(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best bar & wine tools

Not Cocktail of the Week #29: Cakeday Special – Home Bar Edition
It's been a little over half a year since I started writing this weekly "Not Cocktail of the Week" column, so for my reddit cakeday, which conveniently coincides with my birthday earlier this month, I thought I'd take an opportunity to do something different and share my home bar setup along with the new upgrades/acquisitions I got for my birthday.

My Bar
Everyone’s bar is individual and unique, a reflection of their personality, a testament to their tastes. My bar currently utilizes a built-in cabinet unit in our apartment, which worked out wonderfully, despite my initial hesitation, and ultimately gives me more room than I would’ve had in a prebuilt unit. My actual “bar top” is relatively small; I conduct almost all my work on a small hand towel to keep spills and splashes to a minimum, with the photos you see every week staged on the clean area to the right. I only keep the essentials in my actual work space, which is comprised of two pint glasses, a makeshift “Yarai” glass (one day I’ll be able to justify buying a real one), cocktail shaker tins, jiggers, recipe books for inspiration, and my personal notebook.
At eye level above my bar I keep the essential bitters (Angostura, Peychaud’s and orange) and a couple fancy boutique bitters that a friend brought me from Boston. Behind the bitters are small infusions and various homemade “brandied” cherries in small jam jars. My ice bucket and cocktail tray (gifts from the wedding registry) are kept in the center section of the cabinet, though I only find need of it for entertaining. Above all of this are most of my coupe glasses; we acquired a lot for our wedding (hooray for thrift stores) and ultimately ended up keeping a good majority of them. It’s surprisingly useful when entertaining to have a surplus of clean glasses because you don’t have to worry about running out or not being able to offer guests a fresh glass for a cocktail.
To the left of my workspace, I keep the large bottles of “well” spirits for general mixing purposes (bourbon and gin being my spirits of choice), a large bottle of vodka for infusions, and a Sodastream machine, which is used to make fresh soda water. Above these items reside the glassware I use a little less frequently such as Glencairn glasses for proper appreciation of Scotch, some small decanters for serving premixed cocktails while entertaining, Collins glasses, short stubby “Martini” glasses aka Cosmo glasses, and even more coupes glasses (we have a lot).
Underneath my workspace are all my spirits, which I keep in a closed cabinet to avoid any potential degradation from sunlight. From left to right my bottles are organized roughly in the following categories: Scotch, bourbon/rye, brandy/tequila, rum, gin, amaro/herbal liqueurs, sweet liqueurs, and wine. Keeping them in the dark can make it difficult to find bottles in the evening (I took these pictures in the middle of the day), so I have recently installed the first of my birthday presents, a couple motion sensing LED lights. Despite knowing the general location of each of my bottles, it is nice to have the visual aspect while reaching in to grab something.

Cocktail Shakers
Let’s now talk a little about an essential item in any bar, the cocktail shaker. Cocktail shakers come in two standard styles, known as the cobbler shaker and the Boston shaker. A cobbler shaker is a 3-piece affair, comprised of a large bottom tin, a lid with built in strainer, and a cap. The benefits of a cobbler shaker are the strainer is built in and it allows for the Japanese “hard shake” due to its relatively compact size. However its compactness is also its main drawback as you generally will only be able to properly prepare one cocktail at a time. A Boston shaker is what you will typically find at a bar and is comprised of 2 pieces, usually a heavy mixing glass (indistinguishable from a good pint glass) and a metal shaking tin. The cocktail is measured in the mixing glass, the shaking tin is then firmly applied to the top to seal it, and the cocktail is then strained from the shaking tin with the use of a Hawthorne strainer. The Boston shaker will generally have a much larger volume available for mixing, which is beneficial for both making multiple servings of a cocktail at once, and for better aeration while shaking. Some people can find it tricky to separate the two halves of a Boston shaker, but generally a solid slap with the palm of your hand on either side will do the trick.
I purchased my first real cocktail shaker about 3 years ago after experimenting with making cocktails with my dad’s kitschy firetruck set (cobbler shaker was the body, ladder were ice tongs, “hoses” were stirring rods, pail was “jigger”, etc.). I purchased this shaker after some research, feeling like a Boston shaker would be a good long term investment. In retrospect it seems expensive, but it did serve me honorably for the last few years. Some of you may have noticed that recently the very useful measuring glass (great quality since the paint markings have never chipped or worn away) developed a pretty significant crack and started chipping, which I solved by substituting with my favorite pint glass. Regardless, I figured my birthday would be a good opportunity to get a new shaker set and so I acquired the Koriko shaker tins from Cocktail Kingdom which are much cheaper, basically indestructible and beautiful to boot. I’m sure I will be using these for at least the next 3 years.

Jiggers
There are two camps in the cocktail world, those that free pour and those that use jiggers. As a home enthusiast, speed is not a concern, but accuracy and reproducibility are more important, so I fall firmly in the camp of those that use jiggers. For as long as I have been a cocktail enthusiast, I never actually got around to buying some real jiggers. A lot of the jiggers on Amazon, while cheap, their quality seems dubious (at least judging from the reviews). I’ve gotten used to using a 5 oz. measuring glass (surprisingly convenient for mixing multiple cocktails) and a 2 oz. measuring cup, which have really taken a beating over the years. So in addition to the new Koriko cocktail shaker, I also ordered the Cocktail Kingdom jiggers, trusting them to provide a quality product. The new jiggers seem quite nice with a good solid feeling to their construction and imprinted measurements that should never wear away.

Ice
In addition to a cocktail shaker and jiggers, ice is another essential component of making a cocktail (unless you exclusively drink toddies or something). It is important to use the best ice possible as the water component of a cocktail comprises anywhere from 20-33% of the final drink. Therefore in order to avoid any “off” flavors that may exist in your ice, start with filtered/purified water and keep your ice in a sealed container (where do you think all the liquid from freezer burn goes?). While almost any old fashioned ice cube tray will work to make solid cubes of ice, I got a red Tovolo ice cube tray for my birthday which matches my Tovolo KING cube tray. It doesn’t really perform any differently than the old ice cube tray I had (other than being a lot harder to get cubes out), but the perfect cubes do add some aesthetic appeal to drinks served long.

