Need a small bit of gift-buying advice. Attn: home bartenders.

[Chan790]

I'm buying a gift for a friend of mine, the equipment/tools of a home-bar for entertaining. (No, he doesn't have one.)

I already got him a Hawthorne strainer and a Boston shaker, a bar spoon, muddler, knife, small cutting-board, drying mat, garnish-tray.

The questions:

1. Do I buy him a jigger? He's a professional bartender his entire adult life and I've never seen him use one because he can count-pour...so to my line of thought, it's a waste. Someone else in the same line of work insisted that I include one.
2. Did I forget anything?
3. I'm getting him glassware as soon as I figure out what to buy: He drinks beer, cognac and liqueurs, likes to serve mixed-drinks and despises cocktail-drinkers...so snifters, pilsners and rocks? He's got plenty of pints kicking around for the Boston shaker and for use in place of highballs.

[Kali]

1. Coupons for a rent-a-bouncer?

Looks like a good list ,
- I sure wish I.had a real.muddler. I use the handle end of a heavy wooden spoon.

As for equipment- pricey, but an ice machine would be cool.

[Chan790]

2. I'd include a crushed ice-maker but I'm limited to $50. n/t

[Chan790]

5. You know they're only like $4, right?

$12 if you want the OXO Stainless Steel muddler that will outlast us both. Consider the possibilities, it could be a family heirloom muddler. (These prices are from Amazon and may vary upon location for retail purchase. It's the sort of thing I have a Wish List of for throwing into purchases to get Free Shipping.)

As for him needing a bouncer, I don't think so...he's a bat man. I wouldn't cross him or Louisville Slugger.

[Kali]

11. Yeah I know.

I'm such a.cheapskate sometimes. And a bad shopper too. Last time I looked for one on amazon I got sucked in by so many other "deals" I had $100s in the shopping cart. I panicked and logged off without.buying anything:rofl:

[HopeHoops]

3. Get him a naughty ice cube maker. I've got one of a woman's upper torso with BIG HOOTERS!

It was also fun to use it as a mold for making colored chocolate treats. :evilgrin:

[yewberry]

4. I'd skip the jigger.

I tended bar for years and wouldn't use one. The only 2 things I'd add might be a zester or channel knife (for the twist) and possibly a hand-held citrus press (though those might be too 'cocktail' for him.)

[Bunny]

6. I'd get him a jigger if you can find an unusual one.

Like the ones in the center and right in this picture:



Even if I didn't need a jigger, I wouldn't mind owning either of them.

[Chan790]

8. I own the one on the left.

It's one of my most prized possessions. It's not a jigger though, it's a OXO 3oz. mini-measuring cup. I might get him that though, even if he never needs it as a jigger, maybe he can use it in the kitchen.

[RebelOne]

7. Does he drink wine? How about a wine rack? n/t

[Chan790]

9. He doesn't drink wine...

well, he drinks shitty jug wine out of juice-glass, but I don't think he'd want a wine-rack except maybe to store liquor bottles in. I don't think I could squeeze it in the remainder of the $50 anyways.

[NightWatcher]

10. nothing says classy like a set of Imperial Pint glasses

[JackDragna]

12. I've got a mobile drink cart/glass holder thingie.

You can put a few bottles of wine/hooch in it and some glasses of different types. It's also got a flat space to put snacks and such, and has wheels so you can roll it to wherever you want in the room.

[Chan790]

13. Hmm...

I'll have to save that idea for next time.

[johnnie]

14. A staple

[Chan790]

15. That's a good idea. n/t

[frogmarch]

16. blinking rocks glasses!

http://blinkee.com/product.php?id=Rocks%20Glass



I just bought some tall pilfer rainbow-blinking glasses and really like them. They're plastic but look and feel like glass. Nice.