The Spoon: Every Bartender Needs a Great One
The bar spoon or "mixing spoon" is a vital piece of bartender equipment originating from the spoons used by French apothecaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In the American equipment supplier Farrow & Jackson’s 1898 catalogue, a large selection of these "French apothecary spoons" can be found, as well as "Mazagran spoons" (named after a town in Algeria famous for its coffee) which were sold to English and American bartenders as "bar spoons."
At the start of this century, Nicolas Saint-Jean, the famous bartender, created the iconic bar spoon image with his famous move of a cocktail glass balanced on a bar spoon, sitting on his forearm.
Nowadays suppliers sell a wide range of different styles, but Japan is the country of choice for bar spoons. The Japanese manufacturer Naranja offers a fun range of bar spoons, such as a 50 cm gold or silver spoon that sells over the Internet for around €60 and is very popular with bartenders.
Most of today’s bar spoons are made of stainless steel, but you can still find silver spoons for a touch of originality. What’s more, their well-balanced weight makes it easier to perform spoon twirls, always a pleasure to watch.
For more information, visit Naranja, Boutique Bar, Huitiememonde and Cocktail Kingdom
Image © Loran Dhérines
