How to Use the BAR System Accessory Kit for Griddle Cocktails and Sides

Quick answer

Mount the BAR System Accessory Kit on your griddle’s side rail, then assign each accessory a job: cup holder for drinks, basket for garnishes and sides, and speaker/phone holder for music and recipes. Keep the station within arm’s reach of the cooking surface so you can pour, garnish, and plate without leaving the griddle.

Step-by-step BAR System setup for cocktails and sides

1. Clear and inspect the side rail: Remove any existing accessories from the side shelf rail and wipe the rail clean. Check that the rail is securely attached to the griddle before mounting anything. Common mistake: mounting the kit on a loose rail, which can let the cup holder tip when someone leans on it. If the rail wiggles, tighten or fix it before adding weight.
2. Mount the cup holder where drinks won’t cross raw food: Slide the Cup Holder onto the rail at the end farthest from your raw-meat prep area. Place a test cup in it to confirm it sits level and is easy to reach without leaning over the cooking surface. Common mistake: putting the cup holder directly over the griddle where heat and splatter can reach the drink. Keep drinks downwind and away from the cooking surface.
3. Position the basket for garnishes or sides: Clip the Basket onto the rail on the side where you’ll plate finished food. Use it for whole limes, herb sprigs, or small side items that don’t leak. Common mistake: putting juicy cut garnishes directly in the basket without a liner, which can drip onto the shelf. Use a small liner or sealed container inside the basket for wet garnishes.
4. Set up the phone holder for recipes and timers: Attach the Phone Holder at eye level and angle it so you can glance at a recipe or timer without turning away from the griddle. Keep it away from the cup holder so a spilled drink can’t reach your phone. Common mistake: placing the phone holder over the griddle where heat or grease can damage the phone. Test the angle with your phone in place before you start cooking.
5. Place the wireless speaker for background music: Set the Wireless Speaker on a stable part of the rail or side shelf, away from the cup holder and basket. Pair it with your phone before you start cooking so you’re not fumbling with settings mid-flip. Common mistake: putting the speaker where it can be splashed by drinks or grease. Pair and test the speaker before the first cocktail is poured.
6. Do a dry run with empty cups and bowls: Before you cook, place empty cups, a shaker, and garnish bowls in their assigned spots. Reach for each one as if you were making a drink or plating a side. Common mistake: skipping the dry run and discovering mid-cook that the shaker doesn’t fit or the basket blocks the cup holder. Rearrange accessories now if anything feels cramped or unsafe.
7. Keep a trash cup for peels and used garnishes: Add a small empty cup or bowl near the basket for citrus peels, used herb stems, and toothpicks. Empty it after each round of drinks. Common mistake: letting peels pile up on the side shelf, where they can slide onto the griddle or floor. Empty the trash cup before it overflows, not after.

Product facts

• BAR System Accessory Kit: The BAR System Accessory Kit includes a Wireless Speaker, Phone Holder, Basket, and Cup Holder for the Blackstone Accessory Rail (BAR) System. You get the core pieces for a drink-and-sides station in one kit, but you’ll still need to supply your own shaker, jigger, and garnish bowls for cocktails.