Bar spoons are integral to the bartender and one of the mainstays in the bartenders basic toolkit. The bar spoon is hugely versatile, depending on the type of bar spoon you opt for of course. Originally designed for the mixing process of bartending, i.e. cocktail stirring, the length and size of the bar spoon ensure it is the best instrument for the job allowing the spoon to get to the bottom of any cocktail tin or jug and ensuring the bartenders hand or finger doesn’t have to go in with the spoon.
Some uses of the humble bar spoon:
We are sure that everyone understands the basics around how a spoon works and what it is typically used for! However, when it comes to behind the bar, the humble bar spoon has many a different use:
- Layering Drinks – A variety of cocktails and a number of cocktail shots quite often use layering to further the appeal of the drink. It takes an element of artistic flair, using the flat side of the spoon and a gentle pour, the bartender can layer different liquids on top of each other – such as with the well known cocktail shots B-52 and the Slippery Nipple! The spiralled handle can also be used to layer drinks in a way that looks very cool, although it takes more skill to pull off .
- Cocktail Stirring – As James Bond has been alluding to for years, some cocktails need to be stirred not shaken (check out our perfect martini) and the bar spoon is the perfect tool for this. The long handle of the spoon makes quick and easy work of stirring any cocktail.
- Garnishing Drinks – Fruit is often used to garnish cocktails, and the bar spoon is the perfect tool for removing that extra pulp from fruit garnishes.
- Measuring Ingredients – The bowl on all our Beaumont bar spoons is 5ml, which makes it perfect for measuring out bitters or anything else that would need adding to a cocktail in small, controlled amounts.
- Muddling – Two of our bar spoons, the professional bar mixing spoon and the cocktail spoon with masher, both come with a muddler on the opposite end. The muddler is great at mashing up fruit, herbs and spices, and then added to a cocktail very easily using the spoon in a more traditional manner!
The real question is, which bar spoon is right for you. Well as we have just talked about, the bar spoon has many uses – so really it boils down to two things. What will you want to use your bar spoon for and what is your style? Is copper plated barware right up your street? Or are you looking for a less traditional bar spoon with a muddler/disc at one end or even a fork? All of these are covered in our bar spoon selection below…
The Cocktail Spoon
Modelled on the original bar spoon, the cocktail spoon has the traditional red end and the twisted stem. Still widely used in America this bar spoon does the job, low cost and good value.
The Cocktail Spoon with Masher
The cocktail spoon with masher is very similar to the original cocktail spoon however the plastic red tip is replaced with a more useful masher or layering disc. The circular end can be used to muddle and mash fruit or used to layer drinks when pouring liquid down the spiralled stem.
The G&T Spoon
Designed specifically for Gin & Tonic’s (believe it or not!), the G&T Spoon is the perfect addition to the bar. Nothing stirs like a bar spoon, and quite often a typical bar spoon can look a little ridiculous stirring a Gin & Tonic – but of course a smooth stir is vital as if you are too rigorous with your gin it can end up tasting not so nice.
Mezclar Hudson Cocktail Spoon
The Mezclar range is for the most beautiful and most exclusive of our barware at Beaumont and within it with have a nice selection of bar spoons, such as the Hudson cocktail spoon below. The Hudson cocktail spoon is 450mm long (so longer than your more traditional bar spoons above), which allows the bartender a lot more control over the mixing and stirring of drinks. Furthermore the Hudson cocktail spoon has a flat edge at the opposite end to the spoon, which again is helpful for layering and two hand stirring. Available in the standard stainless steel or the above picture copper plated style, the Hudson cocktail spoon is a great addition to any bar.
Also available is the Collinson cocktail spoon, which is very similar to the Hudson with a more traditional end similar to standard cocktail spoon. This spoon is also available in the our highly coveted Antique Brass range:
Mezclar Cocktail Spoon with Fork
As the bar spoon has evolved, so has the bar industry as a whole. Within the industry there are a host of new ideas around serving, what to serve, and even a focus on using the most exotic of ingredients in drinks. Alongside these changes, so the need for a cocktail spoon with a fork has arisen.
