Love Food Editors - The Art of Mixology

Cocktail shakers come in several sizes; choose one that can hold at least 16 ounces.

Look for one that has a double lid, which incorporates a perforated strainer. If yours does not have an integral strainer, you will need a separate one.

This is used for making stirred cocktails. You can use any large container or pitcher, or you can buy professional mixing glasses. A bar or Hawthorn strainer is the perfect tool to prevent ice and other ingredients from being poured from the shaker or mixing glass into the serving glass. This long-handle spoon is used for stirring cocktails in a mixing glass. This hourglass-shape cocktail measuring device often has a standard jigger measure of 1 ounces on one end and 1 ounce, or a pony, on the other end; 1 (fluid) ounce is the same as 2 tablespoons. This hourglass-shape cocktail measuring device often has a standard jigger measure of 1 ounces on one end and 1 ounce, or a pony, on the other end; 1 (fluid) ounce is the same as 2 tablespoons.

As long as you keep the proportions of the various ingredients the same, you can use a jigger of another sizeit is the porportions, not the specific quantities, that are crucial.

This miniature masher is used for crushing ingredients, such as herbs, in the bottom of a glass. You can also use a mortar and pestle. Equipment that is useful includes: a corkscrew, a citrus reamer and zester, cutting boards, knives, pitchers, ice buckets and tongs, and a blender for creamy cocktails and slushes. Optional extras include cocktail toothpicks, swizzle sticks, and straws. This glass is based on the earlier champagne coupe that was originally used for serving bubbly. This glass is based on the earlier champagne coupe that was originally used for serving bubbly.

The wide bowl is perfect for adding salt to the rim, making it the ideal glass, of course, for serving Margaritas.

The shape of this large, short-stemmed glass is said to resemble the hurricane lamp, from which it gets its name. It was originally used for the famous Hurricane cocktail at Pat OBriens bar in New Orleans, but today its more usually associated with exotic frozen and blended cocktails. The tapered shape of this tall, thin glass is designed to reduce the surface area of the liquid, keeping the champagne bubbly for longer. Highball glasses are tall and suitable for simple drinks that have a high proportion of mixer to liquor. The terms old-fashioned, rocks, and lowball are often used to refer to short, squat glasses with a heavy bottom. The terms old-fashioned, rocks, and lowball are often used to refer to short, squat glasses with a heavy bottom.

They are perfect for holding ice and are used to serve any liquor on the rocks. They are also useful for short mixed drinks.

A home-bar essential, the shot glass holds just enough liquid to be downed in a single mouthful. Shot glasses have thick bottoms so that they can withstand being slammed on the bar.