Perfect temperatures, exact pours, hand-crafted cocktails—the tools that make these possible are a bartender’s best friend.
2014 Buyer's Guide
Draft Beer Towers
Tapping into the craft brew craze is easy with Perlick's new Draft Beer Tower, which includes 115 new glycol-ready options, some with up to 36 faucets—as witnessed by Union Public House in Tucson, Arizona, which offers 30 beers on tap via three sets of 10-faucet Perlick Brew Pipe Towers. Pricing—dependent on style, finish, construction material, and the number of faucets—ranges from $800 for a simple 1-faucet draft arm to $12,000+ for a 20-faucet Brew Pipe Tower. Perlick.com
Quiet Blend
Up to four times quieter than other commecial blenders, The Quiet One is a powerful, premium blender designed to create an efficient, non-intrusive front-of-the-house experience. Six function settings with 34 optimized programs deliver a superior blend, improved speed-of-service, and unparalleled sound reduction. Perfect for mixing drinks or blended coffees. $1,298.65 Vitamix.com
ID Verification
Instantly verify drinking age with barZapp software. Using Intellicheck Mobilisa's patented ID-check software, barZapp instantly verifies American and Canadian driver licenses, ID cards, and U.S. military and government-issued ID cards. Simply use the built-in camera of an iPhone or Android to capture the ID's barcode. A one-time subscription fee of $1.99 covers 10 or fewer scans per day; a $19.95 monthly fee allows unlimited scans. Icmobil.com
IPA Glassware
Who better to design IPA glassware than two of the leading brewers: Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, in partnership with Spiegelau. The custom-made glass has a comfortably wide opening to let drinkers savor the aromatic profiles of hoppy IPAs, while preserving the beer's frothy head, and enhancing the taste and mouthfeel. $24.90 for set of 2. Riedelusa.net
Wine Preservation
Precision temperature control, adjustable portion control, and 30-day wine preservation make WineEmotion a great beverage addition. Bottles are sealed and pressurized with argon or nitrogen gas, preserving the organoleptic integrity—taste, aroma, body, and color—of a wine. WineEmotion Series 3, priced $4,900 to $12,500. WineEmotionUSA.com
60-Inch Dual-Zone Wine Center
Serving wine by the glass is simplified with Perlick's 60-inch Dual-Zone Wine Center, which supports one temperature for white wines and another for reds, so you can always pour the perfect glass. Prices start at $6,256 and vary depending on the door/drawer configurations, finish options, and LED light options. Perlick.com
Muddle On
The long and short of it is this: You just can't beat the quality of American Metalcraft's stainless steel muddlers—perfect for crushing fruit, condiments, and other cocktail ingredients. Priced $13.20 each (7-inch muddler); $16.50 each (10-inch muddler). Amnow.com
Plug-and-Pour WineStation
Designed for immediate, table-top operation, no plumbing, condensers, or additional construction costs are required—and Napa Technology's WineStation 3.0 allows operators of all sizes to implement vintner-approved 60-day preservation, temperature, and service controls that eliminate theft, waste, and overpouring. $4,000–$7,000 NapaTechnology.com
Shake it Up
Heavy-duty, stainless steel cocktail shaker with a 22-ounce capacity adds classy form and long-lasting function to the bar. $52 each. Amnow.com
Refillable Beer Pouch
The Beer Pouch was designed as an eco-friendly, flexible alternative to glass growlers. The pouch holds a full 64 ounces, has a convenient screw top, and prevents oxygen or sunlight from harming the beer's taste. $2.85–$3.50 each, minimum order 200. BeerPouch.webstarts.com
Spotlight on Beverages
The Double-Wide LED Lighted Liquor Bottle Display Rail stores and illuminates two rows of premium liquor bottles. Each side of the shelf operates independently and a wireless remote control operates numerous color and lighting possibilities. Available in lengths ranging from 2 feet to 8 feet, prices start at $249.95. KegWorks.com
Two-Door Froster
Glastender's new two-door mug froster is convenient to use, requires no extra space for ventilation, and is available with black, stainless steel, glass, or laminated doors. Priced to order. Glastender.com
Bar Management, Feature