How to Stock Your Home Bar
- Vodka Is Essential. Vodka has a clean, transparent flavor, and it is used for more cocktails than any other distilled spirit.
- A Versatile Gin or Two. Not everyone is a fan of gin. ...
- Tequilas for Margaritas. ...
- Two Rums Are Good. ...
- Choose Your Whiskey. ...
- A Basic Brandy. ...
- Essential Liqueurs. ...
- The Basic Liqueurs. ...
- The Secondary Liqueurs. ...
- Essential Juices. ...
Full Answer
How to set up and stock a home bar?
Jul 07, 2011 · I love seeing what other people enjoy drinking and the recipes they specialize in. What you stock in your bar and why you stock it makes for great conversational fodder. Home Bar Rule #2: Start small. Repeat after me: Start small. Another mistake I made was trying to create a full working bar right out of the gate.
How to properly stock a home bar?
Jan 29, 2020 · The steps involved make it rather easy: Decide which cocktails you'll offer. Estimate the number of guests you expect. Determine how much of each liquor and mixer needed per drink. There are 25 ounces or an average of 16 shots in a 750-milliliter bottle; Use this to estimate how many bottles of ...
What do you need to stock a home bar?
Jun 01, 2017 · An expert-level home bar should be stocked with a range of spirits and liqueurs used in a wide variety of cocktails, from stirred and boozy to …
How to stock a home bar, no matter the budget?
Mar 09, 2022 · Mix fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice with a splash of seltzer to make a light cocktail. Also try sweetened, diluted lime and lemon juice served over crushed ice, or whip fresh or frozen berries in a blender with ice and a dash of lime. Advertisement
How do you fully stock a bar?
Your checklist for a fully stocked home bar includes a variety of alcohols, tools, and drinkware, and mastering a few cocktail recipes. You should have the five common types of alcohol, including tequila, gin, vodka, rum, and whisky, as well as a small selection of beer, wine, and champagne.
How do I stock a small home bar?
Ideally, a bar should have one bottle of each style.For the most versatility and mixability, stock a bourbon and Canadian whisky. ... Rye whiskey is another excellent choice for everyday mixed drinks. ... A bottle of Irish whiskey and a decent blended scotch are good complements to any bar.May 13, 2021
How do you stock a bar cabinet?
Start with a whiskey, preferably a bourbon or a rye — then go with vodka or gin, white rum and tequila or mezcal. From there, pick three or four cocktails you know you'll want to drink, and augment your bar with a few special bottles.Apr 24, 2020
How do you set up a home bar?
0:332:14Very Entertaining: How To Set Up A Home Bar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst thing you need is a mixing glass. And then you need a jigger to measure your liquor. To stirMoreFirst thing you need is a mixing glass. And then you need a jigger to measure your liquor. To stir your cocktail you need a spoon a long spoon that cannot really reach into the glass is essential.
What should I order at a bar for the first time?
Best Drinks To Order At A BarCosmopolitan.Moscow Mule.Old Fashioned.Whiskey Sour.Sidecar.Nov 26, 2019
How do you arrange liquor bottles in your home bar?
2:182:56Home Bar 101: Key Bottles to Stock a Home Bar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's really a variety of ways that you can go about it again you can start with a singleMoreAnd that's really a variety of ways that you can go about it again you can start with a single bottle. And then slowly build it up as your repertoire drinks.
What are the 6 basic cocktails?
They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip. In each drink, every ingredient falls into at least one category. Core is the primary flavor; balance enhances the core with sweetness, acidity, or both; and seasoning adds another dimension and complements or contrasts with the core.Sep 19, 2019
Is chartreuse hallucinogenic?
Up first, the strange-but-true story of chartreuse, an iconic (and reportedly hallucinogenic) liqueur handcrafted by French Monks from a 400-year-old recipe. Originally named "The Elixir of Life," lord only knows exactly what's in chartreuse.
Is Hennessy top shelf liquor?
This list includes only the top of the line, more expensive brands of liquor for the sophisticated pallet, including: Pravda, Martini & Rossi, Hennessy, Jim Beam (Black), Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark, Patron, Glenlivet, Appleton Estate, Cruzan, and Tanqueray.
How do you create a small bar?
Choose a Bar Concept and Brand. The fun part of starting your own bar is creating your concept and brand. ... Choose a Name for Your Bar. ... Choose a Business Entity for Your Bar. ... Write a Bar Business Plan. ... Secure Funding for Your Bar. ... Find the Perfect Location. ... Obtain Permits and Licenses. ... Find a Liquor Supplier.More items...•Apr 22, 2019
What do you need in a bar?
What equipment should every bar have?Cocktail and bartending equipment.Beverages and beverage dispensing bar equipment.A bar POS system.Bar furniture and other equipment.Food and kitchen supplies.Mar 17, 2021
How do you set up a bar well?
0:532:10Bartending Tips : How to Set Up a Bar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNext you're going to want a napkin. And straw caddy this is important because you want to be able toMoreNext you're going to want a napkin. And straw caddy this is important because you want to be able to reach close and just drop your straws. And your drink as you pour. Maybe set out a Bev nap.
1. Daiquiri
Daiquiris are among my favorite drinks. They are a group of cocktails that contain rum, citrus juice, and a sweetener. Rum can also be switched out for other alcohols. For example, a daiquiri with gin or vodka is essentially a Gimlet.
2. Old Fashioned
Another favorite of mine is the old fashioned. It’s certainly very versatile. The main cocktail is made of whiskey, bitters, simple syrup, and a citrus twist.
3. Martini
This is probably the cocktail I make the least, but is still a huge favorite. A classic dry martini is gin and vermouth with an olive or a lemon twist.
