Bar Cutting Board with built in Cocktail Rimmer

A Bar Cutting Board Built Behind the Bar

“A bar cutting board that actually makes things easier.” is the design Thomas wanted. The Bar Board came to him during a rushed cocktail service. Thomas had misplaced his glass rimmer somewhere behind the counter during a busy night. Citrus peels, bottles, cutting boards, towels, and bar tools had slowly taken over every inch of available space. Meanwhile, salt and sugar kept migrating across the station while garnishes competed for room beside drink orders. Eventually, the frustration overwhelmed him:
too many bar tools that only solved one problem at a time. So Thomas started sketching a board that combined several common bar tasks into a single durable workstation. Something compact enough for a crowded home bar or cocktail station, but sturdy enough to survive serious use. That idea eventually became the Bar Board. Rather than functioning as a novelty serving piece, the board focuses on workflow. It gives bartenders, hosts, and cocktail enthusiasts a dedicated place to cut garnishes, prepare citrus, rim glasses, organize ingredients, and serve drinks without constantly rearranging the entire counter.

Built for Cocktails, Citrus, and Quick Prep Work

The Bar Board combines a hardwood cutting surface with an integrated cocktail rimmer designed for salt, sugar, spices, citrus zest, and garnishes . Because of the layout, the board keeps cocktail ingredients contained while still leaving enough room for active prep work during service. Simple syrup spills, Half-mixed cocktails, Busy hands; The board was designed around that kind of environment. At the same time, the Bar Board stays practical enough for slower hosting environments as well. It works equally well during dinner parties, game nights, holiday gatherings, or casual evenings where drinks and conversation collect around the kitchen counter or dry bar.
Many mixologists love the Bar Board for:

• Cocktail garnish preparation
• Citrus slicing
• Salt and sugar rims
• Charcuterie service
• Glass Smoking
• Mocktail preparation
• Hosting and serving
• Quick General kitchen prep

As a result, the board transitions naturally between bartender workstation and serving piece depending on the flow of the evening.

Bar Cutting Board Construction & Durability

The Bar Board uses solid hardwood intentionally. Thomas designed the board to feel stable during active prep work without sacrificing flexibility to move or clean afterward. Likewise, the added thickness helps resist warping while standing up to repeated exposure to citrus juices, moisture, knives, and regular kitchen use. Rather than leaning into “luxury barware”, the design stays practical:

• Durable hardwood construction
• Comfortable working proportions
• Clean presentation
• Stable prep surface
• Long-term usability

That simplicity matters behind a bar. When people are mixing drinks, they don’t want fragile tools or overly decorative surfaces slowing them down. They want tools that work reliably while still looking good sitting out on the counter. Because of that philosophy, the Bar Board avoids excessive ornamentation while still allowing the natural grain and craftsmanship to remain visually distinct. Over time, the board develops character through repeated use. Knife marks, staining, and serving wear all contribute to a surface that feels worked-in rather than factory pristine.

Designed for Hosting

Much of The Tusano Trading Company’s work centers around gathering spaces. However, the Bar Board specifically focuses on the atmosphere that forms around drink preparation itself. People gather differently around cocktails. Conversations slow down. Someone offers to mix the next round. Another person cuts garnish while music plays in the background. Before long, the preparation itself becomes part of the evening. The Bar Board was designed to support that atmosphere. While technically a bar cutting board, the object itself exists just as much for hosting rhythm and social interaction as utility. It encourages preparation that feels visible, shared, and involved rather than hidden away in the kitchen. At the same time, the board remains practical enough for daily use. It can stay on the counter during the week.
It can handle heavy hosting during holidays or parties. And it can move directly from prep station to serving surface once guests arrive. That flexibility became one of the most important parts of the design process from the beginning.

Caring for Your Cutting Board

Like all solid hardwood kitchen tools, the Bar Board benefits from occasional maintenance. Regular oiling helps preserve the surface while allowing the wood to age naturally over time. Likewise, proper care helps maintain durability through years of hosting, drink prep, and kitchen use. However, Thomas intentionally builds these boards to be used rather than treated as fragile display pieces. Minor staining, citrus marks, knife wear, and visible use are expected parts of a working cocktail station. In many ways, those signs of use become part of the board’s identity rather than flaws to avoid entirely. The board should look like it’s hosted a few good nights and has stories to share. The Bar Board was never designed to become a decorative object people feel nervous using. Instead, Thomas designed it as a dependable hosting tool built for real kitchens, crowded counters, and long conversations over drinks.
As he puts it:

“The best bar tools are usually the ones people love enough to engrain in their processes, and feel naked without.”