Other Tools
I picked up a couple tools that have been missing from my arsenal, a julep strainer and a channel knife. A julep strainer is traditionally used in conjunction with a Yarai glass to strain ice after mixing. Unfortunately my makeshift “Yarai” stand-in is a bit too wide to properly use the julep strainer I got, so I guess I will just have to wait until I can buy a Yarai glass from Cocktail Kingdom. A channel knife is necessary to make the thin and pretty spiral twists for garnishing. I’ve not been able to make those before, so hopefully you’ll be seeing those in NCotW in the future. I also included a picture of the tools that I regularly use and keep close at hand in my bar. From left to right they are: cocktail picks, bottle opener, citrus reamer, new channel knife, fine strainer, paring knife, muddler, and bar spoon. The one important thing of note is to always buy unfinished wood products for things like a citrus reamer or muddler. Varnished/finished wood is beautiful, but with use the varnish/stain will slowly chip/fade away into your cocktails.

Reading
Finally, a brief note about the books I have been reading. I received a copy of Tony Coligniaro’s new book The Cocktail Lab, which is a beautiful book suitable for the coffee table and filled with inspirational modern cocktails. However, between currently reading David Embury's "The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks" and David Wondrich's "Imbibe!", I haven't had much opportunity to dig into it and try any of his drinks. I’ve only heard good things about the book, so I look forward to reading through it and learning from him.

Cheers!
Hopefully you’re not all too disappointed to not be reading about a proper cocktail this week, I’ll be back next week with a double header to make up for this deficit. I’d love to hear about your home bar setups, preferred bar tools, or anything you think I may have missed. Writing this week’s column was a lot harder than expected, as it fell outside of my usual format. In any case, thanks to all for your continued support of this feature, and until next week, cheers!

I would never go for a manhattan shaker. They are notorious for locking up, as soon as there's a bit of liquid in the cracks (unless you buy really expensive japanese ones). They are also harder to clean than the simple two cups of a boston shaker, and the extra strainer isn't really hard to use.

I haven't used a parisian shaker, but that seems like it could do fine, but might lock up on you.


My own kit is made of a lot of individual stuff. Some from amazon, some from local shop, and some from china. If you want, I can do a writeup of where i got it, but since it's from china, it will take a month before you will receive the goods. However, the guys behind AbarAbove.com recently launched their quality bar tools line. They have a complete set of tools, which all seem to be of great quality. They have only gotten 5-star reviews so far: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVY7VMH. It's $63 for the complete set.

Or you can just buy their boston shaker for $20, and this excellent strainer from OxO ($7), along with this measuring cup ($5)

Then you have a pretty good starter set. A fine strainer can be bought in most dollar stores locally for next to nothing, or you can find one on amazon. They are pretty much all the same, but it isn't really required if you're just starting out. I also have a bar spoon, a mixing glass and a muddler, but to be honest, I rarely use them. If you need to muddle something, use a wooden spoon or something. If you decide you really need one, look for one which is at least 6 inches long, to avoid bashing your knuckles on the edges of the shaker, or google "morgenthaler homemade muddler".

Hope your GF will be happy with your gift!


EDIT: Missed the part about you being from UK. Here's an updated list. I'll let the other one be for any americans who might wander through here.

• Shaker: Homekeros sems to have a good one. (£16, £19 with a strainer) The strainer looks fine.
  
• Shaker (alternative): If budget is a concern, then the Mezclar Tin on Tin Boston Shaker (£6) looks fine. One reviewer said, however, that the small tin was so tiny, it almost dropped to the bottom before making a seal. The other 9 reviews are happy with it though. Still, It's an amazing price!
  
• Strainer: The OXO strainer (£5.43 + £3.19 S+H)
  
• Measuring Cup: OXO angles measuring cup (£4.25)
  
• Citrus juicer: I kind of forgot about it in the main post, but this is a tool that get used every time I use the shaker and sometimes also just for cooking. Very useful. I recommend the Chef'n freshforce citrus juicer (£22.32)
  
  Seeing as there is a shipping charge, I probably wouldn't go for the OXO Strainer unless there's something else that you need from the american amazon. The one from the Homekeros set should be adequate.

I generally recommend getting great accessories, instead of wine itself. I've often been gifted wine by people who aren't into it; of course, I completely appreciate the gifts, but often they're just not to my taste.

Here are a few accessories that I love, that I think would be a great gift for someone who doesn't have them:

• Decanter
  
• High-quality double-hinged corkscrew (doesn't have to be expensive; I use this one at work and it's awesome
  
• An Ah So opener, if he's into older wine.
  
• Ice buckets or marble wine chillers
  
• Nice stemware
  
  If you must get wine, I will say that the only wine I'm always happy to receive as a gift is Champagne.

I wasn’t a fan of the original powder, took effort to finish a serving and I was glad when it was done, loved the bottles in comparison, but I am drinking lots of cacao powder now with bottles sitting unopened, enjoying it and almost wishing for more when I finish like with the bottles.

I like it with lots of water so I don’t have to drink additional water, but you can make it thick if you want. The shaker bottle mixes it quick and easy and a plenty smooth without overnight refrigeration like you used to have to do to get the powder to be at its best.

I find these contigo shaker bottles with the heavy ball to work better than the blender bottle with the metal whisk ball, but blender bottle works pretty well too. They sell them at Walmart too in the sports section.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LX6VHM0

Ok, here's what I did... and I recommend doing this right before you leave (the night before should be fine), because if you hold onto it a few days the alcohol will evaporate a noticeable amount.

Note: We were allowed two wine bottles (750ml each) per stateroom but... Fuck wine, Everclear is better.

Step 1: Buy a bottle of Woodbridge brand wine (dark wine bottles work best, i think) - http://www.epermarket.com/Resource/ProductPic/P46/WZ02040004L.jpg

The top should look like the bottle in the picture, no foil covering or anything.

