The 6 Things You Need to Become Your Own Bartender

Nothing replicates the experience of being at a bar like having your drink made for you. The Bartesian uses four base spirits (which you can stock with your favorites) and a series of capsules to create dozens of classic cocktails at the touch of a button. From margaritas and gimlets to cosmos and whiskey sours, how strong is totally up to you.

Now through April 17th, Bartesian will donate 25% of the proceeds to support bartenders.

You could fill an entire cabinet with various specialized cocktail glasses—elegant coupes, classic martinis, shapely Nick and Noras, et al. But a modern, streamlined approach can help cover most of the basics, leaving you a little extra room to complement your collection with some other favorite shapes. This mix from West Elm makes a great starting point.

Tall cocktails like a Tom Collins or a mint julep just taste better sipped through a straw. These stainless steel ones are easy to clean with the included wire brush—and even easier to throw in the dishwasher.

One of the subtlest details of an impressive cocktail are those perfectly shaped ice cubes. A handful of exquisitely geometric cubes made with this set of lidded trays can take even your run-of-the-mill G&T to the next level.

Ever wonder how bartenders manage to get that perfect spiral of lemon peel in your martini? It’s all thanks to the channel knife. Its narrow, grooved blade makes easy work of carving out pristine strips of citrus peel. Spiral said peel around a metal straw, press tightly for a moment, and you’ll end up with an iconic cocktail twist.

As with a citrus twist, the right garnish can be the quintessential cherry on top of an exceptional cocktail—quite literally. And there’s no better cocktail cherry than the classic Luxardo. Made in Italy from pristine marasca cherries, you won’t find any artificial dyes or flavors in these sweet, aromatic fruits.