A bar spoon looks like a small thing, and home bartenders often make do with a teaspoon or a chopstick. It is a long, thin tool built for one motion: spinning ice around a glass so a drink gets cold and slightly diluted without being shaken. It is the tool that finishes a small bar.
In a working kitchen you judge a utensil by whether it reaches, whether it grips when it is wet, and whether it can stand up to the sink. The same three questions pick the best bar spoon. Length decides whether it fits your glass, the handle decides how it spins, and the end decides what else it can do.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which cocktail spoon to buy
For most home bars, the best bar spoon is the Barfly Teardrop Bar Spoon, 30 cm: a one-piece stainless steel core, a length inside America’s Test Kitchen’s preferred range, and a stainless finish that can go in the dishwasher. If you want the model that won that comparison, choose the Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop. If you stir drinks by the pitcher, choose the A Bar Above Long Spoon Set.
Below are seven spoons from five makers, each with one honest reason to skip it.
Five bar spoons side by side
Five standout picks, one for each kind of buyer, with the details each maker or listing states. All seven spoons are reviewed in full below.
| Spoon | Best for | Length | End | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barfly Teardrop Bar Spoon, 30 cmBest overall
|
Most home bars | 11 13/16 in (30 cm) | Weighted teardrop | View on Amazon |
Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon, Gold, 30 cmTest-kitchen favorite
|
Independent backing, gold finish | 30 cm | Weighted teardrop | View on Amazon |
Crafthouse by Fortessa Twisted Bar SpoonBest flat end
|
Sugar-cube drinks, dishwasher use | 12 to 12.5 in | Flat micro-muddler | View on Amazon |
True Trident Cocktail Spoon, 10 inBest for garnishes
|
Olives, cherries, short glasses | 10 in | Trident fork | View on Amazon |
A Bar Above Long Spoon Set, 15 in, 2 SpoonsBest for pitchers
|
Pitchers and big batches | 15 in | Plain | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Details are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best bar spoon
We start with spoons that stir well at a standard length, then move to spoons with a useful end, and finish with the long ones. Each one answers a different need.
1. Barfly Teardrop Bar Spoon, 30 cm – The Right Length for Most Drinks
This is the spoon we would buy first. At 11 13/16 inches (30 cm) it sits inside the 10.5 to 12.25 inch range that America’s Test Kitchen preferred when it compared barspoons, because a spoon that size rises a comfortable 4 to 6 inches above the rim of a shaker. That leaves room for your fingers and keeps the spoon easy to steer.
Barfly describes a one-piece stainless steel core, which is the detail to look for in a spoon you will spin in a glass of ice, since there is no joint to work loose. The stem is twisted for grip and the weighted teardrop end gives it balance. BestReviews also puts a Barfly Teardrop at the top of its list, although the version it covers is the longer 15.75-inch copper one.
The bowl is shaped for stirring and for a smooth transfer of liquid, and the listing does not give its width or volume. Barfly says stainless models are dishwasher safe but recommends hand washing with mild soap and warm water, and it warns against detergents with bleach or heavy chlorination. That takes a few seconds at the sink, so it is an easy rule to follow.
Why we like it
- One-piece stainless steel core, per Barfly
- 30 cm length falls in the range America’s Test Kitchen preferred
- Weighted teardrop end for balance, per the listing
- Stainless version is dishwasher safe, per Barfly
Key specifications
| Model | M37012 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 11 13/16 in (30 cm) |
| Handle | Twisted |
| End | Weighted teardrop |
| Bowl | Size not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes, hand wash recommended |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Anyone stocking a home bar for the first time. It fits a mixing glass, a shaker tin and a tall highball, and it does the one job a bar spoon has without extras you may never use.
Skip it if you mostly stir pitchers, where a longer spoon reaches the bottom with less fuss.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Comfortable length for most glasses and tins
- One-piece core has no joint to loosen
- Dishwasher safe in stainless
Cons
- Bowl size is not stated
- Maker still recommends hand washing
- Country of origin is not stated
2. Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon, Gold, 30 cm – A Test-Kitchen Favorite in Gold
The Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop is the winner of the America’s Test Kitchen barspoon comparison. The reviewers call it “just the right length for most cocktail shakers” and say its medium bowl is “big enough to remove garnishes steadily.” They give it as 12 inches long with a 1-inch bowl and a handle twisted from top to bottom, which is the handle style they preferred.
This listing is the gold-plated finish of that spoon. We list it here because the stainless steel listing already appears on our page of cocktail shaker alternatives, and we try not to send you to the same listing twice. Both are the 30 cm Teardrop, so the finish is the real choice. America’s Test Kitchen does not say which finish it looked at.
