We Put 8 Bar Spoons to the Test—Here Are Our Favorites for Mixing Up Drinks

When you’re stirring a drink, the mixing glass might command the most attention with its almost alchemist-like look. But a good bar spoon is also a beautiful tool to behold, helping to ensure a Negroni, Sazerac, or any other stirred cocktail is the perfect temperature. Bar spoons can also offer added bonuses, like a muddler on one end to express mint in a Mojito; a hefty weight to help crack larger ice cubes before adding them to the drink; or a trident tip to help you pick up garnishes without touching them.

As a fervent martini fan, former bartender, and generally picky person, I wanted to see if any bar spoons would really impress me. So, I tested eight of the highest-rated bar spoons on the market. The results were mixed: while some bar spoons were sturdy, others felt flimsy and did a poor job of stirring the ice around. Some had useful added features, while others were clunky or poorly constructed.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Bar Spoon

Crafthouse by Fortessa Signature Collection Bar Spoon

$17 $15 at Amazon $17 at Williams Sonoma $21 at Walmart

Crafthouse by Fortessa’s bar spoon earned high praise, mainly due to its snazzier design and weighted end. The latter is adept at muddling and hammering ice.

The Best Bar Spoon with a Muddler

Barfly Muddle Bar Spoon Bar Spoon

$15 at Amazon

I also liked the Barfly Muddle Bar Spoon, which had a flat muddler end that was helpful for layering cocktails, as well as for muddling herbs and citrus.

The Tests

• Quality Test: To ensure each spoon would withstand drink after drink, I tried bending the spoon to see if it was flimsy. I also washed each bar spoon as directed to see if it rusted, dulled, or discolored. 
• Cocktail Layering Test: To see how well the bar spoon layers ingredients, I made a standard New York Sour and strained it into a glass, using a bar spoon to layer the red wine float. I examined if the spoon layered seamlessly, or if the red wine sank to the bottom of the drink. I also noted if the spoon created any splashes or spills. 
• Added Features Test: I tested out the added spoon features, such as muddlers, weights, and tridents to see how they performed and if they were functional. 
• Manhattan Test: I made a Manhattan using each bar spoon to examine how the spoon felt when stirring, if it integrated the drink well and was comfortable to hold, and if it was easy to use when layering the vermouth over the brown spirits.

What We Learned

Twists Were A Good Thing

There are two visible design differences you might notice with bar spoons: some have a twist in them, while others are completely straight. So, why a twist? Well, it’s good for pouring liquids down the bar spoon to break the surface tension. It’s also a particularly great tool for carbonated beverages—it agitates the bubbles to increase carbonation. You can also use the twist to coax an ingredient down the shaft to get a stellar layer. The Viski, Crafthouse by Fortessa, Cocktail Kingdom, and Barfly all offered twists in their handles.

Versatility Was an Added Bonus 

The other major difference between bar spoons is at the other end. Some are merely rounded, others feature a red cap at the tip of the spoon, while some have things like muddling ends or tridents. While not necessary, they can be good for helping out with other bartending tasks, like breaking up ice or moving garnishes. But they only worth having if they’re of good quality—you don’t want to opt for a trident that can’t properly stab a citrus (a fault I found with the Viski Trident bar spoon), nor do you want a weight that can’t properly crack ice (like RSVP International Endurance).

Handle Length Mattered

If the handle is too short, your hand might brush up against the side of the mixing glass—a short bar spoon is only good for stirring directly in a glass or scooping out cherries. Too long, and it’s almost too awkward to smoothly mix. Twelve inches is standard, though brands may add or subtract an inch or two. If you do opt for a longer one, look for one with weight on the end to balance out the length.

I preferred handles that were 12 inches in length; this size allowed me to stir with grace and ease, balancing out the weight of the spoon. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Bar Spoon

While the category may seem small (after all, it’s simply a long spoon) bar spoons can range wildly in style and quality. I wanted to find a bar spoon that wouldn't bend and that was sturdy enough to guide the ice around a mixing glass with ease. I also wanted the bowl of the spoon to be large enough (but not too large) to dole out ingredients. Additional points were awarded if the other end of a bar spoon was useful, be it a weight to crack ice or a forked tip to move garnishes.