Step 2: Acquire one of these - https://www.amazon.com/Vinara-Bottle-Opener-Remover-Pressure/dp/B00H22W5ZC?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Step 3: Acquire Krazy Glue

Step 4: Acquire bottle of Everclear, or equivalent. (unopened is best, so the volume matches)

Step 5: Remove the small "seal" at the top of the Woodbridge cork. It's easy as pie, I used a safety pin.

Step 6: Use air pump to remove cork. (The air pump is used because it has a needle that goes straight down)

Do not remove cork unless you're ready to refill the bottle. If you remove the cork and let it sit outside the bottle for a few days it will expand slightly and become VERY difficult to put back in the bottle. Learn from my mistakes.

Step 7: Empty wine into another container.

Step 8: Carefully pour Everclear (or equivalent) into wine bottle. If it's anything like here in Georgia, they'll be the same volume (750ml).

Step 9: Push/hammer the cork back into the wine bottle. A dime works just right to help nudge it those few extra millimeters past the top of the cork (place dime on cork and use something thin and sturdy, like a nail, to transfer the force of the hammer to the dime).

(Also make sure the cork is facing in the same direction as it originally was. Again, learn from my mistakes!)

Step 10: Use Krazy glue to attach the "seal" back onto the top of the cork.

Step 11: Keep bottles upright as long as possible, as the alcohol will eat away at the cork material and it'll be floating around in the bottle... Thrice now, please learn from my mistakes!

Step 11: CONGRATULATIONS!! Your bottle should appear the same as it originally did on the shelf!

Side note: I packed a regular corkscrew so nobody got any funny ideas while going through security.

Even though the cork was facing the wrong direction, the alcohol had evaporated slightly (different levels in the two wine bottles I had), and there were bits of cork floating around in the bottle... We still made it through without a hitch.

I'd search for a Bartenders Kit - something like this - to get a good sense of what equipment you might want for the types of drinks you'll be making. I definitely wouldn't buy one of those kits because they're almost always crap, but just for reference.

Basics that I have in my bar are:

• mixing tins (I like the full-metal ones, others prefer the Boston Shakers w/ the glass)
  
• a stainless bar strainer
  
• a layering spoon/tool (yes, I have the turtle)
  
• a long cocktail spoon for stirring drinks
  
• some cocktail rimmers for rimming margaritas, lemon drops, etc.
  
• some jiggers for your higher-end stuff and pour-spouts for the basic stuff
  
• and a wine key + decanter + aerator if you're into wine (plus a vacuum pump for bottles you don't finish off right away).
  
  I just included the links for reference - you'll probably want to search a little for the highest-quality tools, because you really don't want flimsy stuff.
  
  For glassware, I like to just pick out unique stuff that I find in my travels, but I have all the basics - rocks glasses, highball glasses, long-stem martini glasses, margarita glasses, pint glasses, Guinness glasses, a couple of snifters, and a Chimay glass.
  
  For the booze it's kind of up to you, but just think about what liquor types a bar has in its speed-well for your base, and then just add higher-end, unique stuff from there. I always have a nice vodka, rum, tequila, gin, bourbon, irish whiskey, cognac, and brandy in the cabinet.
  
  Then I have the popular mixers/liquers - Grand Marnier (skip the Triple Sec and get the good stuff), Bailey's, Kahlua, Amaretto, Limoncello, Frangelico, Chambord, White/Dark Creme de Cacao, Blue Curacao, Sweet/Dry Vermouth, sour mix and simple syrup, soda + tonic, juices, Fireball, various Schnapps, etc.
  
  And then from there I just gradually collect bottles of high-end stuff that will get sipped slowly and dress the bar up a bit. Just picked up a bottle of Kraken that has one of the cooler labels I've ever seen (and tastes pretty damn good, too).
  
  Have fun!

To get started in glassware, I would keep it simple. I find that most drinks can be successfully executed with two types of glassware: a 5oz coupe/cocktail glass and an old fashioned/rocks glass. I consider a Collins glass to be optional, as I personally don't like drinking out of them (they're typically served with a straw which is wasteful). I'll often use an 11oz double old-fashioned glass in its place.

In terms of brands I own several sets of the Luminarc Barcraft series coupes (available on Amazon). I like them because they're a fair price, which is great because I don't have to feel bad if one breaks. I also have the highballs which are also pretty decent.

If you're looking for higher end, I really like the New York Bar series from Stolzle. You can checkout the whole line here.

I personally use a Top Shelf shaker which I really like. Feels much nicer then some of the cheaper ones. The strainer I have is from Modern Mixologist. After having so many of the cheaper ones break, I decided to get one that I hopefully wouldn't have to replace. So far its been great and I enjoy using it.

The other tools I would consider getting is a meddler, a fine mesh strainer, a mixing glass, and a bar spoon!

edited: typo

I'll just go ahead and list a few of the things I use on a regular basis.

Koriko shakers are awesome. They look cool and function amazingly. Good investments. End of story.
http://www.cocktailkingdom.com/Koriko-set-of-2-Weighted-Tins-large-and-sma-p/sha_korikoxxxx_0028_set.htm

I prefer using a julep strainer over a hawthorne strainer, it works fine for me when I'm not muddling things into the drink I don't want served.
http://amzn.com/B001VZAMPQ
http://amzn.com/B000H7VF64

Get speed pourers. Even if you don't plan on free-pouring, they're nice to have a more standardized pouring speed so you can pour out of an entirely full bottle without worrying about spilling too much.
http://amzn.com/B002J8RRAM

A cheap bar spoon is an awful experience. A decent bar spoon is fine. An overpriced barspoon is (generally) just overpriced metal. However, the Tanqueray spoons and the Standard Spoon on kickstarter are actually pretty nice quality stuff. But that said, almost everyone I've met likes the regular old bar spoon.
http://amzn.com/B000VQOP5O
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/workofmyhands/standard-spoon-for-craft-cocktails

Have a jigger on hand, even if you free pour. Just for when you have nicer ingredients and want to try out a drink with them and would rather have the proportions right than have to revive the drink.
http://amzn.com/B00080B07Y

I make a lot of bitters myself or super small batch infusions, so having a set of mason jars on hand has been extremely helpful.

