professionals, this bar set is one to consider. Tools like the tongs and muddler are elegant and effective, but the real centerpiece is the Boston Tin-style shaker. Its two tins combine for a seal that stays watertight even in high-volume conditions.

Overall Take

Professional Bar GearThis bar set is well-suited for seasoned pros.

Pros
" It is a pretty durable shaker that will not bend or break easily. The shaker is designed for high volume homes and bars."
Cons
"It is slightly more pricey than other options on this Best Bartender Set list."
 We Also Like

Appolab All-In-One Silver Bar Set, 8-Piece

Appolab

All-In-One Silver Bar Set, 8-Piece

This stainless steel bar set shines and is sure to attract the attention of your guests. The professional set not only includes an 18-ounces tin, but also a muddler, set of tongs, mixing spoon, jigger, strainer and two liquid pourers. You'll even get a handy cocktail guide to learn how to make everything from a pina colada to a cosmopolitan.

Overall Take

Accessories IncludedIn addition to having a finish that is scratchproof, this bar set is also dishwasher safe for easy clean up.

 Strong Contender

Mixology & Craft Rustic Crate Gift Bar Set, 11-Piece

Mixology & Craft

Rustic Crate Gift Bar Set, 11-Piece

Form and function are equally served by this bar set. You'll get all the basic implements along with a bottle opener and spouts for precision pouring. The rustic case makes the whole kit one you'll want to leave out on display when not in use.

Overall Take

Eye-Catching FunctionalityThis bar set is not only complete but visually impressive.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the bar sets available to purchase.
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Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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28

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Space Mazing, I Love Wine, Listamazing, Grab A Glass, Ultimate Rank Reviews.

5,138

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 10 Bar Sets and also dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Bar Sets.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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What to Look For

  • 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.

Bar Set Rankings

2. ALOONO Complete Beginner Bar Set, 11-piece

Overall Score: 9.7
Reviews Included: 5

3. Appolab All-In-One Silver Bar Set, 8-Piece

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 2

4. Mixology & Craft Rustic Crate Gift Bar Set, 11-Piece

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 3

5. Modern Mixology Stainless Steel Bar Set, 10-Piece

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

6. 34andMore Ergonomic No-Spill Bar Set, 17-Piece

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 5

7. Mixology & Craft Compact Cocktail Bar Set, 4-Piece

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 2

9. FineDine Easy Clean Complete Bar Set, 14-Piece

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 5

More to Explore

Most cocktail aficionados recognize a jigger, but why is it called that? Some say it got its name in the early days of the British navy when sailors would receive their daily ration of rum doled out in the tiny measuring cup. Apparently, the grateful seamen nicknamed it after the jiggermast, or shortest mast on the boat.

More to explore