Review: Bell Jigger by A Bar Above
A Bar Above Double-Sided Bell Jigger.
A Good Double-Sided Jigger, but with one Flaw that May be a Deal Breaker
A good jigger is a must for any home bartender, but with so many on the market, which one do you choose?
The Double-Sided Bell Jigger by A Bar Above is a very nice contender. It is well styled, feels good in your hands (well balanced) and it looks great on the bar. It is made from 304 stainless steel and has a nice polished steel exterior. As a bonus, it cleans up quick and easy.
Bell Jigger 2 oz side.
A Double-Sided Jigger Gives Added Flexibility
A double-sided jigger gives you added flexibility for quick pours of common measurements. This jigger is marked on the outside with 2 oz on the larger cup and 1 oz on the smaller cup. On the inside of each cup there are hash marks for additional liquid increments. These are not labelled on the jigger itself, which is a mark against this model (especially for home bartenders who are probably not using this daily). Trying to remember what each line is supposed to be is an unnecessary effect of this.
There is a small card included with the jigger that illustrates the intended measurements of each mark. I say intended because, according to my tests, these markings are not accurate to what they are supposed to be.
Bell Jigger 1 oz side.
I ran several tests on the measurement marks and in my tests, not only are the lines on the inside of each cup not perfectly placed, there are too many of them. I don’t know if this was a production error on my jigger or whether they are all manufactured this way by A Bar Above. Either way, it is an issue I am compelled to note here.
In my view this jigger would be better off if it had fewer increments (possibly allowing them to be more accurate) and had the measurements engraved on the inside of the cup. This is common practice for many other jiggers, so I’m not sure why the designer chose to omit them here. Even the top line marks of 2 oz and 1 oz on each cup require you to fill to overflowing just to reach that measurement — which definitely necessitates you doing a fluid pour into a cup. This may be standard operating procedure for experienced bartenders, but for the home bartender there will be a bit of learning.
The marking guide illustrating the intended measurements of each hash mark.
Final Thoughts on the Double-Sided Bell Jigger by A Bar Above
All in all, while accuracy is very important for a well balanced cocktail, I’m not sure that I would not recommend this jigger due to the issues with the measurements. Most bartenders will pour rather quickly into the jigger and then into the glass or shaker in one fluid motion. So if having precision measurements right down to the drop is not critical for you, then this is definitely a very nice looking double-sided jigger made from solid materials. However if precision measuring is critical for you, then this may not be the jigger for you.
It’s really a shame that an otherwise excellent product suffers from a lack of precision, which is the purpose of the jigger itself (to pour exact amounts). Because of these flaws, I’m not sure if I’ll use this jigger on a daily basis (versus my Anchor Hocking small measuring glass or Oxo jigger).
I should say that I am a big fan of A Bar Above products. All of the bar accessories that I own from this company are well made and (to date) I have not had any issues with their products. However, none of the others that I own have precision measurement markings as a requirement, so they function well for their intended purpose.
Overall I would say that if you can live with the markings being slightly off, then this is a well made and nice looking solid jigger that looks great on the home bar. You will ultimately get a feel for measurements and may use the hash marks (as I do) more as guides rather than precise measurements.
By Mike Belobradic
Wine, Spirits and Beer Virtuoso
Grand One Lounge