Reddit reviews Hiware LZS13B 12 Inches Stainless Steel Mixing Spoon, Spiral Pattern Bar Cocktail Shaker Spoon

Are you just bartending casually at home or are you looking to do it as a job in the future?

Jefferey Morgenthaler's book is great:https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Book-Elements-Cocktail-Technique/dp/145211384X

You'll want to get a jigger, I recommend oxo's graduated jigger, a barspoon, a mixing glass, a strainer, a set of shaker tins (get a small and a large, and seriously splurge for koriko not the other bullshit)

Those are all of the essentials, beyond that everything is fairly unnecessary but there are tons of other things you can buy. I guess a vegetable peeler could be handy for peels but you can just use a sharp paring knife for zest garnishes.

For glassware you can spend as much or as little as you want, depending on how much you care about appearance. When I first starting making drinks at home I had glasses for every variety of drink. I still have those glasses, but basically use these for everything, regardless if it's shaken stirred or whatever. Gimlets taste delicious out of them, manhattans taste delicious out of them.

One little handy thing I've found is these seagram's bottles. Buy a 6 pk of the little glass club soda bottles. Once you use the soda, rinse them out and they're perfect for storing syrups, juices, etc. Plastic caps won't deteriorate like metal will in other styles of bottlees. They're short so they fit in weird parts of your fridge, hold enough syrup for plenty of drinks, etc etc.

Do NOT get a cobbler. They are a pain to get apart and I haven't used one yet where the top part hasn't all but sealed shut completely. You want a metal on metal shaker. Steel has the best thermal properties and isn't ever going to break.

I personally would advise the following:

Shaker:
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Boston-Shaker-Professional/dp/B06Y2NN5N3/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501019324&sr=1-5&keywords=boston+shaker

Spoon:
https://www.amazon.com/Hiware-Inches-Stainless-Pattern-Cocktail/dp/B00IRY8CJ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501019552&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=bar+spoon&psc=1

Jigger
https://www.amazon.com/Vking-Japanese-Jigger-Stainless-Cocktail/dp/B0126GQ806/ref=sr_1_8?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501019600&sr=1-8&keywords=jigger

Strainer:
https://www.amazon.com/Winco-Stainless-Steel-4-Prong-Strainer/dp/B000H7VF64/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501019642&sr=1-4&keywords=bar+strainer

Muddler (Edit): https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Muddler-FSC-Certified-Beechwood-8-75-Inches/dp/B00KLHNH34/ref=sr_1_14?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501019848&sr=1-14&keywords=muddler

Barmat (Edit, but HIGHLY recommended): https://www.amazon.com/BonBon-Professional-Bar-Service-Mat/dp/B06X93XN69/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501019915&sr=1-4&keywords=bar+mat

yah LOL! but get a bartender spoon - we use this kind

My shopping list
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IRY8CJ2/ref=pd_aw_lpo_79_tr_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7CJ34053QY4M9818FZMH
https://www.jbprince.com/Bar-Tools/cocktail-kingdom-set-of-koriko.asp
https://www.jbprince.com/Bar-Tools/cocktail-kingdom-koriko-hawthorne-strainer.asp
https://m.crateandbarrel.com/hatch-mixing-glass/s310798?localedetail=US&ps_cid=210&a=1552&campaignid=640063196&adgroupid=29766033536&targetid=pla-352575254124&pla_sku=310798&scid=scplp310798&sc_intid=310798&scid=scplp310798&sc_intid=310798&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0vnQBRDmARIsAEL0M1m3b1PgOd54XUn3Y9AGDrTX7qr4rLHwlaTBicIkEmUujwWZJrLJvpsaAvnuEALw_wcB
World market or Crate and Barrel for glassware. If you want to go all out:  https://m.crateandbarrel.com/maxine-bar-cabinet/s554189

6 oz glasses not in these pics .. Dragon Glassware Espresso Cups,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07462824J?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

2 oz shot glasses .. JoyJolt Javaah Double Walled... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N03DSGT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Shakers and stirrer (we do mostly iced drinks) .. Premium Cocktail Shaker Set:... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073L557JF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share and Hiware LZS13B 12 Inches Stainless... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRY8CJ2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is my preferred route.

