The Cocktail Essentials

Max and Theresa Robbins are here to help you set the bar (literally) for your best summer yet. The Galley Club kicks off with everything you need to stock a seaworthy bar setup, from the right tumblers to the unsung hero of every raft-up: the nutmeg grinder.

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the Galley Club, your new go-to series for cocktails, stories, and summer spirit. We’re Max and Theresa Robbins: a classically trained chef (now Dockwa software engineer) and a sommelier with a shared passion for drinks that taste like a vacation.

We met back in 2009 at The Culinary Institute of America, and our journey together has taken us through fine dining kitchens, wine clubs, a canned cocktail startup, and now, dockside life. We’ve always believed great food and drinks have a way of bringing people together, and now we’re bringing that belief into the boating community.

To kick things off, we’re starting with (arguably) the most important part of your galley… the bar.

For the first few segments of The Galley Club, we’ll bring you:

Galley-friendly cocktail recipes (built for small spaces and salty air)
Tips to elevate your boat bar
Stories from life, restaurants, and the road

But before we dive into the drinks, we’re starting where every good cocktail book does: the essentials.

The Bareboat Bar: Cocktail Essentials for Life on the Water

Here’s what we never cruise without:

A set of colorful plastic 15oz tumblers – Everyone picks a color, everyone remembers their drink.
Stemless wine glasses (good quality) – Trust us, stemmed glasses and boat wakes don’t mix. (Oh, and do we need to remind you, plastic is probably a good choice here?!)
5-piece Houdini drink mix kit – Shaker, strainer, jigger, muddler, and spoon – all you could ever ask for.
Shot glass – For perfect pours and spontaneous cheers.
Two-step wine key – Serves as a wine foil cutter and bottle opener as well. The swiss army knife for your bar. Extra points if it came from a marina’s ship store from that cruise you took way back when.
Sealed quart containers – Pre-batch your rum punch or sangria and chill it without fear of spills. You’ll thank us later for this one.
Small sealed containers for mixers – Great for cream of coconut, lime juice, or anything in a can.
Beer & canned cocktail cozies – Cold, grippy, and boat-approved. (Extra points if you’re rocking a Dockwa coozie!)
16oz Pyrex measuring cup – For batching drinks and serving punch without a mess.
Nutmeg grinder – One grating over a Painkiller and you're the hero of the raft-up.
Mini fine mesh strainer – Crucial for straining out citrus pulp, ice shards, and herbs.

A Few More Galley Must-Haves (for Garnishes & Good Vibes)

A sharp chef’s knife + silicone cutting board – For slicing citrus and prepping herbs.
Collapsible salad spinner – Yes, for lettuce, but also mint, basil, and other fresh garnishes.
Small dish soap by the sink – No full-size bottle mishaps mid-sail.
Stand-mounted paper towel holder – Because lets be honest, drinks will spill.
Metal spring clothespins – For drying bar towels the nautical way: over the lifelines.
Bar towels - Your best friend when things get messy—because a well-used bar towel means a good time was had. Bring at least three (trust us).

Stay in the Loop:

We’re officially on Instagram — @TheGalleyClub! Follow along for recipe videos, behind-the-scenes moments with Max and Theresa, sneak peeks at upcoming dishes, and plenty of galley tips to make boat cooking a breeze. We’ll also be sharing ways for you to get involved, show off your own creations, and maybe even snag a spot in a future feature.

What’s Next:

We’re kicking things off on Friday, May 23rd with a signature Galley Club cocktail: a Mango Rum Punch made for long weekends, short pours, and the first clink of glasses on the water. Until then, stock your bar, pick your tumbler color, and tag us with your onboard cocktail setups using #TheGalleyClub. We’re here to raise the bar on your boat bar. Let’s make this a summer of “just one more” rounds.

The Galley Club (1) Cheers,

Max & Theresa
The Galley Club