Cocktail Kingdom says the smooth coil gives the spoon a steady feel and that the weighted top adds balance. The plating changes the care: this one is hand wash only, so it belongs next to the sink, not in the dishwasher rack. If you would rather not think about that, take the stainless listing from the page linked above.
Why we like it
- Same model America’s Test Kitchen named its favorite
- Twisted from top to bottom, the style those reviewers preferred
- About 1-inch bowl handles garnishes, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Designed for stirred cocktails, per Cocktail Kingdom
Key specifications
| Model | Teardrop (BSP_TEARDROPCK |
|---|---|
| Material | Gold-plated, base metal not stated |
| Length | 30 cm |
| Handle | Twisted, smooth coil |
| End | Weighted teardrop |
| Bowl | About 1 in, per America’s Test Kitchen |
| Dishwasher | No, hand wash only |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Someone who wants the spoon with the strongest independent backing and likes a gold finish on the bar cart. It looks at home next to a gold jigger or shaker.
Skip it if the spoon has to go through the dishwasher; the listing says hand wash only.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strongest independent review on this page
- Full-length twist
- Medium bowl suits narrow tins
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Plating needs more care than bare steel
- Listing does not state the base metal
3. Crafthouse by Fortessa Twisted Bar Spoon – A Flat End for Sugar Cubes
Crafthouse is the barware line Fortessa makes with Charles Joly, whom the listing describes as a World Champion Bartender. It is a plain, well-proportioned spoon with one idea that sets it apart from the rest of this list.
That idea is at the end of the handle. In place of a teardrop there is a flat foot that the maker calls a micro-muddler, for small jobs such as crushing sugar for an Old Fashioned. It will not stand in for a full muddler with mint or lime, but it saves a tool when all you need is a sugar cube broken down. Our muddler guide covers the real thing.
The twist runs through the middle of the stem, which the maker says spins easily and gives better control. America’s Test Kitchen preferred a twist from top to bottom because a middle-only twist limits where your hand can go, so that is worth weighing. The title gives the length as 12.5 inches and a feature line says 12, and either is a sensible size. It is dishwasher safe, and the bowl is listed as a 1/8 measure, though the listing does not say 1/8 of what.
Why we like it
- Flat end crushes sugar, per the maker
- From a line developed with bartender Charles Joly
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Reaches into taller pitchers and carafes, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | CRFTHS.5.1232 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 12 to 12.5 in (listing gives both) |
| Handle | Twisted through the middle |
| End | Flat micro-muddler |
| Bowl | 1/8 measure, unit not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
People who make Old Fashioneds or other sugar-cube drinks and want one tool for the sugar and the stir. The dishwasher rating also suits a busy home bar.
Skip it if you want a grip along the whole handle, since the twist covers only the middle.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Flat end adds a small second job
- Dishwasher safe
- Fits taller pitchers as well as glasses
Cons
- Middle-only twist gives fewer hand positions
- Listing disagrees with itself on length
- Bowl measure has no unit
4. Barfly Standard Bar Spoon, Japanese Style, 33.5 cm – Extra Reach for Tall Tins
BestReviews calls the Japanese type the sturdiest of the common bar spoon styles, often with a teardrop or fork end. Barfly’s Japanese-style version runs 13 3/16 inches (33.5 cm), about an inch and a half longer than the Teardrop at the top of this list.
That extra length pushes it just past the range America’s Test Kitchen preferred for shakers, so it is not the first spoon we would suggest for a small mixing glass. It earns its place if you stir in a large tin or a tall lidded jar, where a 30 cm spoon leaves your fingers close to the rim.
Like its shorter sibling, it has a one-piece stainless steel core and a twisted stem. Barfly says the teardrop end handles small quantities of ingredients well. The same care advice applies: stainless models can go through the dishwasher, but hand washing with mild soap is the maker’s recommendation, and bleach detergents are out.
Why we like it
- 13 3/16 in reach for large tins
- One-piece stainless steel core, per Barfly
- Teardrop end for small quantities, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe, per Barfly
Key specifications
| Model | M37010 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 13 3/16 in (33.5 cm) |
| Handle | Twisted |
| End | Teardrop |
| Bowl | Size not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes, hand wash recommended |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Home bartenders who stir in big mixing tins, or who have larger hands and want more stem above the rim.
Skip it if your mixing glass is small; a 30 cm spoon will feel better in the hand.
