YumSugar

What Is This?

YumSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:00:57 -0800

This funny-looking apparatus might look more like a back massager than a kitchen gadget, but it'd truly come in handy when shaking up some apple cidercars. Do you know what it's called?

What Is This?

YumSugar — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:00:23 -0700

Want to try out Guinness's new mid-strength beer in a classic UK brewpub cocktail? Then you might find this bar tool handy. Are you able to name it?

Do You Own a Cocktail Shaker?

YumSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:15:06 -0700

I'm always delighted when someone invites me over for drinks and gets out the cocktail shaker. This bar essential really takes at-home bartending to the next level; I use mine all the time. How about you?

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Registry Roundup: Raise a Toast!

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:28:51 -0700

While you may have the patterns and theme picked out for all of the dinnerware on your registry, have you thought about your drinkware needs? If you're big wine enthusiasts, you'll definitely want to add a full collection of glasses and wine accessories. If you and your sweetie prefer spirits over wine, then make sure you add a full range of drink glasses as well as all the essential bar extras. Likewise, if you're teetotalers, don't bother with all the drink glasses you won't use. Instead, concentrate on essential everyday glasses, a set of wine glasses - they'll double as water glasses - and mugs and teacups.

If you're not sure where to begin, take a look at our downloadable registry printout as well as all of our wedding coverage at IDoSugar.

Red Martini Ball Glass Set of 4 - $15.96	kate spade "Madison Square" Double Old-Fashioned Glass - $25.00
Riedel "O" Wine Tumblers - $12.49	Metrokane Bar Tool Set - $29.95
Cold Beverage Jar - $39.95	notNeutral - In The Mix Mug with Lid Set - $72.00
Pallino Ottimista/Pessimista Wine Glasses - $41.50	Williams-Sonoma Highballs & Double Old-Fashioneds, Set of 4 - $43.00
Pina Colada Multi-Color Glasses, Set of 6 - $50.00	Vera Wang "Grosgrain" Goblet - $35.00
notNeutral - Ribbon Etched Highball Set - $29.00	Cheers Wine Glasses Set Of Six - $19.95
Moser Vera Stemware - $60.00	Dansk "Karin" Grafix Wine Glasses, Set of 4 - $43.00
British Pint Glass, Set of 6 - $28.00	Tyler Florence Chef's White Collection Red Wine Tumbler, Set of 4 - $58.00
Helsinki Double Old-Fashioned Set of 4 - $15.96	Riedel O Cabernet/Merlot Tumbler Bonus Offer Set - $74.95
angela adams - Tumbler Glassware Set - $30.00	Roz Martini Glass - $10.95
Martha Stewart Collection "Waterman" Martini Glasses, Set of 4 - $21.99	Stemless Martini Glass Set of 4 - $7.96
Libbey 9-Piece Margarita Set - $14.99	Lenox "Oxygen" Flute, Set of 4 - $58.00
Pampaloni Set of 2 Champagne Flutes - $960.00	Dansk "Karin" Grafix Flutes, Set of 4 - $43.00
Eisch Tiffany 50-Ounce Fashion Decanter - $199.99	notNeutral - Ribbon Etched Carafe - $29.00
Marquis by Waterford Vintage Tasting Brandy Glasses, Set of 2 - $29.00	Williams Pilsner Glasses, Set of 4 - $72.00
Luigi Bormioli Black Swirl 18 oz Highball Glass, Set of 4 - $32.00	Hors d'Oeuvre Picks - $6.95
Bottle Pourer- Stainless Steel - $15.50	Numbers Wine Charms - $12.95
Stainless Steel Ice Tongs - $3.95	Set of 12 Gibraltar Double Old-Fashioneds - $30.00
Jewel Wine Stoppers - Charcoal - $49.00	Mug Party Set - $42.00
Eisch Decanter Stand - $94.00	Margarita Party Set - $25.50
Mikasa Cheers Martini Set - $49.99	Hayworth Ice Bucket - $99.00
Wine Enthusiast Set of 2 Martini Chillers - $29.95	Faces Bar Tool Set - $99.00
Recipe Cocktail Shaker - $39.00	Ampersand 6-Piece Corkscrew Set in Cherry Wood Box - $24.99
Stainless Steel Reamer - $9.95	Oxo 3-Piece Ice Bucket Set - $39.99
Dellarobbia Wine Markers (Set of 12) - $6.99	Calphalon 10-Piece Barware Set - $129.99
Stainless Steel Bottle Stop - $24.00	Nambe 7" Wine Chiller - $104.99

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Bartending Boy

partysugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:01:39 -0800

My friend Antonio is the best bartender I know. He's always looking for the latest, greatest addition to his home bar. Both Antonio, and your bartending boy, are sure to love any of these gifts.

Sleek coasters, a foil cutter, and a bar travel set are all fun and functional. A personalized bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue is a splurge well worth the price.

For more gift ideas for the bartender in your life, browse below.

Foil Cutter ($15.00)	Aluminum Coasters with Stand ($16.95)
Bar Travel Set ($40.00)	7-Piece Bar Tool Set ($49.95)
Johnnie Walker Scotch Blue ($159.99)	Everywhere Bar Storage ($129.00-449.00)

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The Ultimate Bar: Drink Stirrers

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:58:30 -0700

You may think that drink stirrers are totally unnecessary - after all, you could simply use a spoon - but no self respecting mixmaster's bar is without a unique set of drink stirrers that perfectly reflect their personality. Also known as swizzle sticks, these fun little stirrers come in just about every color, shape, and material. Glass, plastic, metal, colorful, eclectic, cute - find one that suits your style as a hostess. I like to have a set for everyday use and then supplement those with stirrers that match the theme of a specific party. Scroll through the ones I've found, or tell us about your favorites in the comments below!

