Reddit mentions of Über Bar Tools ProStirrer

Hi there, here's my take on it as a professional bartender

> Is there anything basic tool I should be looking for? (Maybe a muddler?)

There are several basic tools I would deem 'essential':

Quality shaker (Cobbler or 18/28oz steel tins)
Hawthorne strainer (unless his shaker is a cobbler)
Fine strainer
Barspoon
Muddler
Jiggers

Realistically, if I was being super budget-conscious, I could probably get all of that for under $50.

In most cases, I recommend a mixing vessel for stirred drinks, either a proper mixing glass or simple boston pint, however for the sake of money, most common shakers can be used for this, it's just not as aesthetically pleasing.



> I've been looking at Amazon mostly. Is this an okay place to find stuff?

It is, and it also depends on what exactly you are looking for. If you're looking for high end Japanese crafted tools, you're probably going to have to look elsewhere (and spend more money), but for just the standards and getting started, you can do very well with Amazon. Barproducts.com is also great, but can be a bit overwhelming unless you know what you're looking for.

> Are sets better than buying things individually?

I would say no. Sets tend to be a collection of low-middling quality tools packaged all nice and pretty. It's worth the extra time to grab things piece by piece unless quality isn't of a grave concern (I could do my job with a basic 'set' of tools, they just wouldn't perform as well as if I selected them myself with the same budget.


> Any really good, basic recipe books you can recommend?

I think for most getting into cocktails, 'Craft of the Cocktail' by Dale DeGroff is probably the best starting off point. This is dependent 100% on your boyfriend's level of knowledge. If you're just interested in getting a big variety of recipes, I might also consider the 'Mr. Boston Guide'. If you don't mind spending a bit more, the new book 'Death & Co.' from the bar of the same name is both beautiful, and a fanytastic book that gives more detail into what all happens in a world-famous cocktail bar.

> Is there anything special about certain jiggers/strainers/funnels/bottles/stirrers that I should keep in mind (i.e. size, material, etc.)?

I could spend several hours on this subject, really. It all depends on what tool you decide to get him.

If I had to, off the top of my head, suggest just one thing for an enthusiast, it would be: http://www.amazon.com/Uber-Bar-Tools-ProStirrer-Spoon/dp/B0042L1U1G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1415970464&sr=8-3&keywords=barspoon

That's a high quality, all stainless spoon with a counterweight on the end that can be used as a muddler as well (2 birds with one stone!).

If you let me know what sort of budget you're looking to spend, I can help you a bit more specifically. I spend a lot of time looking at tools, as I'm constantly building and re-evaluating my toolset. By all means, let me know if you have any further questions.