Equipment

cocktail kingdom shaken set

hiware barspoon

winco wooden muddler

A cutting board (I prefer black plastic ones, wood breaks apart and usually gets all bacterial, yech)

A cheap santoku knife

cocktail kingdom channel knife

There's the most important equipment that should last you awhile at home.

10 Bottles

1. Vodka - Sobieski, Tito's, Ketel One, meh they are all almost the same for these cheap cocktail vodkas for the most part. The key is you want an 80 proof grain vodka (not potato) for cocktails since most recipes are based around that.
   
   
2. Gin - Hendricks Gin is kind of expensive but worth it, I also advise Aviation gin if you can find it. Two different styles, but Aviation was very neutral and easy going in all the cocktails I made with it (except for classic gin Martinis, you want something like Hendricks for that).
   
   
3. Silver Rum - I always advise Flor De Cana 4 year Extra Dry if you can find it. Bacardi is okay, but it's only stocked in a bunch of bars because it's sponsoring everyone and giving them discounts. Silver Rum should be cheap and smooth in my book, I've never understood the appeal of the expensive silver rums in cocktails.
   
   
4. Bourbon - Old Granddad bonded OR four roses small batch if you want to spend a little more on quality. Don't listen to the hype. In cocktails you rarely can taste the difference between a 40 dollar bottle and a 20 dollar bottle. Maker's mark is overrated as fuck, and it's in a bunch of bars because it sponsors everyone and gives them a discount. In the price range of Maker's Mark you'd be better off getting Four Roses Single Barrel or spending a little more for Blanton's (both of which should only be used in classic old fashioned's or drank neat, since it would be a waste otherwise).
   
   
5. Reposado Tequila - I prefer the one that is most commonly associated with excellent margaritas. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado. Not Jose Cuervo Especial Gold (that shit is garbage), talking about Tradicional Reposado. It's neutral and goes in almost every tequila cocktail that calls for reposado. Reposado is the best way to make margaritas for sure. You can do it with silver/blanco but it lacks character when you do. The best margarita's in Colorado and anywhere I've been use Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado for their Margarita's and it's part of why they are so good.
   
   
6. Orange Liqueur - If you can find it, get Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao. If not, get Cointreau. Don't skimp on orange liqueur, it's very important. Shitty triple sec will ruin a drink, and only people who have no taste think that Hiram Walker is acceptable in a drink.
   
   
7. Sweet Vermouth - Carpano Antica if you can find it. Dolin Rouge Vermouth if you cannot (much cheaper but still acceptable). Buy small bottles for a home bar and refrigerate it after opening because it will start to lose it's character after a few weeks.
   
   
8. Dark Rum - Gosling's Black Seal if you can find it, if not get Myer's. Basically when some recipes call for dark or black rum, this is usually the flavor profile they are referring to.
   
   
9. Silver Tequila - Honestly, some cocktails just don't work with reposado's character so you need silver/blanco tequila. Pick up Espolon's Blanco tequila. It's cheap, smooth, and has a pretty strong agave note which is nice. Very good cocktail mixing tequila.
   
   
10. Bitters - Combining all the bitters you'll want in one category. Buy them, they will last you for years in a home bartender situation. Angostura bitters, Regan's Orange Bitters, Peychaud's Bitters, Fee Brothers Celery Bitters, and (my personal favorite) Bar Keep's Apple Bitters. These will set you back at first (costing 10-20 bucks a bottle), but they will last you a long time. Pick them up overtime.
    
    A lot of the brand suggestions in here are surprising, the other comments are suggesting typical sponsor brands a lot. I would steer clear of brands you are used to seeing at dive bars.