Okay, the bar accessories market has gotten a little out of control. There are so many different bar gadgets out there now that, if you bought them all, you’d freak out trying to find a place to out them! Clearly, you don’t need all the hokey and gimmicky stuff you see on TV. But, what supplies should you have at the ready in your home bar? Read on to see what I like to call “The Three Absolute Must-Have Bar Accessories For Every home Bar.”

1. A Blender
Remember when a blender was all you needed to make a margarita? Nowadays, manufacturers would have you believe that the only way to enjoy a margarita in your own home bar is to buy their specialized (read: only has one function) margarita machine. Obviously, all you really need is a trusty heavy-duty blender to crunch all that ice and make the best frozen margaritas. Well, that and some tequila, lime juice and triple-sec, of course.

2. A Combination Bottle Opener
This one is probably an obvious choice for a must-have bar accessory, but you’d be surprised how many people skip it. The thing is, if you or your guests enjoy drinking beer or wine, then you should absolutely have one of these openers on hand. A combination bottle opener allows you to pop the tops off your beer bottles and has a corkscrew for opening bottles of wine. The fancier ones even have a knife so you can remove the capsule (the foil covering the cork).

3. A Cocktail Shaker
A good cocktail shaker is another absolute must-have for home bar enthusiasts. If you or your friends like to drink any kind of mixed drinks at all, then you know how much of a pain it is to try to mix drinks without one. There’s a reason every single bartender in the known universe wouldn’t be caught dead without one. You can mix any mixed drink easier, faster, more efficiently and make less of a mess when you use a cocktail shaker. There are two basic kinds of cocktail shaker out there: three-piece cocktail shakers and shaker tins. Shaker tins are usually made out of stainless steel and have a wide-mouthed top (into which you can easily fit a pint glass). Basically, you put your ingredients and ice into the shaker tin, cover with the mouth of a pint glass, and shake your drink. You’ll need to pour your drink through a strainer if you don’t want any ice in your drink. Three piece cocktail shakers, however, have a cover with a built-in strainer that allow you to shake and strain your drinks without you having to have a pint glass or a strainer.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about what I consider to be the three must-have bar accessories for every home bar and I hope you’re able to put the info to good use. It’s good to remember that even though there are a multitude of awesome bar accessories for sale out there that you really only need three.