4. Sour
According to the list I linked above, the sidecar is one of the six classic cocktails. However, the sidecar is actually a kind of sour. The sour family of drinks are made with a base liquor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener. And, according to these rules, they actually make the Daiquiri part of the Sours.
5. Highball
I’ve always thought a Highball sounded like the fanciest of cocktails, but it’s also the simplest. For all you fans of a rum & coke, a Highball is just a spirit plus a non-alcoholic mixer.
6. Flip
And, last but not least, and the most advanced to make, is the Flip. A Flip is a cocktail that contains a spirit, a sweetener, and a whole egg. Flips can also contain just an egg white, but if we’re being picky about the Classics, I wanted you to know.
How to Stock a Home Bar: Essential Liquors
This lineup is all you need to make the six classic cocktails listed previously. To stock a bar with the basics you’ll need rum, gin, tequila, whiskey, and a dry vermouth. You could technically get away without the tequila, but that would take away the ability to make margaritas, palomas, tequila sunrises, and more.
The Home Bar Rules
Home Bar Rule #1: Pick alcohol you actually enjoy imbibing. When I first started my own home bar, I only picked spirits that I thought would impress guests when I had them over. I ended up spending a fortune for alcohol that I hardly ever used. While you’ll use your home bar for entertaining, don’t forget that a home bar’s main customer is you.
Alcohol
Gin. It’s one of the base spirits for many popular cocktails, so definitely have plenty on hand. Gin comes in four varieties: London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, and Genever. I suggest starting off with a London Dry gin. Later on, add a Plymouth gin to the mix. Learn more about this spirit in AoM’s primer on gin.
Mixers
Again, what mixers you decide to stock will depend on the cocktails you want to make. Here are the basics:
Garnishes
Garnishes add a bit of decorative panache to your drink. They also give you something to nibble on as you sip your drink. The type of garnish you add to a drink depends on the drink. Tequila-based cocktails often use citrus garnishes like a lime or lemon. Gin-based tonics use olives and onions. A man should never add garnishes to a Scotch.
Glassware and Other Assorted Accouterments
You’ll need the proper tools for your apothecary of invigorating elixirs. You can get pretty specific with your glassware. There are tumblers made specifically for certain cocktails. If you drink those cocktails frequently, by all means get them. But you can get by just fine without them. Here are the basics:
Home Bar Storage
Some of you might be choking on your cocktail olive at the size of this list. You’re probably thinking, “Sure, Jeff, this sounds all well and good, but where am I supposed to keep this in my tiny house/apartment/condo?”
Never run out of drinks again
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
How Many Drinks Per Guest
In party planning, the general advice is that guests will drink two drinks the first hour, and one drink per hour after that. These drinks can be cocktails, beer, wine, or nonalcoholic beverages, and many guests will opt for a combination throughout the night.
Stocking for a Cocktail Menu
Developing a cocktail menu is one way to cut your costs because you only need the ingredients for the specific drinks you select. It also offers the opportunity to design the menu around the party theme.
Stocking a Full Bar
The full bar option is a little more complicated and costly because you'll need a greater variety of liquor and mixers available. The advantage is that guests can order any drink they want.
Don't Forget the Ice
The other key to any great drink is ice. Plan on one pound of ice per person. This will be enough for mixing drinks and to keep the beer and wine cold.
Home Bar Basics
A home bar doesn't have to be a headache: Invest in basic equipment, stock up on essential liquors, and you can have a spread that will impress amateurs -- and even make professionals nod in quiet approval.
Storing Liquor
Liquor will keep for a long time, particularly in a cool place away from direct sunlight. The lower the liquid level, though, the more quickly you should consume the liquor, as the air in the bottle will leach out the flavors. Vermouth, however, is a wine, and should be refrigerated and drunk fairly quickly.
Barware
The equipment needed to mix a cocktail is simple to master, and you don't need a lot of it.
Glassware
For everyday use in your home bar, you only need six or eight of each of these three basic types: a short glass, a tall glass, and a stem.
Alcohol
To make fantastic, creative cocktails, there's no need to stock your bar with 12 brands of expensive vodka and a rainbow's worth of brightly colored liqueurs.
The Liquors
Cognac For sidecars, brandy milk punches, crustas, daisies, and smashes.
The Mixers
Cointreau A bar essential -- clean, full of natural orange flavor, and not too sweet.
1. Tools
Yes, you could keep reaching for a hulking Pyrex to measure out 2 or 4 ounces of liquor, but why not get a proper jigger? We’re partial to the one that’s part of our bar tools set, which sits neatly on top of your bar cart of choice and also includes a cocktail strainer, bar spoon, bottle opener, muddler and ice tongs.
2. Core Spirits
Bourbon and vodka, gin and rum, tequila and bitters.
3. Specialty Spirits
You’re going to want a few specialty spirits, depending on your happy hour beverage of choice. Campari or Aperol? Yes, and it depends on how bitter you like things. You’ll also want vermouth, which you should store in the refrigerator for up to a month once it’s opened.
4. Mixers
Bitters these days are just beautiful, and you can collect the ones that intrigue you the most. It’s a good idea to always have Angostura and Peychaud’s on hand, as they populate many classic drinks, but you might also want grapefruit or burnt caramel, peach or smoked orange.
5. Serveware
The vessels you serve the drinks in matter. Yes, you can get away with jam jars… for a while, and depending on the setting. (It works better on a porch than on a patio with a view!) Our Fiore glassware is just stunning, and will tempt any fans of cut glass. So, too, is our antique brassware ice bucket, a true charmer for any fans of bubbly wine.