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The Ultimate Bar: Corkscrew

partysugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:43:52 -0800

Every week YumSugar highlights an essential tool for the ultimate kitchen. People are always asking her what her favorite kitchen tool is and in a response to this perpetual question, she is creating a list of kitchen must-haves and special splurges (attention brides: use this as a checklist when creating your registry!). Lately I've noticed that more and more people are asking me about what the perfect hostess should have in her bar. To answer this question I thought I would put together a list of important tools, glasses, and gadgets that The Ultimate Bar (for the ultimate at home mixologist) should have.

Let's start with a tool that no bar (or kitchen for that matter) should be without: a good, reliable corkscrew. I have tried out the more expensive rabbit screw pull gadget like wine openers (test for yourself: the one pictured is $100), yet the two that I had both broke after several months of use. That's why I prefer the leverage winged, modern spiral corkscrew. It's by far the most dependable and one of the easiest to use: as the center coil is screwed into the cork, the arms rise up. When you press the arms down, the cork extracts. In some circles this twin handled affordable ($9.99) corkscrew is referred to as the Charles de Gaulle. The top of most can also be used to remove bottle caps.

Two more corkscrews so read more

Another option is the two-pronged cork fork, or butler's friend, that swiftly opens a bottle of wine without damaging the cork. It's recommended for use with older vintages of wine whose corks are more likely to crumble with the injection of a metal coil. ($18.95)

Some consider the corkscrew that waiters use, a waiter's friend, to be the most sturdy and handy corkscrew. This corkscrew relies on simple leverage to remove the cork and is light and compact. All parts fold up inside the handle, like a pocket knife making it extremely convenient and portable. When I worked in a bar I never got the hang of maneuvering this tool swiftly with one hand, however if used properly it's a great gadget complete with foil cutter, bottle rest, and battle cap opener. If you are on a budget this baby is your best bet, a fun, colorful one can be purchased under $8.00.

The Ultimate Bar: Bar Measure

partysugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:58:28 -0700

In an attempt to help you become the ultimate hostess, I have created the Ultimate Bar. Each week I'll feature an essential item for the ideal at home bar. You may not know what a bar measure is (I didn't until my friend Sonia gave me one as a hostess gift), but once you do, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

A bar measure is a tool that bartenders and mixologists use to measure liquids. A measuring cup is to a baker as a bar measure is to the cocktail-er. This tool is especially helpful to the bartending beginner. Until you learn more about ratios of alcohol to mixers, I recommend following the amounts stated in your recipes. You don't need anything fancy, this bar measure also serves as a shot glass and for only $2.99 the functionality will beat out the price in a week. The one Sonia gave me is similar to this glass, but is a little bit larger and I use it every time I try out a new cocktail recipe.

If you're in the mood for something a little more snazzy (your guests could see this while you are entertaining!), look at these other options. read more

For the classic bar, check out this sleek and chic measure that is design friendly and reasonably priced ($15.95). The inside of this highly polished vessel includes a stamped measuring scale making it easy for you to measure your vodka and vermouth.

Splurge on this large measuring glass that fits 24 ounces. This will allow you to make more than one drink at a time. It's the top half of a Boston cocktail shaker so the expense ($45.00) is worth it when you think about all the drinks you will be mixing with this baby.

The Ultimate Bar: Muddler

partysugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:53:12 -0700

With spring break narrowing in on us, (woo-hoo! even though I'm not in school anymore I celebrate spring break each year by spending a long weekend away), it's the appropriate time to stock up on a bar tool that you will use a lot once the warm weather hits hard. A muddler is essential to making juicy, refreshing mojitos and caipirinhas. Sure you could substitute a long wooden spoon, but I find nothing crushes a lime and releases the essence of mint as well as a muddler. The handy, crushing one I have at home is this simple beachwood muddler. It's $5.00, a pretty reasonable price considering all of the use you'll get out of it and I get double the use out of mine by using it as a pestle to crush herbs and spices. I prefer wood over any other material because it's easy to clean and will last forever. However if you want something a little more fancy, check out these options and read more

This more pricy-$21.00-stainless steel muddler is specially designed to easily and quickly release citrus juice and the skins natural oils. The bright green head is crafted to hold the fruit in place and its extra long (10 inch) handle makes it perfect for mixing drinks in tall, slim glasses.

For the style conscious homemaker, may I suggest the fashionable silicon, stainless steel elongated muddler? It's $15.00 and will stand a lifetime of drink making so muddle away!

The Ultimate Bar: Pitcher

partysugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:36:11 -0700

This weekend when I made the sangria and clerico for a welcome back party, I realized the importance and the invaluable use of a nice, good sized pitcher. To avoid spending way too much time behind the bar, I prefer to make a few batches of one specialty cocktail in advance. The concoction can sit in the fridge until the guests arrive, when it is then placed on the bar next to the serving glasses. For intimate dinner parties fill the pitcher with cool water and lemon slices or fill with flowers and use as a centerpiece. I've assembled a bunch of my favorite pitchers below, scroll through until you find the one perfect for you.