Basic Bartending Tools

This post covers the basic tools you need to make the simplest of drinks. Believe it or not, a majority of college students don't own half of these items. So, if you want to start thinking about making nice drinks, make sure to keep these items in stock:

Stirrers

Don't want to get fancy? Just keep a box of straws in your room.

Bottle Opener

Keychain? Swiss army knife? Your favorite sports team's? Window sill? Anything will work as long as you don't have to go find your roommate/neighbor to borrow theirs.

Corkscrew

You need to be prepared to open a bottle of wine at any given time. And you can buy a combined corkscrew/bottle opener if you want to be economical about it.

Lime Knife

Any small knife will do, but a lot of stores sell ones particularly for cutting limes. Many drinks call for a lime/lemon/orange garnish, so make sure you have a knife close by when making those recipes.

Shot glasses

Four or more. Not only will you need them to measure alcohol for more precise recipes, but no one likes taking a shot with just one other person.

Cups and Glassware

Make sure you have a stock of solo cups for larger parties, beer pong, flip cup, etc.. Ping pong balls, too. But for smaller gatherings, serving yours drinks in glass will earn you some serious bartending brownie points. And mason jars only cost about $0.85.