Whether you are planning to upgrade your mixology craft or you are looking for the perfect gift for a cocktail-loving friend, a cocktail making kit is a great buy.
It comes with everything you need to make just about any cocktail at home.
Most cocktail making kits are designed not just to be functional; they are meant to look good as well. Most have stunning silvery or gold mirror finishes. It’s a great way to enhance your home bar and impress your guests with a great Clementhyme cocktail.
In this buying guide, we review the best cocktail making kits for amateur and professional mixologists that are available to buy online in the UK. But first, some tips when you are shopping for the right kit for your needs.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Cocktail Making Kit
a. What’s included?
The first thing to check is what’s included in the set. This usually depends on the price. A premium set will have the basics plus some nice-to-have extras.
But a cheaper set is enough for most people. It’ll have all the basics you need.
Here are the essential components to look for in a set.
- Shaker – This can be a 3-piece shaker that has a strainer or a pair of shaker tins.
- Bar spoon – This is essential for mixing cocktails. It should have a spiralled handle for better mixing performance.
- Strainers – Most cocktail making kits come with two strainers: a Hawthorne with a spring around the edge and a Julep strainer. A Hawthorne strainer is normally used with a shaker tin while a Julep strainer is ideal for mixing glasses. Some kits also include a fine mesh strainer that captures smaller bits of ice and fruit for a smoother cocktail.
- Muddler – This is what you use to crush ingredients such as fruits.
- Jigger – Most cocktail kits will include at least one jigger, though professional mixologists will have 2-3. Jiggers are measuring tools with two sides to measure out different volumes of fluids such as 25ml and 50ml.
Some kits will come with some extras including a pair of tongs to add ice to your cocktail, a straw for drinking and a liquid pourer that attaches to the bottle, making it easier to pour drinks into the mixing tin or glass.
b. Material
This one is simple – get a stainless steel kit. Stainless steel not only looks good, it’s also durable and doesn’t rust.
Note that some kits may include some non-metal pieces such as a wooden muddler.
This is not a big deal as long as the most important parts – the shaker, spoon, strainers and jiggers – are stainless steel.
c. Dishwasher safe
Most cocktail making kits are dishwasher safe, but check to be sure. Some sets, such as those with a copper or gold finish, may not be ideal for the dishwasher.
You may also find a set where some of the pieces are dishwasher safe and others should only be hand-washed.
d. Gift packaging
If you are buying the kit as a gift, look for one that comes in a beautiful gift box. Some kits will even include a pouch to add an extra special touch.
e. Extras
Here are a couple of extras to look for, though they are not essential.
- Recipe book: A bonus recipe booklet is helpful for those who are just starting out making cocktails. Most booklets included with cocktail kits have about a dozen cocktail recipes you can try out.
- Stand: Some kits come with a wooden stand that provides a convenient, and beautiful, place to store all your cocktail-making tools.
Reviews of the Best Cocktail Making Kits
1. 11-Piece Boston Cocktail Shaker Bar Set by VinoBravo Review
This one’s a bit pricey but it is our favourite cocktail making kit. It’s well made and looks really good. It’s just as much a functional kit as it is a part of your bar or kitchen décor.
But what we love most about it is all the extra pieces included. It’s not just a basic kit. It has 11 pieces, making it a great choice for those who want to dabble in some serious mixology.
Here’s what’s included in the kit.
- A 2-piece shaker consisting of 530ml and 830ml tins. Most pro bartenders and mixologists prefer this style of shakers to the 3-piece ones.
- Three strainers: a Hawthorne, Julep and fine mesh strainer to suit all kinds of recipes.
- A Japanese-style 60ml and 45ml jigger (2oz and 1.5oz).
- Bar spoon with spiral handle.
- Two liquid pourers. You can quickly pour out precise amounts of spirit or syrup without making any messes.
- Ice muddler, stainless steel.
- A pair of tongs.
Even their recipe book goes further than the sparse booklets included with other sets. Instead of the usual dozen or so recipes, the VinoBravo cocktail bar set comes with a 30-recipe book.
Overall, one of the best cocktail making sets for your money. It’s perfect for beginners as well as pros. You can use it at home or in a bar.
All parts are dishwasher safe.
What we like about it:
- Fully loaded cocktail making kit – includes more pieces than most other kits.
- Great design – durable and looks good.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Gift-ready packaging.
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2. Twice Element® Cocktail Making Set Review
This is a great set if you are looking for a gift. In addition to a beautiful gift box, it also comes with an elegant storage pouch.
Beyond the aesthetics, it’s practical for both amateur and pro cocktail makers. It includes all the parts you need to make any type of cocktail.
Here’s what you get with the kit.
- A 2-piece shaker consisting of two stainless steel tins that seal securely to prevent any leaks when mixing.
- A bar spoon with a spiral handle.
- Jigger
- Muddler, stainless steel
- A Hawthorne strainer. The kit includes only one strainer but it works great for different recipes. It has more coils than other Hawthorne strainers, meaning it can filter out even small bits of fruit and ice.
- Gift box and storage pouch
- A recipe book with 13 recipes accompanied by high quality colour pictures. Some of the recipes include mojito, margarita, daiquiris, Manhattan, cosmopolitan and many more. It’s a helpful guide for those getting started in mixology and anyone who wants to discover new recipes beyond their usual mojito or margarita.
