Why Your Cocktail Kit Is Missing These 5 Essentials
By Brass Monkey Goods | Vintage Inspired Smartassery | Online | Published: 2026-10-18
Category: Tips & Care
Most cocktail kits skip the tools you actually need. Here are the 5 missing essentials for a functional home bar setup.
Quick answer
Most cocktail sets look complete but skip the tools you actually reach for first. Here are the 5 essentials your kit is probably missing.
Why standard kits fall short
Cocktail sets sold as all-in-one bundles often include a shaker, jigger, and strainer but leave out the smaller items that make mixing smooth. These omissions aren't accidental—they keep the price low and the box compact. But once you start making drinks at home, you quickly notice what's missing.
The trade-off between compact and complete
A travel-friendly kit can't hold everything, so you have to decide what matters most. If you host often, a larger set with more tools is better. If you take your kit to parties or camping, a compact set with a few add-ons works fine.
Diagnosis: 5 missing essentials
- 1. Bottle opener: Symptom: You have a shaker and jigger but can't open the bottle. Likely cause: Most kits assume you already own one. Corrective action: Add a standalone bottle opener or choose a kit that includes one. Brass Monkey's emergency drinking kit has one built in. If your kit lacks a bottle opener, buy a separate one or swap kits.
- 2. Measuring jigger: Symptom: Your drinks taste inconsistent. Likely cause: You're eyeballing pours. Corrective action: Get a double-sided jigger (1 oz and 2 oz). If your kit came with a single jigger, consider upgrading to a marked one. A jigger is non-negotiable for balanced cocktails.
- 3. Muddler: Symptom: You can't make muddled drinks like mojitos or old fashioneds. Likely cause: Kits rarely include a muddler. Corrective action: Buy a wooden or stainless steel muddler separately. If you don't muddle often, skip this. Only buy a muddler if you regularly make muddled cocktails.
- 4. Hawthorne strainer: Symptom: Ice or herbs end up in your glass. Likely cause: Your shaker lid has small holes but no built-in strainer. Corrective action: Add a Hawthorne strainer with a spring coil for fine straining. If you use a Boston shaker, you already need one. A separate strainer is essential for a clean pour.
- 5. Recipe card or book: Symptom: You stare at your tools and don't know what to make. Likely cause: No guidance included. Corrective action: Look for a kit with a recipe card or mini book. Brass Monkey's kit includes a mini cocktail recipe book to get you started. A recipe guide turns tools into actual drinks.
Product facts
- In The Event Of Sobriety Emergency Drinking Kit: Includes a collapsible metal travel cup, glass mini flask, bottle opener, metal straw, and a mini cocktail recipe book. This kit covers the basics and adds a bottle opener and recipe book—two items many sets skip—so you're ready to mix anywhere.
In The Event Of Sobriety Emergency Drinking Kit
