It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere: Cocktail Tools For The Home Bar

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. IHHS served up some great new cocktail tools for the at home mixologist.

Are you envious of your favorite bar or restaurant’s craft cocktails? The perfect garnish or the balanced flavors make a splendid cocktail. Could you create that perfect cocktail at home? With the right cocktail tools you can.

During the 2017 International Home and Housewares Show, several companies showed a wide variety of cocktail tools that are perfect for the home bar. The key to creating a delicious cocktail is flavor. Perfect flavor is created with the right ingredients. From clear ice to muddled herbs, the right bar tools make a huge difference.

These four cocktail tools will turn your bartending skills into a master mixologist.

Cocktail Tools, Microplane 7 in 1 Bar Tool, photo provided by Microplane

Microplane’s 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool

Two items can elevate a cocktail. First, fresh ingredients make a huge difference in taste. Second, a perfect garnish makes for an impressive cocktail appearance. With Microplane’s 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool, the at-home mixologist can make an Instagram-worthy cocktail.

The 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool performs all the essential functions to create the perfect cocktail. From muddling herbs to crafting the perfect garnish, this bar tools does it all. While it will take some practice to get your twists picture perfect, this tools is the easiest one for a non-professional to master. Soon you will be impressing your friends with your cocktails. Just be careful, you might be tending the at home bar all night long.

The Microplane 7 in 1 Ultimate Bar Tool retails for approximately $14.95.

Poppin Bottle Cocktail Tool, photo by Cristine Struble

Architec Poppin Bottles

Bubbles, whether champagne, prosecco, or cava, a sparkling wine can get a party started. The only problem is opening the bottle. With the new Architec Poppin Bottles, you will never have a problem opening a sparkling wine bottle. The simple tool avoids having the cork fly off the bottle.

Just press the Popping Bottles onto the exposed sparkling wine bottle. Once secure simply twist the tool, the cork is released and captured inside the tool. No flying corks and no struggle.

The Architec Poppin Bottles offers a white or pink version available now. A wood and gold version will be available in June 2017 and will retail for $29.99.

Tovolo Clear Ice-Sphere, photo by Tovolo

Tovolo Clear Ice System

Ice can ruin a perfect craft cocktail. Cloudy ice melts quickly and can dilute all the delicious cocktail ingredients. With the Tovolo Clear Ice System, you can save your cocktail from bad ice.

At some high-end bars or in beautiful Instagram pictures, the perfect cocktail often comes with a perfectly clear piece of ice. Whether shaped as a sphere or cube, the crystal clear ice is more than just a beauty shot. These clear spheres and balls melt slowly in your cocktail. With lingering sips, your cocktail doesn’t become diluted by the ice.

According to Tovolo, this ice “perfectly insulated system creates a controlled environment where the oxygen is pushed into the bottom tray, leaving you with 4 crystal-clear ice spheres or cubes”. Simply fill the product with water and you can have perfect ice in your freezer. Your friends will be both visually impressed and taste the difference.

The Tovolo Clear Ice System is available in both sphere and cube shapes. It retails for approximately $25 at various retailers.