Five Essential Things You Need To Buy From Bar Keeper
What does a former reality TV show producer who, tired of his industry and looking for a change, do for a second act in his career?
Open up a high-end bar supply store, of course.
Bar Keeper, the Silverlake store owned and operated by Joe Keeper, has for the last seven years catered to the drink industry, the home cocktail enthusiast and even TV, providing the vintage glassware you see on “Mad Men.” It prides itself on being a “head shop” for those who want to prepare and serve their cocktails with style, complete with gadgets, glassware, bars, books and beakers, as well as a variety of new and vintage barware. Keeper (both man and store) has been filling the shelves of top Los Angeles mixology joints ranging from The Varnish to Playa. They even work with clients from such diverse cities as Salt Lake City and, of all places, Morocco.
“Mixology isn’t about drinking,” says Keeper. “It’s about the ritual of it all.” With that in mind, Société Perrier and Bar Keeper give you the five essential things you need for your home bar.
1) Multi-level jigger: A universal measuring device with various size increments, you can easily determine the amount of alcohol per drink. It also saves space.
2) Bar spoon: Yes, it’s just basically a long spoon, but still a crucial component to your home bar. As Keeper says, “Despite what James Bond likes, most cocktails are stirred, not shaken.” That being said you will need a…
3) Shaker: If you are using an ingredient that is a coagulant (such as lime or lemon pulp), you’ll need a shaker. You can choose from the two-part Boston or the three-part Cobbler. Tip from Keeper: use a bit of olive oil between the top and bottom to lube it up and keep it from sticking.
4) Bar strainer: Used to remove ice from a mixed drink as it is poured into the serving glass. You might not think it that important but trust us, it makes life a whole hell of a lot easier. As Keeper states: “It just makes it easier when you’re not fighting the tool, you’re simply making the product.”
5) Glassware — “The glass tells you what it’s intended for, ” Keeper says. A martini glass is thin and therefore not good for ice. A cordial glass is short (only one and a half ounces), perfect for your after-dinner drink. And a rock glass is heavier at the bottom to help lessen the heat transference from your hand so your ice won’t melt.
And speaking of ice…
Bonus item!
6) Ice trays —There are trays that actually offer two-inch ice cubes, which equal two ounces, and an ice tray that serves up one-inch ice cubes, which equal one-ounce.That makes it great because the math is essentially done for you. And as Keeper says, “Any monkey can make ice but it’s often overlooked. You can buy proper ice trays for your proper drinks.”
Bar Keeper 3910 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, CA 90029