I use cheapo squirt bottles ( http://amzn.com/B007OM9W2E ) to store simple syrup or other infused simple syrup.

If you get super into infusions and stuff like that, I've heard a lot of good things about the iSi system; I have a friend with one, he absolutely loves his. I have to admit, it takes a lot of work and patience out of infusion. As well as whipped cream, or carbonating things, or what have you... now I might want to get one.

These two items are somewhat paired (at least for me) -- a water filter and an ice tray. For ice, I'm talking like the Tovolo King Size ice trays. Water filter -- doesn't matter, as long as it filters from what I can tell.
http://amzn.com/B00395FHRO

Something that's nice to have on hand so you can double-strain is a fine-mesh strainer. Can be harder to find on the cheap though, I ended up breaking down and going to a Bed Bath & Beyond for mine since everything on Amazon was fairly expensive the thrift shops near me didn't have one.

Get nice glassware. I remember when I was younger and someone demonstrated the importance of having nice glass when tasting wine. The same thing applies. This isn't exactly bar-tools, but it's critical to your cocktail experience. Drinking out of cheap glasses, or the wrong glasses, will really hurt the presentation and your perception of the cocktail. In essence, t's important to take pride in both how you make the cocktail and how you serve the cocktail.

That's all I got for now.

OK, this is $7.50, but I found mine for $3 - it's really good, and I drink a LOT of wine and have used a LOT of different stoppers.

If you're in love with stainless steel, this one is excellent

The only reasons I would go with the first one over the second, is because it's easier to put on the bottle and easier to open and pour with.

Another vote for the amazing Domke. I have a F-2 and a F-3X and love, love, love using them! One trick with the Domke is to remove the brass snap(s) and ring(s) from the front flap and replace them with a Nite Ize Ahhh Stainless S-Biner:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037H9P4A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's a LOT easier to open, and you can unbuckle it from the top so when closing the flap it won't hit your camera. The bonus is that it has an integral bottle opener for that after-shoot beverage!

For new items, I have been very happy with my set though appearance was pretty important to me so they cost more than other options. I have had the below trio for a little over 4 years. WMF Boston Shaker, their measurer and their new strainer (I have a previous version that is curvier). Everything has held up well, the ink on the glass has held up through occasional machine washings, the styling is beautiful, the metal pieces get dropped all the time and nothing has dented or scratched.

One thing to remember, the jigger is not standard size since it is from Germany. This never bothers me and it is so pretty and easy to clean that I think it is worth the tradeoff.

I would invest in some of the same basic tech that people use for wine like these air pumps. They won't allow low ABV items like port and vermouth to be kept indefinitely, but it makes a significant in combination with storing them in the fridge.

I have a major soft spot for tiki and so have regularly had a half dozen bottles of homemade syrup trying to go bad on me. Syrups that I don't use very often (vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, etc.) I now make as a rich syrup (typically increasing the intensity of the flavor profile as well as the amount of sugar) and then pop them in the freezer. A rich simple won't freeze as the sugar content is too high, but it will last basically indefinitely (I have a bottle of some extra vanilla syrup I made a year ago that I just tapped into last week, it's doing fine). For regular simple, adding a dose of vodka will increase its shelf life by a week or so.

That's all I can immediately think of off the top of my head related to storage, but if I think of anything else I'll loop back around. In the interim, feel free to ask any specific questions related to the above.

Moet & Chandon Imperial is a good choice and it's not that bad in price, either. As for a complimentary gift... CHEESE! Or if she likes pasta, make her a dinner and a have wine night :)
These are also good finds that go with wine!

cork/bottle opener

[napa wine chiller] (https://www.originalbos.com)

cork holder

I bought the 'B' Letter and mine is filling up! The napa wine chiller works amazing too!

Also getting some speed pourers are fun, cheap, and a little flashy. Doesn't make sense unless you are making a bunch of drinks, but if you do have a party they are awesome.

http://www.amazon.com/Tablecraft-H35BK-Pourers-Black-12-Pack/dp/B0032FOQXW/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1427807327&sr=1-4&keywords=speed+pourer

Also, stir straws are great to serve with drinks.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Sip-Stirrers-1000-5-Inch/dp/B00B4M83MU/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1427807566&sr=1-1&keywords=cocktail+straws

This is so nice! You're right about the red wine. I'm also a red wine lover.

Here are some ideas:

• A wine decanter. Example.
  
  
• A wine aerator. Example.
  
  
• Wine pourer/stopper. Example.
  
  It's tough to cater to a baker because you don't know what they already own. Some things I adore in my drawer for baking is my immersion blender (these don't have to be super expensive to be high quality), silicone baking mat, stone baking sheet, and if he's a coffee drinker you could do an Aeropress.
  
  I'm sure this isn't true, but you suck at shopping Acisnot.
  
  Good luck :)

Piña Barware makes some wonderful shakers. Well priced and the best quality and durability I've found as a professional. It's what I buy for my working bar.

Shaking works better than stirring for certain drinks because it creates more aeration and dilution than just stirring. Flash blending also fits this purpose, in a slightly different way.

https://www.amazon.com/Pi%C3%B1a-Barware-Stainless-Commercial-Boston/dp/B01HHMFQOI

I can't reccomend you a drink because I'm pretty new to Whiskey myself.

I used to sometimes get headaches when I would drink too, especially whiskey. I find cooling the alcohol helps a lot, but I also don't want to water the drink down.

