How to Stock Your Home Bar
- Essential Liquors. The foundation for the majority of cocktails, a well-rounded bar should include at least one bottle...
- Vodka Is Essential. Vodka has a clean, transparent flavor, and it is used for more cocktails than any other distilled...
- A Versatile Gin or Two. Not everyone is a fan of gin. However, it is nice to have at least one bottle...
- The Essentials.
What should I stock my bar with?
To stock a bar, you should at least get all of the standard types of alcohol, which include vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, scotch, tequila, beer, and wine. You should also get some liqueurs, like triple sec, crème de menthe, and schnapps, which are used to add sweetness to cocktails. Also, stock your bar with popular mixers, like club soda, tonic ...
What do you need for a cocktail bar?
You should also get some liqueurs, like triple sec, crème de menthe, and schnapps, which are used to add sweetness to cocktails. Also, stock your bar with popular mixers, like club soda, tonic water, cola, juice, and grenadine. You might also want to have some bitters, sugar cubes, and garnishes on hand.
How many bottles of whiskey should you stock in 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 do you need to build a wine bar?
You will need to acquire a refrigerator that is an appropriate size for the bar you have planned. You could also create space in a refrigerator you already own. Opened white wine bottles need to be kept cold to prevent flavor from altering. However, don’t refrigerate red wine as this will alter the flavor.
What do you need to have 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.
How do I stock my first bar?
1:353:24Getting Started - Stocking Your First Bar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStart by picking up a light rum that'll be good for things like mojitos. But some cocktails workMoreStart by picking up a light rum that'll be good for things like mojitos. But some cocktails work better with the dark rum things like the dark and stormy. Get yourself one of each.
What does a full bar consist of?
Adjective. (US) Serving liquor, not only beer and wine (of a bar or restaurant). (catering) Provisioned with standard liquors (vodka, gin, whisky, rum, tequila), together with mixers, but of a middle (inoffensive but inexpensive) grade.
How much alcohol is needed to stock a bar?
The general rule of thumb for the types of alcohol you'll serve should be these ratios: Full bar: 33% liquor, 33% beer, 33% wine. Beer and wine only: 70% beer, 30% wine.
How much is a to stock a bar at home?
Stocking a bar by buying one bottle of every category of spirit, even if you go down-market, will cost you at the very least $150, unless you're buying stuff bottled in plastic, and even then, such a shopping trip still won't be cheap.
How much does it cost to fully stock a home bar?
At the low end, it would be about $200 for your entire bar. You can make a good number of drinks with this for any number of people. If you were buying all high-end spirits, you're looking at about $350. But you don't have to buy all the bottles.
How do I stock a bar for 200 guests?
200 GUESTS:140 bottles of wine.350 bottles of beer.30 bottles of liquor (750 ml)40 bottles of champagne for toast (optional)
How do I set up a liquor bar?
0:132:14Very Entertaining: How To Set Up A Home Bar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou don't need a ton of liquor. You want whiskey tequila gin vodka rum like simple stuff someMoreYou don't need a ton of liquor. You want whiskey tequila gin vodka rum like simple stuff some vermouth sweet and dry some bitters.
How do you stock a commercial bar?
Your bar should be stocked with standard liquors, such as vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey (bourbon, scotch, and rye), and light and dark rum, in each of these three qualities.
Is opening a bar a good investment?
Is Opening a Bar a Good Investment? Yes, opening a bar can be a good investment. The average net profit of a successful bar is more than the average annual return from the stock market.
Why do bars fail?
Lack of funds is one of the big reasons bars fail. There are many operators who only have enough cash in their account to handle last week's bills. This is a mistake. You should always have at least 6 months' worth of rent as cash in your account.
How much alcohol do I need for 100 guests?
How much alcohol do you need for 100 guests? For a 4 hour party with 100 guests, you will need approximately 400 drinks: 160 beers, 144 glasses of wine (29 bottles) and enough for 96 individual cocktails (amounts will depend upon what type of cocktail you serve). If you aren't serving wine, plan on 240 cocktails.
