Bartender rolls

The first question is whether you already own tools. If you work with a shaker and a jigger you like, buy the empty roll and slide your own kit into the slots. It is deliberately cut generously, so even a large Boston shaker fits. If you are starting from nothing, a complete set is a more logical beginning, because the sizes and lengths are matched to one another and you will not discover halfway through that your strainer does not fit your shaker. Then look at the finish. Stainless steel is the level-headed choice and shows fingerprints least. Copper and gold are both a coating over steel: handsome on an open bar where the guest is watching, but more prone to scratching and not meant for the dishwasher. Black is coated as well and sits somewhere between the two in use.

Lay the roll open beside your work surface rather than behind it, so you do not have to turn around while making a drink. Put the jigger and the bar spoon closest to your hand, because those are by far the ones you reach for most. For a Mojito you only need the muddler and the bar spoon, and the shaker stays in its slot. For an Espresso Martini you do use the shaker and the strainer, and you shake hard and briefly enough to build foam. Only roll the case up once everything is dry, because moisture in canvas starts to smell within a few days.

Do not machine wash the canvas. Brush it out, wipe it with a damp cloth and let it dry fully open before you roll it up again. Keep the leather straps dry, because leather that has been wet goes hard and splits along the fold. The stainless steel tools can go in the dishwasher, the coated versions cannot. Wash those by hand in lukewarm water and dry them straight away, otherwise you get marks in the coating that will not polish out.

If you want to add individual pieces or replace something worn out, the cocktail shakers, the bar spoons, the jiggers and the muddlers are each available separately. If you are after the glassware that goes with the tools, start with the cocktail glasses, where the coupes, the tumblers and the highballs are sorted by shape so you can see which glass suits which recipe.