Speakeasy-in-a-box Kit list
Amazon
- Boston glass Shaker + Hawthorne strainer $16.99 The Hawthorne strainer is simple, but better than the Oxo.
- Oxo jigger $9.95
- Oxo measuring cup, mini $10.54
- Oxo beaker set, $19.99 for measuring small amounts, on the order of 5 ml.
- Highball glass, set of 6 $23.00
- Conical mesh strainer $9.45
- Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer (Lemon) $13.26 Yes, it really is much better than the cheaper lemon+lime ones.
- Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer (Lime) $14.40
- Tovolo ice cube molds $7.99 They make 1.25" ice cubes,
the same size used by KD machines at craft cocktail bars. You'll need
to scrub them down with vinegar every 2 months, otherwise
they create freezer-burn flavored ice.
- Small ice cube trays $18.99 as a more convenient alternative to crushed ice
- Fletcher's Mill Muddler 7". $6.19 This smaller one is
easier to use for smaller hands. It you have larger hands, get the bigger one. It's made of natural wood, with no
varnish, and has a very large footprint.
- Jar spatula $9.98 Trim it with an x-acto knife so that it is thin enough to scoop syrup out of a jigger.
- Teaspoon set $11.94 It's handy to have a 1/8 teaspoon to precisely measure a dash, plus 1/4, 1/2 and 1 teaspoon.
- Spill Stop 285-50 speed pourer $14.72 These are great for a home bar. you get much better control.
- Speed Pourer dust covers $10.99 to prevent fruit flies from getting inside your speed pourers.
- 9 oz Glass jars $24.99 to hold flavored syrups and juices.
- 1 oz eye dropper bottles $9.99 for doing ango art on cocktails with foam.
- Bamboo cutting board $27.99. Then, add feet to the bottom so that it doesn't slide around
- Chisel, for cutting ice $9.47 Mostly for cutting standard size ice cubes in your refrigerator in half.
- 4.1" bamboo cocktail picks $7.99 for garnishing coupe glasses.
- 3.5" bamboo paddle picks $4.99 for garnishing highball glasses.
- Channel knife $9.99 for creating spiral lemon twists.
- 9" Z knife $12.99 for cutting large fruits like oranges, grapefruit, and pineapples.
- Sugar tongs $9.90 for picking cherries out of the jar
- Tweezers, $7.99 for placing garnish
- Flat Bottle opener $8.94 It's flat, so you can keep it in your back pocket during service.
- Pro Champagne stopper $11.50 Champagne is sparkly twice; once when you open it, and a second time, if you used a champagne stopper.
- Canvas Bartender Travel Bag $39.99
- Kuhn Rikon Swiss Y-peeler $13.68 They look super cheap, but are very sharp, light weight, and a favorite of bartenders.
- Airtight food storage containers $16.99 BPA-free, and you can put them in the freezer. For storing sorbet.
- 12" Bar spoon $8.99 Well balanced.
- 7 oz Speakeasy coupe glasses, set of 2 $19.99 These are larger than the smaller coupes you get at bars, but these are more versatile.
- 7 oz champagne flutes, set of 4 $24.90 Nice and heavy, perfect volume.
- Bormioli Rocco Galassia Rocks Glass, 10 ounce $15.99 One of the few rocks glasses that can hold a 2" ice cube.
- Misc: toothpicks for making ango art
If you're wondering: The cost of the above stuff is $470 + tax.
Cocktail Kingdom
KegWorks
R. Murphy Knives
- Jackson-Cannon bar knife $79.00 It is the best knife you can have behind the bar. Yes, it really is worth $79.00. Amazingly sharp. You need to re-hone it often to keep it sharp.
From a well-stocked Liquor store
Booze
- Tanqueray gin. Costco sells 1.75 liter jugs.
- St-Germain Elderflower liqueur. The larger Costco stores sometimes sell the 750 ml size.
- Cointreau
- Absinthe Clandestine
- Creme de mure blackberry liqueur 375 ml
- Dolin Dry vermouth 375 ml. Dry vermouth goes bad very fast. Get the smaller bottle, and keep it tightly capped in the refrigerator after opening.
- Champagne. Get the cheapest champagne from Trader Joe's. It's the one with the plastic cork.
- Cocchi Americano 750 ml
- Optionally: Lillet Blanc 750 ml for a corpse reviver #2, as an alternative to Cocchi Americano.
Cherries
- Luxardo Maraschino cherries
Bitters
- Regan's Orange bitters
- Angostura Aromatic bitters
- Fee Brothers Orange flower water
Syrups
- Real orgeat syrup, or Torani almond syrup. For real Orgeat, try one of these two:
Trader Joe's
- Candied ginger for garnish in any cocktail that uses ginger syrup
- Freeze dried raspberries, for stencil garnish on the Finnegan's Clover
- The cheapest champagne they sell; the one with the plastic cork. The brand is Schloss Biebrich Sekt.
Grocery Store
Dry / canned goods
- Granulated Sugar, to make simple syrup. Avoid powdered sugar.
- Sugar cubes, for the champagne cocktail
- Kosher salt, to salt the rim for a Salt and pepper highball
- Club soda: go with the super-cheapo Safeway select 12-can pack.
- Tonic: go with the super-cheapo Safeway select 12-can pack.
- Ginger beer: Go with the 4-bottle Fever Tree.
- Acacia honey, or wildflower honey. Or clover honey in the bear container.
Perishables
- Coffee mate French vanilla creamer (regular, not sugar-free)
- Eggs
Fruit
- Lemons, limes, pineapples, grapefruit, oranges, raspberries, blackberries, cucumbers, celery
- Fresh basil, rosemary, mint, ginger
Misc kitchen gadgets