how to stock bar cart

How To Stock A Bar Cart:

1. Pick a stylish cart. There are so many great bar carts out there! ...
2. Stock with the basic alcohol choices & mixers. This can vary due to your preferences and what you are serving but it is nice to have on hand other ...
3. Have the perfect bar tools. ...
4. Add an assortment of glasses. ...
5. Add touches of personality. ...

Full Answer

How to stock your bar cart for the ultimate party?

These are the mixers we generally have on hand:

• Soda water (we use a soda siphon to make it at home)
• Ginger beer
• Fresh juice, such as orange or grapefruit

How to make a DIY custom bar cart?

Materials

• 10 1-inch x 2-inch furring strip boards, each 8-feet long
• 1 1/2-inch wood screws
• Finishing nails
• Wood glue
• 2 2-inch non-marking rubber caster wheels

How to build your own bar cart?

• 1 x 12 x 96-inch cedar board Qty: 2
• 3/4 x 3-inch black iron pipe Qty: 2
• 3/4-inch black iron couplings Qty: 19
• 3/4-inch elbows Qty: 2
• 3/4 x 1-1/2-inch black nipples Qty: 14
• Masking tape Qty: 1
• Wood glue Qty: 1
• Box of 1 1/2-inch wood screws Qty: 1
• 3-inch wheels Qty: 4
• 3/4-inch black caps Qty: 6

More items...

How to set up your bar cart?

Set Up the Ultimate Bar Cart

1. Choose the Cart. Consider, first and foremost, picking the right material. ...
2. Stock Up. Serve style alongside spirits with a stunning set of drinkware (shatterproof options are great for outdoor use) combined with a few practical bar tools and accessories (ice ...
3. Bring on the Booze. ...
4. Finish It Off. ...

What should I stock in my home bar cart?

Now that you know how to stock a bar cart, it's time to make some cocktails. These are our go-to favorites:Cocktail Recipe Index Page.Skinny Margarita.Crushed Blackberry Moscow Mules.Bloody Maria.Spiked Pink Lemonade.

How do you fill out a bar cart?

Bourbon and vodka, gin and rum, tequila and bitters. You can do a lot with just those ingredients on a bar cart! Most guests nowadays are partial to bourbon over Irish whiskey and rye, as it tends to be a little sweeter and more caramelized, but you do you!

What should you put on a bar cart?

Five Basic Spirits. Whether top-shelf or not, a versatile liquor selection on your bar cart is essential to please every palate. ... Mixers and Aperitifs. Include a variety of mix-ins to customize tasty cocktails. ... Garnishes. ... Cocktail-Making Tools. ... Ice Bucket and Tongs. ... Versatile Glassware. ... Dish Towel. ... Personal Touches.

How do I stock a bar?

In general, two bottles are good to start, and you can always add more. Ideally, a bar should have one bottle of each style. For the most versatility and mixability, stock a bourbon and Canadian whisky. The bourbon will give you that robust whiskey flavor, while the Canadian blends tend to be very smooth.

What makes a fully stocked 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.

What liquor should I have in my bar cart?

A good rye whiskey or American bourbon makes an excellent mixed drink like a Whiskey Sour, while Canadian whiskey is smooth for sipping on its own.

What room does a bar cart go in?

Use Your Bar Cart as a Bedside Table. Bar carts tend to find homes in living rooms, dining rooms, or kitchens—but, if there's one place you should consider putting a bar cart, it's your bedroom.

What else can you use a bar cart for?

12 Clever Ways to Use Bar Carts That Have Nothing to Do With...1 Use it as a nightstand. Put a bar cart to work by your bed.3 Beautify bathroom storage. ... 4 Create a coffee corner. ... 5 Corral kids' stuff. ... 6 Organize office supplies. ... 7 Serve birthday brunch. ... 8 Stock the guest room. ... 12 Store dishes.

How do you decorate a bar cart without alcohol?

Here are some items you can use to decorate your bar cart as a side table:Flowers.Stack of books.Candle.Lamp.Artwork.Picture Frames.Plants.

How do I stock a bar for 20 people?

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 each ingredient you need.

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.

What makes a successful bar?

A successful bar will be consistent in every aspect. A successful bar will chose one style and stick to it. A successful bar won't randomly change elements such as entertainment offering, product offering or customer service techniques. If quality is king, consistency is queen.