I found these whiskey stones that you freeze like ice and use to chill your drink without diluting it. They make a significant difference because it helps alleviate some of the burn in your throat and stomach that, for me at least, would contribute to being physically uncomfortable and getting headaches. They do help a lot and if you're interested they're only about $9.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014Q2R6GS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505418889&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=whiskey+stones&dpPl=1&dpID=41FSlVw9tML&ref=plSrch

I used to carry a blender bottle style bottle when I was drinking soylent for breakfast daily, it was one of these from Contigo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LX6VHM0/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_4aGMxbZD2V04T

I got it from Walmart and snapped a carabineer on it, it was great. The bottom is rounded on the inside so there aren't corners for powder/drink mix to hide from the ball, the ball is easier to clean than the little wire ones in other blender cups, and the ball weighs more too, so it does a better job of breaking up tough clumps. I highly recommend it if it fits your needs. Walmart will usually have them in store as well

I can give you an answer you don't want to hear right away, but it'll be better if we look at the math.

---

Assuming the rod is square in cross section, that's an area of A = (0.5 in)^2 = 1.613 cm^(2), and length L = 4 in = 10.16 cm.

The volume of the rod is V = L × A = 16.39 cm^(3). Density of aluminum is 2.7 g/cm^(3), so that's a total mass of M = 44 g.

The specific heat capacity of aluminum is 0.904 J/g K, which gives a heat capacity of C1 = M c = 39.8 J/K.

---

Now, a typical mug has 350 ml, and 1 ml = 1 cm^3 (thank god for metric). You can't fill the entire mug with coffee because when you dip in the rod it'll occupy volume and overflow. So let's say you put 300 ml of coffee in the mug.

Coffee is mostly water, which has specific heat capacity 4.18 J/g K and density 1 g/ml (thank god for metric^(2)), so the heat capacity of it is C2 = 300 g × 4.18 J/g K = 1254 J/K.

---

The freezer would be at freezing point of water, or T1 = 273 K.

Now, it looks like hot coffee is usually anywhere between 70 ºC to 80 ºC. Let's go with T2 = 75 °C = 348 K.

---

When you put the two together, they'll exchange heat until equilibrium at some temperature T. Assuming no heat is lost to the environment, conservation of energy says the changes in internal energy are equal and opposite in sign, so:

>ΔQ1 + ΔQ2 = 0

With ΔQ = C (T_final - T_initial) (so increasing temperature has ΔQ positive), we can write:

>C1 (T - T1) + C2 (T - T2) = 0

Solving for T, we get:

>T = (C1 T1 + C2 T2) / (C1 + C2)

Plugging in the numbers we have, we find T = 72.7 °C.

---

So this whole effort barely got you down more than 2 degrees! Not very helpful at all!

The bottom line is this: the heat capacity of water is pretty goddamn big compared to most substances, about 4.6 times that of aluminum, and there's 6.8 times more water than aluminum in your mug, so the discrepancy is even worse.

This is why you can figure out it's not going to work from the get go. Water is weird.

One thing you could do instead is find a hollow metal container, one side open, put water in it and then freeze it. Then you dip that in your mug. That way you get the benefit of heat conduction of metal, large heat capacity of water, but you don't get watery coffee. But it's not as cool.

You can also get some whiskey stones. They won't be as good as water, but probably better than aluminum.

I think this is both useful and interesting. It's also under $2 so if I win hopefully you can gift someone else.

Thanks for the contest!

I own about 12 blender type bottles 8 of them actual blender brand a couple of cheap freebee type and two contigo bottles and I like the contigo ones best. they are easier to clean and have the heavier plastic mixer ball inside.

https://www.amazon.com/Contigo-Shake-Shaker-Bottle-Carolina/dp/B00LX6VHM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491864733&sr=8-1&keywords=contigo+mixer+bottle

unprompted advice here, but if you plan to pursue the hobby (and change straps with any frequency) it helps to have them on hand, since they have a tendency to go flying and get lost, or break.

Pick up a set of cheap ones on amazon, or spend a few bucks extra for the best quality from Otto Frei

First, I go to the local vinegar and oil store and buy a bunch of amber 8oz screw top glass bottles like these. Then, I'll get my 750ml bottle of Carpano or Amontillado and pour it into 3 8oz bottles. I'll then use something like this to seal all 3. You just spray into the bottle for a second or two, the argon is heavier than O2 so it blows all of the O2 out. You then just seal tightly, label (I use a label printer) and refrigerate. Since they're smaller bottles they become a lot easier to store in the fridge. I don't use the argon every time I open the bottle because I'm only oxidizing a third of the whole and I can usually go through that in the 6-9mo it lasts. If it goes bad, I dump a few oz and crack open a fresh new 8oz bottle, the waste is minimal.


I wish I could claim this as my own invention but I got it from Craft Cocktails at Home which is full of great info like this.

Buy a shaker setup that is just a pint glass and large metal shaker, which is essentially a large metal drinking glass. (Like this, but obviously you still need a pint glass). The fancier setup that consists of a pint glass with a two part lid/strainer ends up leaking and is useless. (Like this). There's a reason bartenders use the former. As a setup, it's BIFL worthy in comparison, works better, and is much easier to clean. You can buy a strainer that fits on that type of setup, too. (Like this).

What other pieces are you looking for?

I've never infused wine. There are a few sites out there that talk about it, and most of them are about infusing wine with herbs or.... "herbs."

Based on what I do know about wine and what limited experience I have with infusing, I can make a few guesses at some tips:

1. It'll probably take either more time, or more stuff, than liquors, since the alcohol content is so much lower.
   
   
2. Oxygen ruins wine. If you decide to try infusing wine, I would get a vacuum wine stopper like this one, so you can get all the air out while it infuses.
   
   The nice thing about infusing is that it doesn't really require any special equipment, and compared to stuff like homebrewing is really quick. So it makes for great experimentation! If you decide to try it, report back!

I'd suggest buying a kit like: http://amzn.com/B0045WE4HY . It gives you way way more than you need (including a bunch of other sizes you only may potentially use on other watches), but you get that along with 20 pins that will fit your pebble for about the same price as a single pair of pins elsewhere online.

I've run into this problem a handful of times, banging my watch against a door frame or tennis racket (thank goodness for a NATO-esque band that can hold with only one pin). It's sometimes impossible to find the pin too even if you know when it came out, since they are spring loaded and can launch themselves into the grass or behind a desk.