Our Favorite Bar Spoons

The Best Bar Spoon

Crafthouse by Fortessa Signature Collection Bar Spoon

$17 $15 at Amazon $17 at Williams Sonoma $21 at Walmart

What we liked: This bar spoon is crafted by a bartender, specifically Charles Joly, who has cleaned up many awards at international competitions and manned a bastion of high-end bars. It has a nice steep bowl that creates a meniscus in the liquid. It’s also nicely balanced to allow for greater control and grip while stirring. Plus, it features a well-designed and weighted end that allows for a multitude of uses. All in all, a durable, workhorse of a bar spoon.

What we didn’t like: While the weighted end is great for muddling and other hefty tasks, the spoon is rather top heavy. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Handle style: Twisted
• Handle length: 12.5 inches
• End Design: Weighted
• Spoon bowl capacity: 3.7 ml
• Care instruction: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Bar Spoon with a Muddler

Barfly Muddle Bar Spoon Bar Spoon

$15 at Amazon

What we liked: Instead of a weighted, rounded end, this bar spoon has a thick, flat, muddling end. The muddling end easily breaks down and expresses citrus and herbs, plus it doubles as a utensil for cracking ice. Another bonus of the muddler: The flat side allows for easy layering of spirits in drinks like a New York Sour or Mai Tai. The bowl of the spoon is also nicely shaped and well-sized.

What we didn’t like: The muddler top is rather heavy, and it requires hand washing.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Handle style: Twisted
• Handle length: 11.8 inches
• End Design: Muddler
• Spoon bowl size: 3.7 ml
• Care instruction: Hand wash with mild soap and warm water

The Competition

• Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Bar Spoon: This an excellent bar spoon, but it's more than double the price of our two favorite models. However, if you want to spend up, you won't be disappointed by it.
• Tezzorio 11-Inch Stainless Steel Bar Spoon with Red Knob: This bar spoon was flimsy. That said, if you’re looking for a bar spoon on a budget, it’s a perfectly serviceable option.
• RSVP International Endurance Long-Handled Bar Spoon: While this spoon gets serious style points, it’s lacking in many other areas. It’s quite short, and the spoon is very small, holding just a few drops of liquid—offering half the capacity of other spoons on this list.
• Viski Trident Bar Spoon: The length of the overall bar spoon was an issue—it was just too long to be versatile behind the bar and was difficult to stir with. While I loved the idea of a trident tip, this trident wasn’t sharp enough to properly pick up items. (Though, it will help you pull cherries out from the bottom of the glass.)
• Hiware LZS13B 12 Inches Stainless Steel Mixing Spoon: This spoon was sturdy, a good length, and highly affordable. But, the bowl was slightly small, and the edges of the spiral handle were slightly sharp.
• A Bar Above Heavyweight Bar Spoons: The set offers two options: one twisted bar spoon and one with a straight handle. Both are nicely heavy and feature a weighted top for cracking ice, plus a rounded bowl that holds ingredients well. I appreciated how ergonomic they felt, too. Versatility aside, if you prefer one over another you’re left with an extra bar spoon you might not use.

FAQs

Why use a bar spoon?

A bar spoon’s core purpose is to stir a drink, ensuring that the ingredients are well incorporated. Beyond that, a bar spoon is a measuring tool and a device for breaking ice and layering drinks

Why is a bar spoon twisted?

The twist compliments the stirring motion and helps you guide the spoon around the glass without splashing (with a good stir, you’re not pushing the spoon, you’re guiding it). And by pouring the liquid down the handle, the twist also guides the spirit or ingredient down without spillage. With a carbonated beverage, pouring down the handle agitates the bubbles, offering higher-energy bubbles. 

What is a bar spoon measurement equivalent to?

If you see a bar spoon measurement in a recipe, the standard consensus is that it’s equal to five milliliters.

What is the average length of a bar spoon?

A bar spoon is typically around 12 inches long, which allows you to mix in shakers or mixing glasses with ample room.

How do you stir a drink with a bar spoon?

Bar spoons are designed with a twist down the handle so that it can rotate in your fingers while you stir. To stir with a bar spoon, place the handle between your middle finger and ring finger, and the concave side of the spoon against the glass. Rotate your wrist gently in a circle, and the the spoon will naturally spin around the outside of the glass, gently letting the ice in the drink mix your cocktail.