Classic Cocktails: The Highball
Twists on the classic Highball cocktail from Watershed Distillery.
drink
Bar Tools of the Trade
BAR TOOLS OF THE TRADE
By Josh Gandee, Beverage Director at Watershed Kitchen & Bar
It might not be time to buy a denim apron with gold clasps or to grow a curly mustache, but here are some tools to help you impress your guests and give you the confidence to finally have people over for cocktails. From a book that has sparked interest in thousands of craft bartenders to an essential bar tool kit, these tried-and-true favorites will get you started:
Whether you’re green to the subject or just want to brush up on some recipes, The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique, by Jeffrey Morgenthaler (Chronicle Books, 2014) is the most comprehensive book for any level of bartender. You can flip through the pages to tighten your technique with all the new tools you’ve acquired, or polish a recipe with your finds from your latest trip to the liquor store. It isn’t just handles of vodka anymore, you’re getting “specialty items!"
It doesn’t matter how you drink bourbon, as long as you’re drinking bourbon, but a little ice goes a long way. These molds are the perfect fit for most Old Fashioned glasses, and the large size allows for a slower melt that doesn’t over-dilute that prized bottle you drove out of the state for.
If you aren’t a person who collects Japanese whiskeys but are still interested in hopping on the highball train, we’ve got some good news—a rum and coke, and a gin and tonic are both highballs! Put some class in your glass with these gold swizzle sticks to make sure you always have the perfect mix. If you upgrade your highball game to a pitcher, just use a wooden spoon.
Nothing gets a party started better than being greeted with a killer punch in an awesome punch bowl. Maybe you’re already spending a bunch of time researching large-format cocktails or planning to top it off with cider or prosecco, so you might as well spend some extra effort on the finer details like using an ornate serving bowl instead of the classic thrift-store punch set. Pair your bowl with found tea cups for an extra pop of style. (P.S. Don’t use sherbet and 7up.)
So you’ve picked up a hard-to-find bottle of bourbon, a bottle of sweet vermouth made from sherry that you read about, and bitters that were barrel aged, so do you reach for your tried-and-true Rainforest Café Hurricane glass? If that doesn’t sound right, or hits too close to home, it’s time to upgrade your tools. This kit has a mixing glass with braided sides to keep it from slipping out of your hand, a Japanese-style jigger for precise measurement, a barspoon that glides in your fingers and weighted shaker tins so you can mix with the pros. Unless you have bottomless fries at your house, it’s time to get rid of the Hurricane glass. Happy mixing!
Communities Near You
Related Stories & Recipes