Anyway the kit has worked well for me, though I know I'll never use the whole thing.

I'm on mobile but i use https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Can-Bottle-Opener-Bulk/dp/B001VEC63I . They usually come free with a can of paint. I use the the round section for opening caps with lots of success. It even fits on my key ring

I LOVE [these ones] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OYQA4U2?keywords=xox%20good%20grips%20wine%20stopper&qid=1453514138&ref_=sr_1_fkmr1_2&sr=8-2-fkmr1) I don't use them for weeks because I never have a bottle that lasts that long but I love that they are also pourers.

I added 50 of these to my wishlist just so I could give them out at parties! Seems like they'd be perfect for Burning Man gifts too!

On Friday I moved 11 gallons into carboys to mellow and started another 6 gallon batch fermenting, this one with 6 pounds of honey added.

I got this bad boy to use now instead of 1 gallon fermenters. The valve is a godsend, no more screwing with a siphon.

The wife and I have been drinking a gallon a week easily. I have 21 carboys full now, but most of them are too fresh to drink right now, my drinking caught up to my manufacturing pretty quick.

Why not pick yourself up an ah-so? something like this https://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Two-prong-Superfine-Polished-Finished/dp/B0002WZR4K

Waiter's keys work perfectly well for your everyday cork, but I've been wanting to pick one of these up for myself for when I get a crumbly cork on an older bottle of wine.

EDIT: And for the hella expensive option, and not quite a wine key but soooo useful (though I don't know if I'd bring one into work unless work was selling a lot of high-priced items by the glass) https://www.amazon.com/Coravin-Model-Eight-System-Black/dp/B00GOH28S0/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1475083785&sr=1-1&keywords=coravin

My fridge/freezer is fairly old, probably not as cold as it once was. Not sure if that makes a difference, but worth mentioning I guess, lol. I bought some of these for my straight-to-fridge batches, but it sounds like you've got bottles covered.

This bottle-opener ring is super nifty for a frequent beer and handmade soda drinker like myself.

I use this bad boy. Works really well. Big enough opening to make cleaning pretty easy. And uses a standard bung.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011VDMYAI/

I use one at school and love it. And it have been around for several years. Meaning, in a school, its pretty bullet proof.

At home, I use a DeWalt. Live that one too.

One thing, though, too look for in a 1/4 sheet sander: How to change the paper. That PC, without having a paint can opener, is a pain in the ass to change. Used a screw driver for a while, which works, but not well. That can opener really makes it much easier. However, the others, with a bar that hooks down,are easier still.

Get a nice and dependable solid metal one like this. It will serve you well.

Don't do Manhattan, really well built ones are near impossible to come by and will lock up and leak all over the place. Simple Boston style two-tin is easiest. Doesn't really take long to get the hang of how to use them. These are the ones I use. Good quality tins are important for a good seal. She'll need a Hawthorne strainer. After that a few jiggers of different sizes so that she can measure all increments of 1/2 oz and you'll be set for most shaken drinks.

r/ProductPorn might love this.

Also, here it is if someone interested: https://www.amazon.com/SUCK-UK-Pirate-Bottle-Opener/dp/B00FR8F4CO

That's a good reply. I'd just add a recommendation for:

• shaker
  
• jigger
  
• and hawthorne
  
  (Just because it's one piece of information I searched in this sub, got a recommendation, and I'm very happy with the product.)

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

That Nite-Ize carabiner with bottle opener seems like a good idea. Works ok even with keys attached to one end?

Yes, being female does matter. Tits increase your chances of being hired. Depending on what state you live in, bartending school may or may not be a waste of money. I know New York does tend to prefer bartenders with some kind of training.

Other than that, just do the following: Grab a book and learn some drinks, get your hands on a speed pourer, and practice how to pour, plus find your count.

Also, learn how to pour beer.

If you can do these things, you have the basic skill sets to be hired as a bartender.

Now, promptly forget all of this because if you get a job at a good bar you'll be way too busy to properly pour beer or drinks.

In the box:

• Fenix PD32UE flashlight
  
• 
  Ray-Ban 3025 Aviator Polarized sunglasses
  
• 
  Zippo Slim circa 1960
  
• 
  Nite-Ize S-Biner with County Comm Titanium Widgy Pry Bar / Ti split rings
  
  
• Leatherman Skeletool CX
  
• Saddleback I.D. Wallet
  
• LGE Nexus 5
  
• Pilot Precise V7 RT pen
  
• Clairefontaine pocket notebook
  
• Klipsch Image S4i Rugged
  
• Spyderco Techno pocketknife
  
  The camera pictured is my beater/backup, a Nikon D7000 with a Nikon 35mm F/1.8G AF-S DX lens. These were all taken with the camera I use on assignment - a Nikon D800 with a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S lens, an SB700 speedlight and a Rogue Small Flashbender.
  
  I leave the D800 at home when I'm not working, but I keep the D7000 in my car or on my person pretty much all the time. Everything else here goes almost everywhere with me.

http://www.amazon.com/MONOPOL-Two-prong-Superfine-Polished-Finished/dp/B0002WZR4K/

I've had some knock-offs that didn't make it a year, and one that is still going strong after four years, but the original I linked above has never failed me, going on 10 years now.

Thanks, it is also a bottle opener. I run a beer tasting group, so that's important to have on hand.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037H9P4A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the right answer. It's well loved.

I've been happy using this shaker from Amazon. It's a little more weighted compared to most other shakers out there

Piña Barware Stainless Steel Commercial Bar Boston Shaker Tin Set - 28oz. & 18oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HHMFQOI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fbORDbPV9K6MB

I know I've sure used mine a lot, and I like it for what it does, but it definitely requires a lot more effort and concentration than this style.

This is he one I use. Works perfect every time!

Contigo Shake & Go Fit Snap Lid Shaker Bottle, 28 oz., Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LX6VHNE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G-p-AbP0ZRXM5

This one has a rounded inner bottom which should be easier to clean.

