If you’re in the market for the best muddler, consider looking into the material used, its shape, and whether it has a smooth or textured head. To help you shop, I’ve listed the best muddlers with comprehensive reviews. Along with the included buying guide, you should be able to choose the best muddler for your home bar.
There’s nothing like a refreshing mocktail, but having the right bar tool to extract the most out of your favorite ingredients makes an even more flavorful drink. And that’s when a good cocktail muddler comes in handy. Muddlers have been in the game long before blenders came out.
They are kind of similar to pestles, but they are used mostly in bars. The best cocktail muddlers are not hard to find. You just have to make sure you’re looking for the right features. I’ll walk you through finding the best cocktail muddler, but for now, let me briefly explain what muddlers are.
What Is a Muddler?
A muddler is a bar tool that is used to mash drink ingredients. Common ingredients include citrus, fruits, and especially herbs like mint. Then, the muddled ingredients are incorporated into cocktails as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Muddlers come in various materials. Depending on the type you choose, you can also use it to crush ice into tiny chunks. They are truly a necessary weapon in making the most delicious cocktails we all have come to love.
My Top Picks for the Best Cocktail Muddlers
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Editor’s Choice  |
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| Check Price →Read Our Review |
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| Check Price →Read Our Review |
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| Check Price →Read Our Review |
Reviews: Best Cocktail Muddler for Your Tropical Mocktails
Shopping for the best muddler shouldn’t be difficult. With a good muddler, you can efficiently turn your favorite ingredients into delicious mocktails in no time. Below are my reviews for some of the best cocktail muddlers I’ve found in the market. I based my recommendations on their materials and efficiency according to personal testing and user reviews.
Cocktail Kingdom Badass Cocktail Muddler
If you’re looking for the best cocktail muddler, the Cocktail Kingdom Badass Muddler is a great option. This dual-sided muddler serves two purposes. Its one rounded side is perfect for gentler muddling for mint and herbs that break easily. On the other end is the harder side, which has a textured edge suitable for harder ingredients.
The Cocktail Kingdom muddler is made of food-grade plastic, similar to the one used for making cutting boards. It features an 8.75 inch long handle, which has textured, easy-to-grip edges. This muddler is so easy to clean, since it is dishwasher safe. It has a fun name and is fun to use. This would be a great gift for a cocktail enthusiast.
Pros:
- Dual-purpose
- Easy to hold
Cons:
- Can be a bit heavy
OXO Steel Cocktail Muddler
If you’re looking for a practical tool, check out the OXO Steel Muddler. Measuring 9 inches in length, this oddly shaped muddler is ideal for churning sugar. Especially coarser varieties that are used mostly in tiki cocktails. It features a smooth, rounded tip that fits snugly in your hands, allowing you to exert pressure and twist it easily.
The OXO muddler’s die-cast zinc handle and nylon head are created to safeguard glasses. This prevents it from scratching and cracking the glasses you use during muddling. Its soft, comfortable grip makes crushing flavors and substances simple.
The muddler is a little longer than the first, making it ideal for use with a larger cocktail shaker or mixing glass. It’s also very easy to clean. Simply throw it in the dishwasher and it will be ready for your next muddling session.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design offers a soft and comfortable grip
- Nylon head protects cocktail glass
Cons:
- Its sharp teeth can over muddle herbs if you aren’t careful
Cresimo Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler Set
Looking to get more for the price of one? You should try the Cresimo Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler. This easy-to-clean set comes with a few key bar tools you’ll need to prepare a refreshing tropical mocktail for your friends. It’s made of premium quality stainless steel and it comes with a bar spoon with a trident fork and cocktail recipe book for inspiration.
The Cresimo muddler is perfect for most cocktail shakers, measuring 10 inches long. It features a grooved nylon head that can be used to crush citrus, berries, and herbs, much like the OXO muddler. The textured head speeds up the process and produces more flavor. This stainless steel and nylon muddler is rust-proof and long-lasting. Plus, you can conveniently put it in the dishwasher like the others.
Pros:
- Lengthy muddler suits larger glasses or shakers
- Affordable set
Cons:
- Liquid can sometimes seep in between the metal and the nylon tip
Piña Barware Professional Cocktail Muddler
Wooden muddlers are many professional bartenders’ favorite type of muddler. If you want a traditional tool for your home bar, the Piña Barware Professional Cocktail Muddler could be a good option. This wooden muddler is made of natural bamboo. It’s also ergonomically designed to give you a better, more comfortable grip.
The Piña Barware wooden muddler even offers natural antibacterial properties. It helps prevent microorganisms from seeping into the muddler. It measures a whopping 12 inches long, appropriate for all vessels. It also features a lightweight, rounded handle meant to fit comfortably in your hands.
Mint and other herbs can be gently muddled by its flat-surfaced tip. It’s a more environmentally-friendly and traditional option, particularly for bars where sustainable practices are crucial. It’s easy to clean with soap and water, but is handwash only.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design
- Sustainable
- Has natural antibacterial properties
- Long handle
Cons:
- Hand wash only
A Buyer’s Guide in Choosing the Best Cocktail Muddler
Before you purchase a new muddler, there are a few things to consider. It’s important to look into a muddler’s material, which also indicates how easy it is to clean. Determining whether you need one with a smooth or toothed head is also crucial in getting a muddler that suits your needs. Find out more with the handy buying guide below.
Materials
Muddlers are made from different types of materials and have a similar size and design. Cocktail muddlers are typically made of three various materials. They are either made of stainless steel, plastic, or wood. And most of the time, they are a combination of stainless steel and plastic.
Stainless Steel and Plastic Muddlers
Since the thinner, rounded end is easier to pick up, most of these muddlers adopt the bat design of their wooden counterparts. A muddler with teeth or a textured head is also very popular. Such muddlers are used to efficiently mash herbs and spices. And they are excellent for quickly juicing berries, citrus, and other fresh produce.
