Hickory Cocktail Rimmer Board

A cocktail rimmer board in solid hickory — three wells routed into a slab, sized to sit beside a shaker without taking up the room. Salt in one. Sugar in another. The third is yours: chili powder, Tajín, citrus zest, smoked paprika.

First, the wood. I cut every hickory cocktail rimmer board from dense hardwood — the same species that builds axe handles and baseball bats. As a result, the board reads as something that belongs on a bar rather than as decoration. Because hickory is tighter and harder than walnut or maple, the wells hold their edges sharp through years of use.

What makes a cocktail rimmer board different

Most bar setups use loose plates or small bowls for the rim step — messy, slow, three pieces to chase around the counter. Meanwhile, the rimmer board turns the rim step into one motion: dip, twist, set. Most importantly, three wells means three drinks running at once or one cocktail with a more elaborate rim than the host across the street is offering.

How to use one

Wet the rim of the glass with citrus or syrup, then press and rotate against the wood. So the salt sticks to the rim and not the counter. Either way, the board lives within reach of the shaker and the jiggers. Afterwards, tap the well clean over the sink and wipe with a dry cloth — no soak, no soap.

Care, custom work, and shipping

First, wipe clean with a dry cloth after each session. Second, never soak hickory or run it through the dishwasher. Finally, a light coat of butcher block oil once a season keeps the surface alive. Other woods cut on request: walnut, maple, padauk. Ships from Virden, Manitoba via Canada Post with tracking, typically arriving in 1–2 weeks across Canada and 2–3 weeks to the US.