Here is what I use, or at least have ready to use anytime I am at work or heading to an event or competition. Keep in mind that I adjust what I bring based on how many and which drinks I am making.

This is a sweet bag that I inherited recently when a friend moved away. A tackle box or tool box or old timey doctor’s bag should work. Lots of pens, lighters, matches and openers are kept in ziploc bags (just in case a pen leaks). I’ve got a notebook for recipes, adjustments to recipes for batching, writing down VIP’s names and any other notes you have to know for the event to run smoothly. There are also a couple of bar towels and a lewis bag in sight there.

The Basics:

Shakers and mixing glasses. There are:

4 16oz. mixing glasses (mine have super heroes on them)
3 18oz weighted and 3 18oz non-weighted “cheater” tins
3 28oz weighted and 3 18oz non-weighted Boston tins

Odds are you won’t need all of these for one event, but still nice to have them around.

Here we have:

3 Hawthorne Strainers
3 Conical Fine Mesh Strainers
1 2oz./1oz. Jigger
1 1.5oz/1oz. Jigger
1 .75oz./.5oz. Jigger

The style of strainer or jigger you use is purely personal preference. Though in the case of jiggers, I strongly recommend these sizes. There are brands of jigger out there that are scored on the inside with smaller measurements, these are pretty helpful. Remember when you buy bar tools (tattoos, cocktails, anything really) good stuff isn’t cheap and cheap stuff isn’t good.

The Stuff You Won’t Realize You Need Until You Need It:

These range from regularly used bar tools into kitchen and office supplies.

Pens and Markers (tweeking recipes, labelling bottles etc…)
Flashlight (“I wish we could find a plug?” or “Where did that pour spout go?”)
“Y” and “Channel” peelers
Paring Knife (sharpen regularly, dull knives are the ones that cut you)
Garnish Skewer (you will probably want more than one)
Scissors
Muddler (you can choose whatever style you like, but see my note above about cheap tools)
Grater/Zester/Rasp (for spices and zests. Every chef or bartender seems to have a different name for this tool)
Citrus Squeezer (this one is big enough for a small orange)
Collapsable Funnel (If you are working at a sponsored event, you may want to fill branded bottles with your juices and syrups)
Painter’s Tape (to label those brans specific bottles)
Bottle Openers
Matches and/or Lighters
Bar Spoons (again with the “pick your style”)
Tasting Spoon (this spoon has a metal shaft for “birding” and a spoon to hit all over your tongue. This is way better than wasting a box of straws per shift)
Bar Towel.

There you have it.

If you have all of these things (plus maybe an ISI and a mister or two) you have yourself a totally solid bar kit, suitable  for working most bars and events with ease.

Where do you get this stuff? Go to The Crafty Bartender website and order it. Failing that, there are kitchen supply stores everywhere, and some of these things you can find in the aisles of any grocery store.

Photos By Jessica Blaine Smith