Pros and cons
Pros
- More reach than a standard spoon
- Japanese-style shape
- Same one-piece core as the Teardrop
Cons
- Longer than America’s Test Kitchen’s preferred range
- Bowl size is not stated
- Can feel long in a rocks glass
5. Barfly Muddle Bar Spoon, 30 cm – A Toothed End for Light Muddling
This is a 30 cm Barfly spoon with a toothed end in place of the teardrop. The idea is to press a little citrus or herb right in the glass, then flip the spoon and stir, with no second tool to wash.
We would keep expectations modest. America’s Test Kitchen looked at a similar muddler spoon from Cocktail Kingdom, rated it highly as a spoon, and said the small muddler “was too small to be efficient,” while adding that it “didn’t affect the performance of the spoon itself.” That is a fair way to think about this one too, although the review did not cover this Barfly model.
So buy it as a good stirring spoon with a small bonus end. For a margarita with fresh lime or a batch of mint drinks, a proper muddler is still the better tool. The listing gives a stainless steel core, a twisted grip and the same care advice as other stainless Barfly spoons.
Why we like it
- Toothed end for muddling in the glass, per the listing
- 30 cm length suits most shakers
- Twisted stem for grip
- Dishwasher safe, per Barfly
Key specifications
| Model | M37018 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 11 13/16 in (30 cm) |
| Handle | Twisted |
| End | Toothed muddler |
| Bowl | Size not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes, hand wash recommended |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
A small bar with little storage, where one tool doing a bit of two jobs is worth more than doing each perfectly.
Skip it if you muddle often; a small end like this is slow next to a full muddler.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stirs like a standard spoon
- Saves a second tool for light jobs
- Same 30 cm length as our top pick
Cons
- Small muddler is no match for a real one
- Teeth need a careful rinse
- Bowl size is not stated
6. True Trident Cocktail Spoon, 10 in – A Fork End for Garnishes
The trident swaps the teardrop for a small fork, so you can stir, flip the spoon and lift a cherry or olive out of a jar without a second tool. The True version is 10 inches long with a spiraled stem, a concave bowl at one end and the fork at the other.
It is the shortest spoon here, and just under the 10.5 inches at the bottom of America’s Test Kitchen’s preferred range. That suits a rocks glass or a small mixing glass, but it may leave you short in a tall shaker tin. The review also has a word of warning about forks: on the Yukiwa trident it looked at, the fork “gouged holes in olives and cherries.” That review did not cover this True spoon, but the shape is the same idea, so treat the fork as a convenience.
The listing says the full twist lets you pour along the stem for layered drinks, and that the back of the bowl works for floats. The title rates it as dishwasher safe, which makes it a low-effort pick for occasional use.
Why we like it
- Fork end picks up garnishes, per the listing
- Full twisted stem
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Compact 10-inch length stores easily
Key specifications
| Model | 3051 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Length | 10 in |
| Handle | Fully twisted |
| End | Trident fork |
| Bowl | Size not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
People who top drinks with olives or cherries from a jar, and anyone who mostly stirs in short glasses.
Skip it if you stir in tall shaker tins, where 10 inches runs short.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two jobs in one tool
- Short length is handy in rocks glasses
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Short for tall tins
- Forks can tear soft garnishes, per America’s Test Kitchen’s note on another trident
- Listing states no warranty
7. A Bar Above Long Spoon Set, 15 in, 2 Spoons – Two Handles for Big Pitchers
A Bar Above says a professional bartender designed these, and the pair lets you try both main handle styles: one spoon has a spiral handle and the other is smooth. The maker’s point is that you can stir with comfort and speed without friction on your hand.
We include the 15-inch length for one reason. A pitcher of sangria, agua fresca or punch is deep, and a 12-inch spoon can disappear into it. Everywhere else, 15 inches is a lot of spoon. America’s Test Kitchen marked down a 15.75-inch spoon as too long for most shakers, saying it was “like stirring with a 10-foot pole,” so buy this set for pitchers and carafes, not for a single drink.
We have the maker’s 12-inch pair on our cocktail tool set page, and that is the better choice for everyday stirring. This longer pair is a different size for a different job, which is why it appears here too. The listing gives food-grade 304 stainless steel with a mirror finish, and rates the spoons dishwasher safe.
Why we like it
- One spiral and one smooth handle in the set
- 15-inch length reaches the bottom of deep pitchers
- 304 stainless steel, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Material | 304 stainless steel |
| Length | 15 in |
| Handle | One spiral, one smooth |
| End | Plain |
| Bowl | Size not stated |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Anyone who batches drinks for a crowd, including non-alcoholic ones. For a party, a long stirring spoon in the pitcher is simple and useful.