All parts are made from stainless steel. They won’t rust, scratch or get dull.
What we like about it:
- High quality stainless steel parts.
- A beautiful addition to your home bar.
- Great for gifting.
- Includes a recipe book.
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3. Godmorn Cocktail Set 14+1 Pcs Review
If you are on a budget, this is one of our top recommendations.
It’s affordable but has all the pieces you need to make your own cocktails at home. You also get a bonus stand to complete your cocktail bar set up.
Here are all the pieces you’ll get with the Godmorn cocktail kit.
- A 550ml cocktail shaker. This is a 3-piece style shaker with an integrated strainer.
- Jigger
- Two straws – a straight and a bent one.
- Hawthorne strainer
- Opener
- Stopper
- Two bar spoons
- Two pourers
- An ice tong
- A wooden stand
- Cocktail recipe book
- Brush
All parts, including the two straws, are made from high quality stainless steel. The obvious exception is the wooden stand.
The beautiful rustic bamboo stand neatly fits all the pieces on two shelves. It’s small enough to sit on your kitchen or bar countertop.
The recipe is comprehensive with 30 cocktail recipes you can try your hand on for any occasion.
We love that they’ve included a bottle opener. It’s a 3-in-1 tool consisting of a beer cap opener, a corkscrew opener and a small knife. It’s a handy tool for a home bar.
Another thoughtful addition is the cleaning brush. You can use it to wash the shaker, pourer and the straws.
What we like about it:
- Includes bonus pieces not available with most other kits such as the opener, a wooden base and cleaning brush.
- Provides a wide range of recipe ideas in the accompanying booklet.
- High quality.
- Looks great.
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4. Rusty Barrel® Mayfair Cocktail Making Set Review
This is another good choice if you are looking for a high quality affordable set.
You can get it in the traditional silver or choose from the other three finishes: copper, gunmetal black and a limited edition set with a New York themed gift packaging.
Here are the pieces available in the set.
- Shaker, 750ml. It’s a 3-piece style with strainer and cap.
- Jigger, 25ml and 50ml
- Wooden muddler
- Pourer
- Mixing spoon with twisted handle
- Hawthorne strainer
- 12-recipe booklet
At 750ml, the shaker is bigger than what you get with most sets. You can mix more ingredients and maker larger cocktails.
The integrated strainer catches all the small bits of fruits and ice. You can also use the included Hawthorne strainer.
The muddler is the only part that’s not made from stainless steel. A stainless steel muddler is preferable because of durability and hygiene. But as long as you take good care of the wooden muddle and clean it properly, it should work just as well.
The recipe book is not very big but the dozen recipes available are perfect for beginners looking to try something new.
The Rusty Barrel kit comes in a beautiful box that’s perfect for gifting or storage.
What we like about it:
- High quality pieces.
- Multiple colour options.
- Comes with a recipe book.
- High-volume shaker lets you make larger or multiple cocktails in one go.
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5. VonShef 9 Piece Cocktail Set Review
This set also provides more than one colour option.
Our favourite is the copper-finished one. It’s perfect for those who want something different from the usual silvery cocktail pieces. It’s a great showpiece for your home bar.
If you are not one for shiny stuff, there’s a matte black option with a more toned down look.
Both finishes have stainless steel underneath, ensuring durability and rust protection.
Here’s what you get in a complete set.
- 500ml shaker
- 25ml and 50ml jigger
- A 9” double-ended bar spoon with a fork on the other end and a twisted handle.
- A Hawthorne and Julep strainer
- Two pourers
- Muddler
- Recipe guide
This set comes in a beautiful gift box. It’s a great choice if you are planning to get it as a present for a friend or family member.
Under the box, the presentation is also top notch. Each piece is arranged neatly in its own custom slot. It makes the kit look more expensive than it is.
We love the double ended spoon and fork. It’s the only kit among our picks to have this design. It gives you more stirring and mixing options.
The pourers also come in handy when you are pouring out liquids.
Because a pourer allows you to pour a consistent amount of fluid, most people find they can measure the exact volume required without using the jigger.
But if you are still new to making cocktails, the double 25ml and 50ml jigger is there to ensure you get consistent results every time.
Overall, a high quality kit for the price.
What we like about it:
- Beautiful presentation – great for gifting.
- Two colour options.
- High quality kit backed by a 2-year warranty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s included in a cocktail making kit?
A basic cocktail making kit includes a shaker, a bar spoon, two strainers (hawthorne and Julep), a muddler and a jigger.
Extras included in some kits include a pair of tongs to pick ice, a pourer, a metal straw and a stand to store everything.
2. What size is a cocktail jigger?
Most cocktail jiggers are two-sided, with each side having a different capacity. The most common combo is 25ml on the small side and 50ml on the bigger one.
If you want, you can get a single-sided jigger. We’ve come across a range of sizes from 75ml to a giant 180ml jigger.
3. Are cocktail making kits dishwasher safe?
Yes, most cocktail making kits are safe to clean in the dishwasher. An exception is if you have a copper kit. A dishwasher can dull the copper finish, making your set look a bit weathered. We recommend hand washing for such a set.
