Straight to the Point

The best cocktail muddler is from Barfly . Its slightly convex, beveled head coaxes just the right amount of oils and juices from a variety of ingredients, and its tapered grip fits many hand sizes.

Aromatics, like citrus and herbs, amp up a mixed drink, and a cocktail muddler (a.k.a a muddler tool) is essential for breaking them down and releasing their oils and juices. “If you are making mojitos, smashes, caipirinhas, and variations of those cocktails, then you would need a muddler,” says Lynnette Marrero, head of education for Bar Convent Brooklyn . “Most at-home ice is not strong enough to break up the herbs by shaking alone.”

You might think that a muddler is just a blunt cylinder, and that all of them are similar citrus-smashing sticks. But, as we found out after testing nine cocktail muddlers, the design matters. Some look cool but fail. Others don’t look cool and also fail. Some are too large, while others aren't large enough.…