When Craig Krueger launched his first Kickstarter campaign for the Bartender Utility Bag in 2014, he wanted to equip bartending professionals with a gear bag to take to and from work, and out to catering events. After raising over $37,000 in just 30 days, the over-the-shoulder duffel bag made of waxed canvas and leather went into production in Seattle. Now, Krueger’s Mavenhal company has returned with a freshly launched Kickstarter for the Bar Back, a newly designed bag that has an entry level price of just under $200, and is geared more towards the home bartender.
Krueger’s mission is to bring professional bar tools into the home without sacrificing quality. While the Bar Back costs less, it is still handmade in Seattle with quality materials. The gunmetal grey outer shell is made from heavy-duty water-resistant nylon. “It’s like the sturdy backpack fabric you find on most bags,” explains Krueger. The bag is more stylish than a backpack however, with a modern, European silhouette. And it is essentially three bags in one, converting from a tote to a shoulder bag to a backpack.
Inside the bag, 210-denier nylon in a contrasting orange color is used for the tool wall and interior bottle compartment, making them easy to see, as well as highly waterproof. The main compartment has a removable divider to keep bottles from clanking around inside, and enough height to allow for tall bottles, such as Luxardo maraschino. The divider can be removed as well, making this bag useful beyond the bar.
In his ongoing effort to equip home bartenders, Krueger is also an evangelist of the Boston shaker, and includes one in the “Essential Bar Set” available in several of the Kickstarter levels. “If you have a Boston shaker,” Krueger explains, “The idea is this. You’ve got both a shaker and a mixing glass. Now you can use the pint glass along with the Boston shaker to shake drinks, or you can use the glass as your mixing glass for stirred drinks.” The set also includes a Hawthorne strainer (the one with the spring) for shaken drinks, and a julep strainer for stirred drinks.
Barkeeper Negroni
1 ½ ounces Aged Rum (1919 Angostura or Zacapa)
1 ounce Dolin Blanc Dry Vermouth
1 ounce Campari
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled, strain into an old-fashioned glass and garnish with Luxardo or brandied cherry and an orange peel.
