I asked 4 mixologists for their best bar cart essentials — shop them at Amazon

• Bartenders agree that a shaker set, a juicer, and good glassware are essential for an at-home bar.
• A shaker set with a jigger is crucial for making balanced, precisely measured cocktails.
• Fresh juice elevates a cocktail, making a hand juicer a recommended tool for any home bar.

I’ve spent the past few years slowly curating my own perfect bar cart in my dining room. Over time, I’ve fallen for every at-home bartending ad and received dozens of random trinket gifts from family members. When I first began my bar cart collection, I thought I needed everything a real bar would have; turns out, that’s not even close to being true.

When asking bartenders about their favorite summer drinks and at-home cocktails, I took the time to ask a question I’ve been dying to know the answer to: What do you really need for an at-home bartending setup? The answer turns out to be quite simple. I interviewed over one dozen bartenders, and all of them agreed on three items that every at-home bar should have.

If you’re looking to perfect your at-home bar setup, now is the best time to buy the essentials on Amazon. Amazon Prime Day is in its final hours, with the sale wrapping up tonight, June 26 — and there are loads of deals on barware and other home essentials.

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Shaker set

Silicone Pad Included Cocktail Shaker Set

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Every bartender I interviewed came to the unanimous agreement that a jigger, along with a solid shaker set, is the first thing every at-home bar should have. “Precision matters more than people think. Getting your ratios right is the difference between a balanced drink and a wasted one,” CJ Lapid, beverage director at Pinky Swear, said.

Owning a jigger will help differentiate your drink from being good and great, according to Nancy Santiago, beverage director at IGC Hospitality. “Being slightly off, too sweet, too strong, or too tart can be the difference between a great drink and a bad one.”

A complete shaker set should include a jigger, strainer, cocktail mixing spoon, a muddler, and measuring cups. Other items to look for include a mesh strainer, corkscrew, and ice tongs.

A juicer

Of course, no good cocktail is complete without fresh juice which is why several bartenders recommended a juicer be added to your at-home setup. “Everybody making cocktails at home should have a sturdy hand-squeeze juicer,” Blake Walker, head bartender and partner at Chin Up Bar, said.

A hand juicer is the easiest way to squeeze fresh fruit juice into your drinks. Plus, hand juicers are easy to clean and store well in your at-home bar setup.

Good glassware

“It might not be thought of as a bartending item per se… but great glassware is key,” Tim Sweeney, bar manager and partner at Pebble Bar, said. “Drinking an Old Fashioned or a Martini out of a hard plastic cup rather than a great glass vessel takes so much away from the taste, aroma, and general feel of the drink. If you’re imbibing at home, why wouldn’t you want that sense of luxury?”

If you’re just starting out with glassware, you should look for assorted glass sets. Assorted glassware sets are great for beginners trying to add an elevated feel to their at-home drinks.