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?”
Essential Spirits
It's easy to get overwhelmed with the variety of liquors on the market, but rest assured, if you have these key ones, you're set up to make most standard cocktails.
Essential Mixers
Mixers are just as essential as spirits, as most standard cocktails are going to require at least one (more likely two). Having some of the more popular ones on hand will ensure that you always have what you need to make your favorite libations.
Essential Garnishes
Though you may be tempted to skimp on garnishes, don't. Part of the fun of preparing and investing time and money into a great cocktail is the presentation. Plus, depending on the type of garnish they can add flavor to the mix as well.
Bar Toolkit
The number of bar tools and gadgets on the market are endless, but with just a handful of tools you can handle 99 percent of home bartending tasks. And we're willing to bet you already have quite a few of these in your kitchen right now.
Glassware
It's tempting to buy a different type of glass to go with each accompanying cocktail (like margarita glasses or martini glasses), but having two to three different sized glasses on hand will work for nearly any cocktail you could ever want to make. Plus, elegant cocktail glasses look stunning in a bar cart or cabinet.
Bar Carts and Cabinets
Without a built-in home bar, you'll need somewhere to proudly store and display your growing liquor and bar collection. You don't have to drop thousands of dollars on a fancy bar cabinet — you can find stylish, minimalistic bar carts and cabinets for less than $100.
Share & More
Opt out of sharing your name, email address, and other personal information with third parties.
How to Stock a Bar
Bar essentials encompass all the items you need to keep your bar running, including mixers and equipment. Keeping your bar stocked with these key bartender essentials allows your bartenders to mix a wide variety of drinks, from signature craft cocktails to tried and true classics.
Bar Inventory List
Make sure your bar is properly stocked with the equipment and bartender tools your staff will need to pour liquor, blend drinks, and shake cocktails. These key pieces of bar equipment will help your bar staff quickly prepare almost every type of drink your customers can order.
Cocktail Ingredients
Bar Ingredients are the key to a well-balanced and memorable drink. They add flavor, depth, and color to your cocktails. By stocking the following cocktail ingredients, you'll have a great inventory base for making most any drink:
Pre-Made Cocktail Mixes
Bar drink mixes help your bar staff make popular drinks faster to maintain a consistent service time frame and taste, and to keep customers happy. Because they are premixed, bar drinks mixes also cut down on prep time.
Cocktail Glasses
Using the right cocktail glass can actually make your drinks better and improve the experience for your guests. Instead of using the same rocks glass or pint glass for every drink, enhance your presentation with the following line up of cocktail glasses:
Cocktail Garnishes
Presentation is just as important as taste when it comes to mixed drinks. That is why the process of making incredible mixed drinks ends with selecting the ideal garnish for your glass, perfected with garnishing tools. Here are three drink garnishes that no successful bar can live without:
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.
Essential Liquors, Mixers, and Garnishes for a Full Bar
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Essential Liquors
The foundation for the majority of cocktails, a well-rounded bar should include at least one bottle of each of the six base liquors. Stocking a good selection of these will ensure you can mix up almost any cocktail on a whim. If you feel like a whiskey cocktail tonight, you'll be ready.
Vodka Is Essential
Vodka has a clean, transparent flavor, and it is used for more cocktails than any other distilled spirit. Some people like vodka more than others, so stock according to your preference.
A Versatile Gin or Two
Not everyone is a fan of gin. However, it is nice to have at least one bottle in every bar.
Tequilas for Margaritas
Tequila is key to margaritas, though there are other fascinating tequila cocktails to explore. Generally, you'll want to stock at least one nice tequila.
Two Rums Are Good
A well-stocked bar has at least two bottles of rum. You can spend as little or as much as you like, though rum tends to be one of the more affordable liquors.
Choose Your Whiskey
Things get complicated when it comes to stocking whiskey because each style has its own characteristics and uses. This category is definitely going to be adapted to your personal style. In general, two bottles are good to start, and you can always add more. Ideally, a bar should have one bottle of each style.