This Because when your drinking good beer and having a good time you don't have to hunt around for a bottle opener. You just have that shit on your finger. Pretty epic

I prefer the Boston style shakers personally. They're simple and easy and bulletproof. I have this one, though I didn't pay nearly the price that they want for it at amazon.

you could try one of those two-pronged cork removers that are used for older bottles of wine with fragile corks. like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Westmark-German-Two-Prong-Puller/dp/B0002WZR4K

filtering is probably the easier method though

I have had perfectly good bottles of wine with fragile corks; no cork taint, no oxidation. Obviously better storage leads to better cork condition, but there's a reason why there are special devices for fragile corks.

You aren't the only one with well-kept wine that's over 20 years old.

I think we can all agree that there's variety in quality of spring bar, though. I've bought one of those "360 spring bars for $7.50" sets before and had half of them come apart during installation.

But yeah, it's a little over the top in terms of marketing.

This needs to be higher. I have one of these and it rarely works as well as a good corkscrew. What it is good at is removing a cork that a corkscrew has torn the middle/top out of, but is still mostly intact. Frankly, in that case, I'm still more likely to try this little gem before I fall back to the "Ah-So".

This is literally all you need.

https://www.amazon.com/Pulltaps-Double-Hinged-Waiters-Corkscrew-Stainless/dp/B0055OGPWS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501819622&sr=8-1&keywords=pulltap

and

https://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Westmark-Germany-Two-Prong-Puller/dp/B0002WZR4K/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501819785&sr=1-1&keywords=ah+so+wine+opener

They make a contraption that combines the two called a Durand and it's over $100. It's super cool, it works really well, but I don't own one.

use the ah-so to open older wines where the cork may be brittle or dry. Everything else let er' rip with the waiters corkscrew.

Yeah, a paint can opener is definitely a tool.

https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Can-Bottle-Opener-Bulk/dp/B001VEC63I

wino
Really, on a Monday?
Have a good bday!! Big plans for the big day?

$1.75 with free shipping!

I live in Wisconsin and don't own a bottle opener... not sure what's wrong with my life.

I use these when I am not being lazy, otherwise just free pour. You can find them at Total Wines or other retailers in a three pack.

I've gotten a bunch of these over the years as free giveaways with some company's logo on it. They are cheap, light and as long as you don't abuse them I see no reason why they are not BIFL. I've never broken one.

Vacu Vin is what I use.

It's a quick pump that takes out the air from the bottle. I picked up a $10 one from Amazon.

90% of the time I store vertically in my fridge. THe remaining time I forgot to put it in the fridge.

I assume the Vacu Vin could be stored horizontally. But I never really thought about it.

But in general I really like my Vacu Vin.

I highly recommend Contigo bottles ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LX6VHNE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). They're 28oz and $7 each.

https://smile.amazon.com/Beverage-Chilling-Stones-Whiskey-Beverages/dp/B014Q2R6GS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1499446205&sr=8-4&keywords=sipping+stones :)

I go with a simple tin boston shaker [from amazon]
(https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Boston-Shaker-Professional/dp/B01F2LAZB0/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1499789596&sr=1-3&keywords=boston+shaker).

It's worked great for me, easy to seal and to open. The cheater tin is smaller than the standard pint glass, but I use it for stirring drinks and haven't had any problems.

Get small amber glass bottles like these, divide the big bottle into 2-4 of them and spray some argon into the headspace of the bottle to blast out all the oxygen (argon is heavier so it sinks and displaces the oxygen) and seal it with tape for good measure (and to remember which ones haven't been opened). Each bottle can be kept in the fridge for at least 6 months before opening, then for a few weeks after opening.

get her one of These and a few of the stoppers if you dont have one already. Your wine will last a lot longer and taste better if she doesnt finish it right away.

OMG, but check this! No one ever washes these =)

This is available to purchase. I got mine before a year or so.

Here it is if you are interested.

Peat is weird, it is the one thing that I have really seen people have completely different notes. Too me this is pipe/cigar smoke - to you medicinal. Though, I think we are close on the nose and on the finish. But our palates are far from in sync on this.

>I do think this bottle really lost the citrus notes since I opened it

To me, peated scotches change the most when opened. While sherry bombs tend to open up, peat fades and loses character. I just ordered some Argon to help with my open peated bottles. I am hoping it will help out.

From left to right

Galaxy Gear

Obstructures A3 Wallet

Father's gold wedding ring

Chi-You Vaporizer Clone, Igo-L Clear topcap

Ian Schon Pen Project

CRKT Drifter

Nite Ize S-Biner Ahhh

Skeleton Key Bottle Opener

Small Micro-Screwdriver for vape

Leatherman Micra

All above the Microsoft Surface Pro 2

You can use a paint can opener like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VEC63I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_C9tuDb0Z13BGA

Like this?

Just take a look at the cork, and if a standard corkscrew seems to be insufficient (the corks shows signs of disintegration or something like that), go for the ol' Ah-So.

From left to right:

• Oneplus one
  
• Parker Pen (unknown model)
  
• Keys with carabiner, munkees whistle 3393 and bottle opener
  
• SOG powerlock S60s
  
• REM REM watch
  
• Self made tyvek wallet
  
  
  If you would like more information or pictures, just ask.

Sort of like a tool

I'm going to suggest an entirely different direction. Now hear me out. You say you like big ice cubes, because they don't melt and dilute your drink quickly. You are concerned about the hassle of freezing water, accumulating the cubes, etc...

Here is my suggestion: whiskey stones!

Apparently it is a Big Mouth Bubbler
Make sure to get the ported variety.

I have two of these. I'm using them to dispense my starter into fresh 1 gallon batches. https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Brewer-Fermentor-Universal-Fermentation/dp/B011VDMYAI/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1536414336&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=big+mouth+bubbler&psc=1

This may not be applicable to you, but I was considering one of these and went for a big mouth bubbler instead. I realized the only thing I really wanted the Brewbucket for, aside from "ooh shiny stainless", was a port to drain from instead of messing with autosiphons. The bubbler isn't as pretty, but it fit my needs.

