A bar cart with the wrong stuff on it is just a rolling surface of regret. Cheap jiggers that don't measure accurately. Glasses that feel thin and hollow. Flasks that leak. Ice that melts in four minutes and waters everything down.
The right barware supplies change how drinks taste, hold up when you're hosting 15 people, and look intentional sitting out in your space. Not everything needs to do all three, but the best pieces do at least two.
Here's what's worth the shelf space.
Barware Supplies That Make Cocktails Worth the Effort
There's a difference between making a drink and making a good drink. It comes down to precision, temperature, and fresh ingredients.
Start with ice. Most people underestimate how much it matters. Small ice cubes melt fast and dilute drinks before you've finished the first sip. The Peak Ice Works Extra Large Ice Cube Tray makes oversized cubes that melt slowly and keep the ratio right from first sip to last. If you want something more unique, check these prism, petal and sphere-shaped ice molds to add some pizazz.
Measuring properly can make it or break it. Free-pouring looks impressive but produces inconsistent drinks. Use the Viski Large Japanese Style for maximum accuracy.
For smoky cocktails, the Viski Alchemi Single Serve Smoked Cocktail Kit uses real wood chips to cold-smoke drinks tableside. It works on whiskey, mezcal, old fashioneds, and anything else that benefits from a smoky finish. Keep oak chip refills on hand once you start using it.
Wine drinkers: the True Aerial Aerating Wine Pourer aerates wine as you pour it, which opens up the flavour without waiting 30 minutes for it to breathe. The True Vacu Vin 3-Piece Set keeps opened bottles fresh for days with a pump stopper that removes the air from the bottle. The Wand Rapid-Action Wine Filter reduces sulfites and histamines in wine, useful for anyone who gets headaches from red wine (me, guilty).
Barware That Survives House Parties
Not every piece of barware needs to be precious. When you're hosting a crowd, you need things that handle volume, survive being passed around, and don't require babysitting.
The Viski Admiral Crystal Cocktail Shaker in Stainless Steel is built for real use. Heavy enough to feel substantial, tight enough seal that nothing leaks mid-shake, easy enough to clean that you'll actually do it after a long night.
Cooling cups handle the volume problem. The Beer FREEZE Cooling Cup pre-freezes and keeps beer cold for hours without ice. No watered-down drinks halfway through the party. Works for anyone who's tired of warm beer at outdoor gatherings.
Flasks for people who move between locations. The Stainless Steel Flask sits flat in a jacket pocket and doesn't sweat or condense. The Viski Flask and Traveling Case comes with a case that protects it in a bag - useful for skiing, camping, or any situation where your gear gets thrown around.
The Viski Double Opener Corkscrew works every time. Double-hinged so you're not fighting the cork. Stainless so it doesn't corrode. The one you stop replacing every year.
Barware Worth Displaying on Your Bar Cart
Some barware earns a permanent spot on the cart because it looks too good to put away.
The Riedel Laudon Tumbler comes in 11 colours and looks like it belongs in a boutique hotel bar. Riedel has been making glassware since 1756, so you can rest assured that they know how to make quality tumblers.
The Verve Mexican Handblown Glasses in Aqua are each made individually, which means slight variation in shape and colour that you can't get from mass-produced glassware.
Barware for People Who Know the Mountain
Whistler has its own category of barware. The kind that understand what life up here looks like - skiing mornings, long afternoons, evenings with friends après ski.
Let’s start with the MTNPK Whistler Blackcomb Collection. A set of mountain-themed barware designed specifically around Whistler Blackcomb. For locals, it's recognizable. For visitors, it's a piece of the mountain they can take home.
The Zootility Whistler Bottle Opener Silver is a flat, wallet-sized bottle opener with the Whistler mountain profile cut into the steel. It goes in your jacket pocket, your ski pass holder, or sits on the bar cart without taking up space.
The Ski Trail Shot Glasses are printed with ski trail maps. Way better than a “Hard Rock Cafe” shot collection.
Ready to give your bar a facelift?
Browse our complete barware collection and bar supplies online, or come find us at our Creekside location at 2063 Lake Placid Rd in Whistler. We'll help you figure out what actually belongs on your cart.