Skip it if you make one drink at a time; 15 inches feels unwieldy in a glass.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two spoons, two handle styles
- Long enough for deep pitchers and carafes
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Too long for most shakers and glasses
- No weighted end listed
- Listing text calls this silver set gold in one line
How to choose a bar spoon
Stirring performance turns out to be the least of it. America’s Test Kitchen found that the spoons it compared stirred about the same, and that ease of use came down to length, handle and bowl. Those are the things to check.
Length
America’s Test Kitchen preferred spoons of 10.5 to 12.25 inches, which rose 4 to 6 inches above a shaker rim. It marked down a 15.75-inch Viski spoon as “just too much spoon” for most shakers, and BestReviews also warns that spoons up to 16 inches can be unwieldy. Buy about 12 inches unless you stir in pitchers or very tall tins.
Handle
A twist from top to bottom gives the best grip, because you can choose where to hold it. Smooth handles slip more when wet, and a twist only in the middle limits your hand position. A twisted stem also helps liquid run down the spoon if you layer drinks.
Bowl
A bowl about 1 inch wide was the best compromise in America’s Test Kitchen’s comparison. Larger bowls layer drinks more easily but feel clumsy in narrow tins, and tiny ones move less ice and struggle with garnishes. If you want a true “bar spoon” measure, BestReviews suggests looking for a 2.5 ml bowl.
The other end
A teardrop adds balance. A trident lifts garnishes, a muddler end presses small jobs, and a flat foot crushes sugar. America’s Test Kitchen did not find the extra tools very useful, so treat them as a bonus and choose the spoon on its length and handle first.
Finish and care
Bare stainless steel is the easy choice, and six of these seven are rated dishwasher safe. Plated finishes look good but need gentler care, and Barfly warns against detergents with bleach or heavy chlorination. Dry any spoon before you put it away, since water sitting in the twist is the part that gets forgotten.
How to stir a drink with a bar spoon
Fill the mixing glass well with ice. Slide the spoon down the inside wall with the back of the bowl against the glass, then let it travel around the edge, holding the stem lightly between your fingers. The ice should turn as a group, not clatter.
Stir until the outside of the glass feels very cold, then strain over fresh ice or into a chilled glass. A kitchen thinks about this the way it thinks about any technique: taste, and adjust. To measure before you stir, see our guide to the best jigger. And if you are pouring for yourself or for friends, keep the drinks measured, keep them away from anyone under 21, and never drink and drive.
How we chose these seven bar spoons
We read the Amazon listings, the makers’ descriptions and two published guides: the America’s Test Kitchen barspoon comparison and the BestReviews bar spoon guide. We have not used these products ourselves. America’s Test Kitchen reviewed the Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop directly; where we use its findings on other spoons we say so, because those notes were written about similar spoons from other makers. BestReviews covered a longer version of the Barfly Teardrop. The other picks rest on the listing and the maker’s details.
Each pick was in stock when we wrote this. We left out the many multipacks on Amazon from sellers we could not identify, because they give little to judge them by. We also searched CPSC’s recall database for each maker and found no recall naming these spoons.
Bar spoon questions, answered
What is a bar spoon used for?
Mainly stirring cocktails in a mixing glass or tin, so the drink chills and dilutes without being shaken. It also helps with layering, reaching garnishes in a jar and small measures.
Why are bar spoons twisted?
The twist gives a better grip when the handle is wet, and it lets the spoon turn easily in your fingers. It also guides liquid down the stem when you layer a drink.
How long should a cocktail mixing spoon be?
About 12 inches suits most glasses and shakers. America’s Test Kitchen preferred 10.5 to 12.25 inches. Go longer only for pitchers and tall tins.
How much does a bar spoon hold?
BestReviews gives 2.5 ml as the “bar spoonful” to look for, and A Bar Above lists a 2.5 ml bowl on its 12-inch spoons. Bowls vary, and most listings here do not state a volume, so use a measuring spoon when a recipe needs to be exact.
Can a regular spoon replace a bar spoon?
For a single drink in a short glass, yes. A long iced-tea spoon also works in a pinch. A bar spoon is better in a tall glass because it reaches the bottom and turns smoothly around the ice.
The bar spoon we would reach for
Related guide: Best lewis bag.
Related guide: Best cocktail picks.
Related guide: Best cocktail mixing glass.
Start with the Barfly Teardrop. It is the right size, simple to look after and has nothing on it you do not need. Add a long spoon only when you start batching drinks. A spoon is one part of a small kit, so see our cocktail shaker and strainer picks and the cocktail tool sets to round it out. For what to pour, our guide to tequila types is a good place to begin. And if you would rather let someone else do the stirring, see the Julia’s drinks page, or call to order at (346) 546-8283.