Stirring sticks

Choose the length to suit your tallest glass. An 18 cm stirrer comes just above a highball glass, so you can still see it. In a tall hurricane glass or a tulip-shaped beer glass, it sinks out of sight. For those, 20 cm is a better choice. If a stirrer is too long, it tips over when you set the glass down and takes the garnish with it.

Next, the finish. Stainless steel has a neutral color and goes with just about any bar. Copper looks warmer. It works well with tiki drinks, mule-style drinks, and anywhere copper mugs are already in use. The top helps you make the final choice. A pineapple suits tropical drinks, while the shaker is right for a classic bar. If the stirrer is just for stirring, the flat disc is the most understated option. The shaker version is also available in a set of six, handy when serving a whole table at once.

Hold the muddler against the side of the glass and stir with short strokes from bottom to top. Don’t stir in circles. This brings the heavy syrup up while keeping the ice intact. Crushed ice makes your drink watery faster. Making a mojito or caipirinha? First press the mint or lime with the broad end.

Always serve a long drink with the muddler in it, with the top turned toward your guest. A stirred drink in a coupe, on the other hand, doesn’t get a muddler. That kind of drink is ready once it’s in the glass, and stirring it at the table only makes it warmer.

Stainless steel requires the least effort. It’s dishwasher-safe, doesn’t discolor, and handles acidic drinks well. Copper needs a little more care. Air and citrus make it darken over time. Some bars like that look. Others polish it away with a soft cloth and a little lemon juice.

Wash copper straws by hand and dry them immediately. A long dishwasher cycle damages the finish and causes stains. Store them upright in a holder or flat in a drawer so the tip doesn’t bend.

If you want to skewer a garnish through the drink instead of placing it beside it, grab cocktail picks. For proper stirring in a mixing glass, use one of the bar spoons. You can find the glasses that best suit these stirrers under highball glasses and cocktail glasses. Looking for a recipe? Check out the mojito or the Cuba Libre. The rest of the tools are listed under bar tools.