From throwing the ultimate cocktail party to mixing your favorite nightcap in your kitchen, bartending sets are a must-have item for any home. We love them for mixing mocktails and cocktails, adding a touch of class and flair to a kitchen or bar, and being the ultimate entertaining sidekick. Thankfully, like a good bottle of whiskey, you don’t have to break the bank to get a quality product. We’ve found bartending sets that are not only affordable, they include bartending accessories you’ll actually use regardless of how fancy (or simple) your favorite drink is to make.
The sets we’ve included on our list are all slightly different, but one thing they have in common is that they are all comprised of items that are commonly used in bars. Shot glasses? Check. Shakers? Of course. American-style jigger? That’s the only way we like to measure our drinks.
Bartending sets are not only an excellent gift for yourself, but they also make a great housewarming gift, birthday or retirement gift. The collections on our list come with high-end packaging, making them beautiful to show off on your counter and to give as a present.
Bartending sets are a great way to properly mix mocktails and cocktails and they also help to ensure you’re not overserving yourself or guests, with the various measuring instruments included in each set giving a precise measurement of how much alcohol is going into each drink. We’re all for a healthy buzz, but you also want your drinks to taste good — not just be full of alcohol.
If you’re ready to (responsibly) step up your at-home drinking game, these are the bartending sets that will help you cheers like a pro.
1. NauZone Professional Bartender Kit
Featuring 14 stainless steel professional grade pieces, the NauZone Professional Bartender Kit will have you slinging drinks like a pro in no time. The NauZone includes 14 stainless steel bar accessories that are restaurant-grade, including a large 28 oz Boston Shaker, a 16 oz cheater cup, a double-sided American-style Jigger, a Hawthorne strainer and more. We also like that the NauZone also includes ice tongs. The collection is dishwasher-safe and won’t rust if left to air dry.
Pros: The NauZone comes in a heavy-duty carrying case that makes it easy to store or give as a gift.
Cons: Items like the jigger could be improved upon with labels for easy measurements.
2. FineDine Expert Cocktail Shaker Home Bar Set
The Manhattan-style cocktail kit from FineDine is comprised of 14 bar staples, including 15 oz. and 30 oz. shaker tins and two 2 oz. shot glasses. The FineDine kit is a professional grade cocktail set that comes with the most commonly used bar items, including a 0.75 and 1.25 oz double jigger, a bottle opener, six pour spouts to attach to your most widely use liquors and a red knob bar spoon. Like the NauZone, the FineDine is also dishwasher-safe.
Pros: We like that the shaker is made from metal, which won’t retain odors and helps to keep the liquor cold. The kit is easy to pack up and store or take with you to parties or a vacation home thanks to the space-saving design, with almost all parts fitting into the shaker.
Cons: Unlike the NauZone, the shakers in the FineDine aren’t weighted. The shakers don’t create a tight seal, which can make it difficult to mix drinks.
3. Elite Cocktail Shaker Set Bartender Kit by Barillo
Bring the party wherever you go with the Elite Cocktail Shaker Set Bartender Kit by Barillo. All the items in the kit conveniently fit into a large shaker, which can be carried in the black velvet bag included. The Barillo kit includes essential bar accessories, like a 24 oz SST Cobbler shaker, a mojito muddler, a mixing spoon, double Jigger, and two liquor pourers. Like the NauZone and FineDine, the Barillo is also dishwasher-safe.
Pros: We like that the Barillo also comes with a pocket booklet and e-book complete with drink recipes.
Cons: The Barillo is one of the smaller sets on our list and doesn’t include items like a bottle opener, wine opener, or shot glass. The shaker can be challenging to open, especially when it has been chilled.
4. Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit
For a bartending set that doubles as an eye-catching piece of décor, we recommend the Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit. The beautiful kit can be kept on display when not in use thanks to its modern and earthy bamboo stand that won’t scratch your stainless-steel alloy tools. The set includes bartending staples, including a double-sided jigger, a Mojito muddler, a mixing spoon, a Hawthorne strainer, two liquor pourers, ice tongs, a double lever corkscrew, and a rustproof 24-ounce cocktail shaker. Mixology & Craft also includes access to an online cocktails catalog with every order.
Pros: Customers can choose from three chic colors to match their décor, including black-bamboo, gold and silver, shown here.
Cons: The Mixology & Craft comes with a big price tag.
5. X-cosrack Bar Set
Your head won’t be the only thing spinning after a few strong drinks while using the X-cosrack Bar Set. Using a lazy Susan style stand, the X-cosrack makes it easy for users to keep their bartending set organized and quickly grab the tools they need to make their favorite mixed drink. Using 304 stainless steel to create durable tools, the 18-piece X-cosrack set features an impressive array of commonly used bartending items, including two jiggers, five spout pourers, a corkscrew, a mixing spoon, ice tongs, a muddler, a strainer, a beer opener and a 24-ounce shaker. A cocktail menu will help users perfect their guest’s drink order and all the items included are dishwasher safe.
Pros: The X-cosrack also includes four stainless steel straws that can be reused.
Cons: The X-cosrack is not a portable option and wouldn’t be a good fit for people looking for a set they can take with them to parties or on trips.
6. Cocktail Shaker Bar Set by VinoBravo
Measure drinks with precision using the Cocktail Shaker Bar Set by VinoBravo. The VinoBravo set includes a double-sided Japanese jigger, which includes measuring lines that indicate 0.5, 1, 1.5- and 2-ounce pours, helping users measuring their drinks effectively and safely. A 28-ounce and 18-ounce tin combine to make a large weighted shaker. Made with premium-quality food-grade 304 stainless steel, the VinoBravo set includes several bartending standards, including two liquor pourers, an 8-inch ice muddler, a 12-inch mixing spoon and ice tongs. The set arrives in an attractive box that makes this an ideal option for gifts.
Pros: Ideal for mixed drinks, the VinoBravo comes with three types of strainers, including a Julep, a Hawthorne and a fine mesh strainer.
Cons: The items are not scratch proof.
7. ecoZen Lifestyle Cocktail Set
Keep your workspace neat and tidy with the ecoZen Lifestyle Cocktail Set. The 11-piece set includes the standard must-haves for an at-home bar, including a bar-grade stainless steel cocktail shaker, an ice tong, a corkscrew, two liquor pourers, a muddler, a cocktail strainer, a double-sided jigger and a bar spoon for mixing drinks. Like the Mixology & Craft set, the ecoZen also comes with an attractive bamboo stand that helps keep the set organized and doubles as a décor piece that can sit out on countertops and bars. A cocktail recipe book will help users get started with their new set.
Pros: The ecoZen is the only set on our list that comes with a rubber mat that can easily be wiped clean and used to help catch spills and stop sticky liquors from discoloring tables and counters. The items are also dishwasher friendly for fast and easy cleaning.
Cons: The ecoZen has a high price tag and is not as portable as other options on our list.