The Bar Spoon is as essential to a Bartender as a Cocktail Shaker. But using one that you don't get on with can be as much of a hindrance as not having one in the first place.

At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking a Bar Spoon is just a Bar Spoon. But there are subtle differences that make and break its effectiveness. Its Balance, its weight, and the size of the bowl in the spoon all affect how efficiently you can use it.

Before we dive deeper, let's look at why you need a Bar Spoon in the first place.

1. Stirring Drinks. You'll need a spoon for all those Cocktails that don't require Shaking. Straws and Fingers just don't have the same efficiency or hygiene!
2. Measuring. Believe it or not, to many Bartenders, using a Spoon to measure Syrups or Liqueurs is part of maybe 50% of the Drinks on a Menu.
3. Layering those B52 and Irish Frog Shooters
4. Muddling & Pressing if it has a disc at one end
5. Picking Fruit and Garnishes if there's a fork at one end

Annoying, there is not one perfect spoon that does all jobs really well, and that is why many Bartenders have 2-3 different Spoons.

Let's explain;

Stirring Drinks

This is undoubtedly the most frequent use of a Bar Spoon. But having the right Bar Spoon is crucial. And you may think us slightly biased when saying this, but if you spend a little more on a really good spoon, you'll instantly notice the difference. First up, let's talk balance. More expensive Bar Spoons pay more attention to the centre of the spoon, whereas cheaper ones can be bottom heavy and this will affect the speed at which you can stir and even how comfortable it feels in your hand. Spoons that are great for stirring tend to be around 30cm and have the smaller Bowls at one end and Teardrops at the other. The Teardrop acts as a weight to create the perfect balance. If you have a Spoon with a Disc at one end and a larger bowl, it tends to be more awkward to stir Cocktails as they're unbalanced.

Measuring

Knowing how many ml the bowl is is crucial to a Bartender. A lot of recipes call for a Bar Spoon of syrup. Traditionally, a Bar Spoon is 5ml, which relates to most Bar Spoons with a smaller Bowl. The larger bowls can be in excess of 10ml. You could make the Cocktail all wrong if you didn't know that. It may not sound much, but it can make a huge difference to some people's palates.

Layering

Back in the 90s and 00s, layered Shooters were huge sellers. If you were out on a Friday or Saturday night and you didn't see a round of B52s or even Flaming Lamborghinis being built, something was wrong! This is where the twisted Bar Spoon came into its own, and honestly, the very reason most bars had a Bar Spoon before classy Old Fashioned and Negronis became popular and needed stirring down. Before training, most Bartenders would simply pour the liqueur or spirit over the bar of a Bar Spoon. However, those in the know knew that if they poured the liqueur from halfway up the twisted stem, not only would it create Bar Theatrics, but it also became a doddle to layer the hardest of shooters! Now, of course, in the mid-2020s, Layered Shooters are seldom seen. However, the big use for the Twisted Spoon is pouring Champagne. The simple art of pouring your fizz down the spoon preserves all the fizz in the glass without causing the bubble reducing froth!

Functional Ended Bar Spoons

Perhaps the cheaper, more common Bar Spoon comes with a Disc at the end. Many people think it's a Muddler, and they'd be nearly correct. Buying a dedicated Muddler will be more stable, cause fewer injuries, and make the job much easier. But you can use that Disc to press Herbs, for example, Mint in a Julep or a Mojito. Soft Herbs don't need muddling; you'll get the bitterness out of the leaves and shred them into tiny pieces. But pressing them with the disc can release all the flavours and oils you need.

Other Barspoons have a fork at one end, designed for you to be able to pick up fruit to garnish a cocktail with the same tool that you've stirred the Cocktail with. Saving you time.

Summing up;

We may have just made Bar Spoons way more complicated than they actually need to be. But it all depends on your venue and what you need it for in the first place. But we think we can all come to the same conclusion that not all Bar Spoons were created equal and you may just need 2 or 3 to do different jobs behind your bar.