When it comes to sanitation, a plastic and steel muddler will win when compared to wooden muddlers. As the risk of germs and mold growing on the muddler or the muddler becoming prone to damage is considerably lower. Such muddlers are typically dishwasher safe. Fruits and herbs with more tints also leave almost no stains. And these muddlers hardly ever absorb and trap powerful flavors or odors.
Wooden Muddlers
A wooden cocktail muddler seems to be the most common and is often used in bars. This type of cocktail muddler comes in two different shapes. One that resembles a mini baseball bat with a flat bottom, while the other that’s somewhat straight and resembles a windchime.
Professional bartenders love them as they are long-lasting and do the task efficiently. Added to the perks is that they come in handy if you want to smash ice cubes into smaller bits. Just one disadvantage of wood muddlers though, is that it requires maintenance since they are made from organic materials.
This means you can’t put them in the dishwasher. Or, leave them soaked in water. You’ll also need to wash them immediately after use. As berries or other darker ingredients can stain them. I suggest wiping them dry and letting them air dry before storing them. As you can probably tell, they require more effort to clean than stainless steel and plastic muddlers.
Ease of Cleaning
As I’ve mentioned above, wooden muddlers tend to cause more hassle when it comes to cleaning. You can’t leave them soaked in water. But you also can’t let them sit for hours, unclean, as this can stain your muddler. Since they are made from organic materials, they require care and maintenance.
Some also come lacquered. Which I think isn’t safe, even though the manufacturer says it is. The coatings of such mudders can erode, and dissolve into the liquid. And I bet you wouldn’t want that in your drinks. I suggest you stay away from lacquered muddlers.
Plastic and stainless steel muddlers, however, are the easiest to clean. You can simply put them in your dishwasher, and they will be ready for your next use. These types of muddlers are an easy option if ease of cleanup is your major concern.
Shape
Take into account the fact that you’ll be putting a muddler to use. So, you would want one that fits nicely in your hands while you’re muddling ingredients. Muddlers with ergonomic designs are preferable. And heavy-weight ones are also widely available. Such muddlers will make grinding down ingredients, fruits, herbs, and spices less exhausting on your muscles.
Dimension
The dimensions of muddlers can vary greatly, but the bottom line is you want to find one that is comfortable for you to use and also extends beyond the rim of your shaker or glass.
The lengthier the muddler, the taller it will stand in the shaker or mixing glass. This will offer you more to grip while pounding citrus and mint.
Ergonomics
The ease of use and handling is ultimately a personal choice. You need to decide if having a curved ergonomic handle is a priority for you. This might be the case if you are a bartender and make lots of drinks. If you are just making a mocktail occasionally at home, this will be less important. Soft grip handles are also an option commonly found on a stainless steel muddler.
Toothed/Textured Head
As per some professional bartenders, muddlers with toothed heads produce bitter drinks. This could be true since they dig quite intensely into the citrus pith, as well as tear up herbs. Yet, while I was doing my research, some professionals who tested such types of muddlers say the drinks still tasted acceptable, as long as you know how to use your muddler for each ingredient.
Some even recommended drinks made with textured muddlers. Possibly because of their crushing performance. They are capable of extracting more oils, providing stronger aromas. A smooth headed wooden muddler is great for mint because it is delicate and doesn’t require much crushing. Nonetheless, you can’t go wrong with either of the two types.
Price
It’s also good to consider how much you’re willing to spend on a good muddler. You don’t need to pay a hefty price when it comes to getting the best muddler for your mocktails, but it’s also a bar tool you won’t likely replace for a very long time.
How To Use a Muddler:
For most situations, the goal of muddling isn’t just to mash the ingredients into a muddled pulp. That is where many novice bartenders make mistakes. The purpose of using a muddler is to gently break the ingredients to extract the essence. And in the case of herbs, your main goal is to release the essential oils. While when you muddle fruits, you extract the juice.
You may be combining a sweetener or some other liquid mixer with fresh produce and herbs at the same time. The mixture serves as the drink’s base flavor. Note that some drinks are muddled right in the same glass you’ll be serving. To effectively use a muddler, follow the steps below.
- Fill the bottom of a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with your preferred ingredients.
- Hold the muddler securely. Carefully press down, and turn the muddler in half.
- Keep going with this motion until you see that the ingredients are thoroughly extracted, or you smell fragrance from the herb. The process will usually take up to six turns.
- To finish mixing the drink, you can add the remaining ingredients. You can put ice in it if you want to. Then, shake or stir as directed by the recipe.
Best Cocktail Muddler: FAQs
What is the best type of muddler?
The best type of muddler is versatile and will allow you to use it in different ways for different ingredients. Ultimately, it’s all about personal preference, but I believe a dual-sided muddler is the best type of muddler.
What makes a good cocktail muddler?
Good cocktail muddlers are durable, comfortable to handle, and easy to clean. In addition, versatility is key, especially if you will be muddling more than one type of ingredient.
Final Verdict
My favorite is the Cocktail Kingdom Badass Muddler because it’s and is dual sided and fun to use. It pretty much offers everything you need in a muddler.
If you would prefer a wooden muddler, you may want to check out the Barware Professional Cocktail Muddler. These and the rest of the muddlers in this list are effective tools to extract the essence and flavors out of your favorite ingredients. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned bartender, any of these options will make a delicious mocktail.
Be sure to check out the latest prices on these great muddlers, especially if you’re considering one as a gift for a cocktail enthusiast. Also, refer to the recipe collection for mocktail recipe ideas to try out with your new cocktail muddler. A favorite is the Gin Gin Mule Mocktail. Check it out!