Lol, my "setup" is about as unimpressive as it gets. I just top off my carboys and bottles with a small spray can of overpriced argon.

Well ... https://www.amazon.com/Beverage-Chilling-Stones-Whiskey-Beverages/dp/B014Q2R6GS/

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Boston-Shaker-Professional/dp/B01F2LAZB0/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1484426815&sr=1-5&keywords=boston+shaker

i use this one, but jesus, it was 15 bucks when i bought it. probably not worth 28 imo
EDIT definitely not worth 32 lol

EDIT2 it is now on sale for a very reasonable 19.99

I'm so excited! I printed off tasting guides for everyone, and packed some pour spouts so we don't waste anything.

thats weird. like someone else mentioned, you need to try one of these https://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Westmark-Germany-Two-Prong-Puller/dp/B0002WZR4K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524795106&sr=8-3&keywords=ah+so&dpID=31s-Ug3nQrL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I got mine on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045WE4HY/

Contigo's shaker design is much better. I have no idea why BlenderBottle brand is so popular.

It's for pulling corks from wine bottle without damaging the cork.

https://www.amazon.ca/MONOPOL-Two-prong-Superfine-Polished-Finished/dp/B0002WZR4K

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81BQd20kDsL._SL1500_.jpg

Wine shop, https://www.amazon.com/ArT-Wine-Preservation-Enjoy-Your/dp/B01MEHJCQ2

Paint can opener.

In my case I just dispense from my kegorator, but there are a lot of ways to do it. CO2 is heavier than air so you just spray it in and it will stay for a bit. Then you cap/seal it while the o2 is displaced. Argon, nitrogen, few other options.


https://www.amazon.com/ArT-Preserver-Argon-Saver-Stopper/dp/B01MEHJCQ2

They give them away at the paint counter at home depot. Opens paint cans, and beer bottles.

https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Can-Bottle-Opener-Bulk/dp/B001VEC63I

Whiskey stones are less than $10. You really just need something dense and non-dissolvable that transfers heat at a reasonable rate.

Try a Contigo brand shaker bottle, the interior has a rounded base.
Contigo 28oz Shaker Bottle

Two prong cork puller/wine bottle opener. Like this one on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/niceeshop-Aluminium-Keychain-Bottle-Opener/dp/B003PDPZDQ

Not so cheap as last year however; the price of argon must've gone up.
This is the one I've been using.

Monopol !

Monopol Westmark Germany Steel Two-Prong Cork Puller with Cover (Silver Satin) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002WZR4K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AFf2Bb614405D

Cork puller

[Bottle] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LX6VHM0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_26buybH7PDB9T)

Wallpaper

You need an ah-so!

http://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Two-prong-Superfine-Polished-Finished/dp/B0002WZR4K

They are 22mm. You can get them from [Amazon] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0045WE4HY?cache=ca1b3e53d018d8d87f688209d46cef9a&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1411326707&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4), this seemed to be the most bang for my buck.

Never seen a hardware store that sells them, although most department stores or places with a jewelry section will have at least a basic spring bar set, many places won't even charge for them.

That said, you could just get your own assortment and never need to buy more. Something like that will be fine, but do take note these are low quality, but probably about the same as the ones on a Timex anyway.

I don't know how strict they are, but I use an Ah-So to pull the cork on wines, decant them, funnel them back into the bottle and then replace the cork all the time before going to restaurants. I do it for convenience, not because they care in California. It takes one or two bottles to get the hang of replacing the cork, but it's not hard.

Btw - be careful not to drive the metal of the opener into the rim of the bottle when re-corking. Can break bottle. It's a mess.

Edit - I normally only remove the top of the foil, but you could remove all the foil to make it appear that it was never there.

You need a tool called a, yes really, "Ah-so". Get the German-made one, the others are crap.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/Monopol-Westmark-Germany-Two-Prong-Puller/dp/B0002WZR4K/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=ah-so+wine+tool&qid=1566141559&s=gateway&sr=8-6

I like how Amazon took the proper name of the tool out of the title despite it being stamped on the side of it and used in the description because...they thought it was racist or something?

This is my current EDC:

• Oakley Holbrook, Matte Black/Black Iridium Polarized
  
  
• Glock 26 Gen 3
  
  
• Raven Concealment Vanguard 2
  
  
• Loaded with Federal HST 9mm 147gr JHP's
  
  
• Keys on a Nite Ize S-Biner
  
  
• Streamlight Microstream
  
  
• Maxpedition Encore RFID Blocking Wallet
  
  
• Pilot G2 Mini
  
  
• iPhone 4s
  
  
• Otterbox Armor
  
  
• Casio G-Shock GW5600J-1
  
  
• Spyderco Tenacious
  
  
• Wedding Ring (white gold, family heirloom)
  
  Here is my EDC from 2 years ago if you are interested...

Bar spoon

Tin

Hawthorne strainer

Jigger

This is a fairly cheap startup kit that will cover your bases.

Old Fashioneds are stirred in the rocks glass directly. Bitters, simple syrup, orange peel -> muddle -> add ice -> add whiskey -> stir til diluted properly.

Use a pint glass with the tin for shaken cocktails. You can also use a pint glass for stirred cocktails that are served up (Manhattan, Martini). Throw down on a Yarai mixing glass if you get really serious, they're awesome.

If you decide to get more serious tools, I've got a ton of stuff from Cocktail Kingdom - really high quality, sees 4 days a week of hard bar use and a bit of work at home, but not cheap. I'd start with their shaken kit, add a spoon and a muddler, and possibly a Yarai glass and fine mesh strainer. Their shipping is a little outrageous, so I usually pick up as much as I can at once to justify it.

I dunno what he said because it's deleted now but I typed in "Butler's Cheater bottle opener" into google and got these two amazon results in the event you're still looking into buying one.

Ignore everyone who's telling you to use a shoe. It doesn't work. Either get a dishonest butler at the liquor store (might be difficult with the broken worm still in the cork) or push it all the way in and pour the wine through a wine strainer or some cheesecloth into a decanter.

But first, quit your bullshit.