Our Story
The Rusty Barrel Story...
Ordering gifts online can be a minefield.
You shop around, find something that looks ideal, and hit buy.
And wait...
And when it finally arrives, you open it up, and most of the time, it's exactly what you expected.
Sometimes though, you can be distinctly underwhelmed. Basic packaging. Poor quality. Disappointing.
And you're stuck.
With no time to get a replacement, you hastily wrap it and feel terrible about what you're handing over.
The last time that happened to me, I decided to do something about it...
Where it all started
A trip to New Orleans
We discovered a fantastic bar, the Bombay Club, just off Bourbon Street.
It was like stepping back in time to a 1920s Speakeasy mixed with a colonial Gentlemen's Club, complete with a Union Jack—not what you’d expect in Louisiana!
It was all wood paneling and live music and had a cocktail menu to tempt even the most habitual drinker to try something a little exciting!
And my first proper martini
With so much to choose from, I was having a hard time deciding what to order.
The barman recommended their martini, but I wasn’t entirely convinced.
The thought of that neat vodka usually put me off—I tended to stick with something a little gentler. But, he reassured me if I didn't like it, he'd make me anything else on the menu. Guaranteed.
How could I say no?
It ended up being a mini-martini masterclass!
Stirred and not shaken
I discovered a martini is traditionally made with gin and not vodka, and despite Mr. Bond's preference, they're better stirred and not shaken.
Fun fact: stirred martinis are crystal clear—unless you like them dirty—and generally less diluted than shaken ones.
WARNING: They also pack a punch!
And from the first sip of the cool liquid with a subtle hint of botanicals, I was a martini convert!
The rest of the night went by in a blur as we watched the bar staff shake, stir, mix, and measure cocktail after cocktail.
What a night.
The Gift
Arriving back in London, I wanted to surprise my boyfriend with a cocktail shaker for Valentine's Day to bring back memories of that New Orleans night.
After a lot of searching, I found a set that looked the part and ordered.
It showed up in a battered and torn cardboard box, and when I opened it, it looked distinctly low quality.
Worse, when he made that first cocktail, it leaked and spilled all over the counter.
I. Felt. Awful.
But it sparked an idea.
I knew that if I wanted to recreate our New Orleans cocktail-bar experience at home, I had to do it properly.
And as I’d always had a bit of an entrepreneurial flair, I thought I’d set about making the perfect cocktail gift set myself.
And Rusty Barrel was born!
I started researching the tools every mixologist needs to create a great cocktail and, after a lot of product testing (well, I had to be sure!), the Rusty Barrel Cocktail Set does just that.
The Complete Cocktail Making Set
Everything included to start mixing
Presented in an elegant gift box, you’ll be reluctant to give it away. Our professional standard barware kit contains everything you need to become the master mixologist you always wanted to be.
Shaker - to shake it all up
Muddler - to release the essence and flavours from the ingredients
Bar Spoon - to stir, mix, and layer drinks
Hawthorne Strainer — to keep solid ingredients in the shaker and out of the glass
Jigger - to measure the perfect proportions
Pourer - to pour with control
Recipe Booklet — includes a selection of classic cocktail recipes to get you started straight away
Carry Pouch — a handy way to store and transport all your bar tools
Every set is backed by our two-year replacement warranty.