What is a catch all for whiskey?

A catch-all term for Irish Whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, rye whiskey, blended, or single malt. A good rye whiskey or American bourbon makes an excellent mixed drink like a Whiskey Sour, while Canadian whiskey is smooth for sipping on its own.

What are the different types of rum?

There are 4 kinds of rum: light, gold, dark, and spiced. If you love Daiquiris, and Mojitos, buy light rum. For tropical drinks, add a dark rum to the liquor cabinet. Captain Morgan is a popular spiced rum.

What is a pirate punch?

Pirate Punch. 5. Whiskey. A catch-all term for Irish Whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, rye whiskey, blended, or single malt. A good rye whiskey or American bourbon makes an excellent mixed drink like a Whiskey Sour, while Canadian whiskey is smooth for sipping on its own. Cocktail Recipes.

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.

Bar Cart Essentials: The Liquor

I like to have at least one bottle of the most popular alcoholic beverages on hand. I generally keep several stored in our credenza since we entertain often. The standard six, as I like to call them, can be served on their own or the base for a mixed cocktail. I’ve included Alan and my favorite brands from the standard six.

Bar Cart Essentials: The Mixers

If you’ve ever visited a larger distributor such as BevMo then you’ve seen the endless rows of mixers. There may be hundreds, but the essentials are what I’ve included here.

Bar Cart Essentials: The Tools

To be a great bartender, you need some basic tools to help you craft speciality cocktails. Most stores such as Crate & Barrel offer a bar kit, which is great starting point. However, the long spoon/mixer and muddler are generally not included so you will need to get those separately.

Bar Cart Essentials: The Glassware

Finally, you need some stellar glassware. I recommend 6 of each: old-fashioned, highballer, and coupes that double for martinis and champagne. I keep my wine glasses in the cupboard with our dinnerware but I do like to bring them out for parties since they’re easier to access.

What is the difference between dark rum and white rum?

The white rum is has flavors of banana and pineapple, with a touch of peppery spice. The dark rum has similar notes to the white but of like a grilled pineapple and butterscotch finish. Vodka: Cant really go wrong with Grey Goose or Belvedere. Pretty straight forward here.

Why do you need a decanter in wine?

Decanter: these serve two purposes: The first is to remove the sediment from the wine. Sediment impacts the flavor and can be found in older more tannic wines. The second reason is to allow air into the wine which lets it open up and release Hydrogen Sulfide (sulfur scents) after just opening.

What do you need for mixing glass?

If you go the mixing glass route you need a spoon. Nothing specific when it comes to spoons. Get a color that matches your bar set. Gold, rose gold, silver. Does not matter, you do you This is the mixing spoon we use. Strainer. Another necessity when it comes to the mixing glass route.

Why is it important to keep a bar cart cool?

Keeping them cool and away from direct sunlight preserves them longer. As temperatures rise, the alcohol begins to expand and can evaporate more quickly. This changes the flavor profile and quality of the booze. This is the bar cart that we have.

Can you use a bar cart as a book shelf?

Flex your creative muscles here, literally anything can be used as a bar cart. A table, an actual “ Bar Cart “, or the corner of a book shelf. Literally any flat surface can work. The only rule is that it should not be in direct sunlight. Spirits need to be stored at room temperature.

1. Pick a stylish cart

There are so many great bar carts out there! You can go in the direction of a gold one or something a little different in silver or black. You can even select a table that has a lower shelf. Whatever you pick, just make sure it is function for you.

2. Stock with the basic alcohol choices & mixers

This can vary due to your preferences and what you are serving but it is nice to have on hand other choices in case your guests would like something other than what you are serving. Here is a list of items that are the basic choices to have on hand.

3. Have the perfect bar tools

It’s important to be well equipped for your bar but you need to know what are the essential bar tools to always have on hand. Here are our favorites.

4. Add an assortment of glasses

There are different glasses to have on hand when mixing cocktails. From tall to short and from long stem to no stem, having the right glass can make or break the perfect cocktail. Here are our favorite glass to keep on hand.

5. Add touches of personality

It is important to always add a little personality to your bar cart. Something unique that speaks to you like monogrammed cocktail napkins, eclectic bottle stoppers or fun art hung above your cart. I’ve selected some fun pieces that will make your bar cart complete.