A quick, efficient bar is one that serves customers efficiently. The key to accomplishing this is to have a well-set up bar and the essential bartending supplies.

Usually, when people are setting up a bar, bartending supplies are an afterthought. The owner’s primary concern is to find and install various bar supplies. However, ensure a bar is running smoothly, a bartender needs to have the following tools.

Bottle Opener

No matter if you are working a low or high volume bar, this handy tool is absolutely essential to a bartender’s job. Now, you might initially assume all bottle openers are equal, but not so. There are many types of bottle openers on the market. In general, go for the more expensive bottle openers – the ergonomics are better, something that can make a difference in ease of use and speed; a bartender is, after all, using this tool constantly.

Wine Opener

You can choose from a variety of cookscrew/wine openers on the market. Most bartenders agree that the best wine opener is the “waiter’s wine opener.’ It can pop out even the most difficult to remove corks.

The waiter’s wine opener includes several time-saving features into one unit: a corkscrew, a sharp metallic blade used to slice through the wine seal, and a regular bottle opener. With a waiter’s wine opener, you don’t need to fumble around with different tools – everything you need is in one small unit.

There is nothing that looks as unprofessional as a bartender fighting with a cork in front of the customers. So invest in a good wine opener!

Cocktail Shaker

These are classic bartending items that are a requirement, not an option. Alcohol and other mixes are poured into the cocktail shaker which is then shaken by the bartender.

The bartender’s rule of thumb for cocktail making is to keep it as cold as possible. The cocktail shaker allows this: ice and pre-chilled ingredients are shaken vigorously which give the resulting drink a nice chill – something that improves the flavor of the drink.

There are basically two kinds of cocktail shakers to choose from:

1) Standard Cocktail Shaker

A three piece steel shaker with a built in strainer. For some reason, this design is not popular with most bartenders. The standard cocktail shaker has a shaker tin, a lid, and a strainer plus cap. The lack of popularity is probably due to the many parts. The rule of thumb in bartending is “the simpler, the better.” Regardless, the standard cocktail shaker will mix up the cocktails just fine.

2) Boston Shaker

This is the standard shaker used by most bartenders. A simpler design over the standard shaker, the Boston is simply a shaker tin that comes with a mixing glass that fits inside. You seal the two pieces together and shake. Nice and simple.

There is a bit of a tendency among new bartenders to really twist the Boston shaker up tight and shake hard. It’s not uncommon for the bartender then to not be able to open it! A trick I’ve learned is to simply click the metal lip that overlaps the outside against the edge of the bar – this will loosen it up.

Cocktail shakers come in all types of sizes, shapes, and colors. The functionality falls into the two categories above, however.

Strainer

Another essential must have bartender item. The most common is called the Hawthorn Strainer. This tool has a handle and a spring coil. The spring coil allow you to fit it into any shaped glass.

Again, you'll find many different types of strainers on the market. But the only kind I've ever used and would want to use is the Hawthorn Strainer.

If you use a shaker, you probably don’t need to use a strainer. I usually just use a Boston Shaker and leave a little crack in the seal from which I pour out the liquid – this strains out the ice and saves a bit of time.

Bar Towel (Rag)

This is to a bartender what keys are to a jailer. Every bartender needs a nice fresh set of bar towels (bar rags as we call em’). Bartenders will always be wiping liquid off the bar with these.

Coasters

An optional bar accessory, but one good to have. Having one can prevent those wet spots on the bar. If you are using a hard wood bar tabletop, these can prevent damage to the wood. In general, it’s a pain to use a coaster each time you serve a drink.

In my experience as a bartender, 5 or so rags all placed in key areas around my work station work well.

Ice Scoop

Some bartenders have a habit of using the customer’s glass to actually scoop up the ice. This is a bad habit. If you accidently chip the glass, and you spot it, you’re going to have to empty out the ice well. If you happen to not see a chipped glass, you’re in a world of trouble if it gets served to the customer.

The solution? Just use a metal ice scoop. It’s simple and painless to do.

Jigger/Measuring Glass

If your bar allows free pouring, you won’t need this, but most bars don’t. A measuring glass helps keep serving sizes standardized – something that saves the bar owner money at the end of the day. There are automatic measuring devices and manual measuring devices to choose from.

Some people prefer the automatic measuring devices, as they are more accurate. However, they tend to be slower.

As a bartender, you have to walk the fine line between keeping your customer tip-happy by convincing them you are giving them “extra” serving amounts and not pissing off the boss. There are some tricks you can do to trick your customer into thinking that you are giving them more than you actually are – I am not suggesting you do this, but it’s not illegal and at the end of the day, your boss will be happy and you’ll have earned more tips.

Garnish Picks

These little sticks add a bit of flair to drink. Tossing one of these little suckers in a drink can make the difference between ordinary and fancy. So, keep garnish picks close at hand!

Pour Spouts

Another “measuring” accessory that bar owners love their bartenders to use. There is no reason why you shouldn’t have these on top of every bottle. These basically control the flow of the liquid as it exits the bottle. You can make it seem like you are giving the customer “more” than they really get.

There are various kinds of pour spouts.

Metal pour spouts, plastic pour spouts, neon pour spouts, slow pour spots, fast pour spouts, etc.

Yes, these are all pretty gimmicky, but they add a “twist” to the pour process. I personally like to go with the slow pour spouts to convince the customer they are getting “extra.” For shot glasses though, I use the fast spout.

Straws

Another obvious bartending supply, but it needed to be listed. You’re going to need to keep these close at hand. Why? Because by giving a customer multiple straws, you essential will be controlling the rate at which drink. The bigger the straw or more straws you give to the customer, the faster they will drink. Customers will likely buy more which means more tips for you.

Lighter/Matches/ Pens

Besides a drink, what do you think bartenders are asked the most for? If you said a pen, matches, or a lighter, you were bang on. These are essential “customer helper” items you should have close at hand. Note that you will probably not get your pen and matches back, so stock up and have enough to give away.

The Tip Jar

Ah, by far the most important bartending supply. Don’t have one, don’t get tips. The one tip I suggest here is to have a tip jar that’s tapered at the neck. This will prevent drunk (or thieving) customers from trying to swipe your tips – something that happens often when it’s busy.

These are all the bar supplies needed to keep a bar running in tip top shape. These are not “optional” bar accessories. If you own a bar, you want to make sure each bartender has access to these bartending tools. If you are a bartender, you need to make sure your boss gets these supplies. These bartending supplies will allow bartenders to be more efficient and work faster. More efficiency in a bar means more customers served. And that means more money.