Every Item You Need in Your Bar, Minus the Booze

There's something to be said about having a home bar. It's luxurious, welcoming, and for people who love to drink wine like a connoisseur, it's a must-have. A good home bar can be the best place to bring guests, not to mention a little nook where you relax after a hard day's work.

Getting started on a home bar project can be a bit difficult, mostly because people tend to underestimate what they need in order to have a bar that's really, fully stocked. Have no fear, my friend! I took the liberty of making sure that you have every item you need in your bar on this list below.

Whether you're getting a regular home bar or just sticking with a bar cart, you're going to need to get a shaker set. Most professional bartenders tend to go with a nice stainless steel Boston shaker that's easy to clean, and built for heavy shaking—such as the one made by Top Shelf Bar Supply.

Most classic cocktails will include a shaker as a necessary tool. No shaker, no cocktails. It's just that simple. It's the one item you need in your bar if you want to really act like a serious mixologist.

Not a fan of Boston shakers? We don't blame you. Those kinds of cocktail shakers can be a bit messy for novices. Another option for this absolutely mandatory item you need in your bar is a cobbler shaker.

Cobbler shakers have smaller caps that fit tightly on top, which in turn, reduces spillage. They also have built-in strainers, which makes pouring easier than ever before.

Stainless steel is still the way to go, though, which is why it's the standard. The Usagi Cobbler Shaker from Cocktail Kingdom is a nice, elegant addition to your bar—and makes shaking things up a lot easier.

No, this is not chemistry class. A good mixing beaker is an item you need in your bar, if you want to make any sort of stirred cocktail. If you love stirred martinis, Negronis, or Manhattans, you're going to need to get one of these to do it right.

Mofado's Cyrstal Cocktail Mixing Glass is a perfectly sophisticated touch that also has a weighted bottom that ensures it'll stay in place while you stir. This glass allows you to mix up to half a liter of cocktail, making it a great choice for folks who love a larger drink. Stay classy while making the cocktails that will make you drunk fast.

It'd be really awkward to try to stir a drink without a spoon, don't you think? That's why a good bar spoon is one item you need in your bar, ideally placed right next to your stirring beaker. A good bar spoon will gently spin ice and also be useful as a measuring tool.

This easy to clean, easy to spin bar spoon from OXO is a perfect choice for bartenders who want to add a touch of class to their bar carts.

If you're a fan of mojitos, or just like having multipurpose tools, you might want to upgrade your bar spoon to one that has a muddler on the other end. A muddler allows you to grind up herbs and add extra aromatics to your cocktails.

This spoon from Swissmar has a hammer on the end that's designed to make muddling a cinch. It's also made of polished stainless steel and remains long enough to reach down into the bottom of your favorite glass.

Both a paring knife and a cutting board should be considered mandatory in any fully stocked bar. The paring knife is an item you need in your bar if you want to have a wine and cheese tasting party—or if you want to make those adorably fancy drink garnishes you see on Pinterest.

The Kotobuki Fruit Knife is a great paring knife to keep around the bar, and it even comes with a beautiful cover. Better still, it's remarkably affordable.

Here's that cutting board we mentioned! If you've ever seen wine and chocolate pairings, then you already know this is an item you need in your bar. Cutting boards are excellent for putting together garnishes, or for serving foods that pair well with wine.

Either way, you might as well get a stylish cutting board like this artisan-made Tree Ring Board if you want to really wow your guests.

Technically, a Hawthorne strainer is only an item you need in your bar if you are using a Boston shaker, since cobbler shakers have strainers built in. Technically.

A lot of bartenders won't agree with that statement, though. It's worth pointing out that a Hawthore strainer can still comes in remarkably handy with bar setups of all kinds—and can even be used in the kitchen.

Many strainers actually have other tools built into them. The Hawthorne Professional Strainer from Top Shelf Bar Supply, for example, is great for making fruit pulps, opening up cans, and more.

A jigger is a small measuring tool that's designed to help you mix cocktails accurately. Jiggers look like tiny shot glasses in most cases, but the truth is that they are excellent for people who really want to follow cocktail recipes by the books.

Most of the time, jiggers are tiny little things that serve only one purpose. This set of Jigger Bottle Stoppers from Uncommon Goods, though, changes it up. Functionality just got cooler.

If you're looking for a more traditional, artisan-looking bar set, then this is one item you need in your bar. This beautiful copper bell jigger allows you to measure your liquids in style.

Pure copper and easy-to-read lines make this a great must-have, or a smart gift for the mixologist in your life.

Often called a wine key or something similar, having a wine bottle opener is a serious necessity in the bar world. If there's one item you need in your bar at all times, it's a wine bottle opener.

There are plenty of wine bottle openers to choose from, with actual bartenders typically preferring wine keys. However, we really like "winged" types of wine openers, simply because they are very easy to use and also can help open up beer cans, too. Plus they're part of the ultimate gift guide for wine lovers, so your friend can have one too.

A little dash of real lime juice makes everything pop, right? A handheld lime squeezer will help you out. If you're a fan of fresh juice, then you might want to consider this an item you need in your bar.

If you're drinking solo, chances are that you're not going to finish off an entire bottle of wine in a single night. Unfortunately, wine that's exposed to air for too long will go bad—or just attract fruit flies.

Wine stoppers keep air from oxidizing your wine, and allow you to keep your wine for longer. If you love to drink wine but hate throwing it away, then this is an item you need in your bar ASAP.

Highball glasses are an item you need in your bar if you're a fan of mixed drinks or making doubles. That being said, you don't really have to break the bank in order to get a nice set.

The fun thing about glassware is that you get to have a lot more variety with them. This set of four highball glasses from Mikasa add a non-traditional twist to an already beautiful addition to your home.

If you're getting highball glasses, then you already know that lowball glasses are another item you need in your bar set. Lowball glasses are ideal for people who want to have a glass for their White Russians or Old Fashioneds.

These beautiful painted lowball glasses from Antoni Barcelona will have your guests complimenting you left and right. They're sturdy and made in the style of Antoni Gaudi Cornet.

Martini glasses are a must if you love having a slick cocktail that looks sophisticated. Realistically, they might not be an item you need in your bar, but the truth is that they are necessary if you love sipping in style.

This pair of modern cubism-style martini glasses from JoyJolt is a great addition to a beautiful bar.

You're going to need some wine glasses to finish off your bar. Every item you need in your bar will be of use, but wine glasses? Well, if you're one of the many oenophiles who absolutely need a glass of red after a bad day, these are going to be the most useful glassware in your arsenal.

One thing you may need to be aware of, though, is the fact that stemless wine glasses aren't actually advisable. The body heat from your hands can throw the temperature off of white wines. If you love high-end wine glasses, Luigi Bormioli's Michelangelo series are a good place to start.

Shots aren't just for clubgoing 20-year-olds, you know! A good set of shot glasses can be very useful for a lot of different cocktails, not to mention mixed shots. Shot glasses are also fun because there are so many cool designs to choose from, too.

This box of "Mug Shots" includes a set of six shot glasses featuring a real mobster's stats. It's one of the best gifts for true crime fans out there—and a real fun way to outfit your home bar, too.

You should always have a kitchen towel on hand when you're mixing drinks or serving wine. It's part of good presentation (for wine) and also can help sop up spills.

This cute wine towel will add a nice twist to your home bar, don't you think?

Finally, let's finish off this list with one of the more important items for entertaining. An ice bucket is an item you need in your bar if you're mixing cocktails for guests—or if you're chilling a bottle of wine.

The ice bucket set from OXO offers extra grippy tongs, ample room for ice, and an easy to clean interior. What more could you need?