Gettin' Started

For the those who enjoy entertaining, a properly stocked bar is a must. A well-mixed drink can help schmooze a boss, romance a date, and impress a friend. Mixing drinks at home for friends and family can make you feel like some of the swanky 1960s folks pouring drinks in their "Space Age-inspired" mid-century home. It's a great feeling.

Starting a home bar can seem like a daunting task to anyone, but it doesn’t need to be so. Becoming a home mixologist should be fun!

This doesn’t mean you need to spend loads of money on your bar, but think of it as an investment. If you are going to go so far as to referring to it as your bar, take some pride in it. This is an endeavor for you, by you, and you should work at making it worth your time.

You can set up a small, reasonable bar for a reasonable investment. I have heard before, and would agree, that a fair expectation for a “good” home bar will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-300, depending on your tastes. A bar on a smaller scale will, naturally, result in a smaller bill.

Home Bar Rule #1: Pick liquor people actually like to drink.  Many people make the mistake of buying impressive looking alcohol rather than practical choices that their guests may actual drink.

Home Bar Rule #2: Go Slow. Repeat after me: Go Slow. No point in blowing the bank right out of the gate, or your home bar will be a one time endeavor. Start small, grow gradually. Stocking a home bar is a marathon, not a sprint. If you keep the focus on a few drinks that you really like and gradually get more daring and creative, you will find it easier to develop an appreciation for spirits that are not in your repertoire and it will allow you to slowly build up your bar without damaging your bank account or overwhelming your palate.

Here are some suggestions on what a properly stocked home bar should have. But remember, use your own personal taste and take into account your own needs when making your final decision.


 WHISKEY

  In blended whiskies, Johnny Walker Black (No.1 scotch whiskey in the world) should have you set; as for Canadian, I may not use it as often, but a bottle of  Crown Royal does me just fine.
We keep a bottle of Bushmill’s for the occasion that calls for Irish whiskey.
And if you are new to  Scotch whiskey you can get started with J&B or a Buchanan's if you are int more of the Caribbean taste


TEQUILA



Tequila is a must have liquor for your trips to Margaritaville. What type of tequila you stock depends on what you plan on using it for. You can't go wrong with Don Julio.

VODKA

An excellent liquor for doing shots or for mixing into popular cocktails like Bloody Marys and Cosmopolitans.  No need to break the bank on this to get quality vodka

I happen to like Ketel One—it doesn’t give me that strange, blank-yet-metallic aftertaste that I get with most vodkas—so that’s what I keep. I also lean toward Smirnoff when I'm looking for a great vodka to drink straight.

  GIN

  

You really only need one type to keep your bar functional. For those who like the botanical flavors of gin, I recommend Tanqueray; it’s flavorful, reasonably priced and easy to find. 

RUM

 



Captain Morgan will make a nice addition to any bar, especially when a tropical drink with depth or a dark dessert drink is called for.

BEER

  

Beer is always a very personal taste - I'm a stout kinda drinker. Great for the game, great for a relaxing evening at home. Simply put, it's great!

LIQUEURS

Don't forget your light weights. Plenty of your guests may not be able to handle the hard stuff but  will want to partake in a lighter after dinner drink. Baileys, Sheridan's, Godiva are great choices for sweet milky type drinks and Pimm's, flavored Smirnoff are great to round out your bar for mixing great cocktails.

Mixers

Again, what mixers you decide to stock will depend on the cocktails you want to make. Here are the basics:

• Club soda
• Tonic water
• Cola
• Sprite or 7-up
• Ginger ale
• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Tomato juice
• Pineapple juice

Last two things to remember for any great bat are your Garnishes and your Glasses.

 

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.

GLASSWARE

 Remember Home Bar Rule #2: Start small. If you don’t have room or any place to store your home bar, keep your home bar small. Pick two or three different types of glasses and stick with those to start.





Well, that’s all she wrote. I hope this little guide was informative and a bit entertaining. But more importantly, I hope it inspired you to get started with your home bar today. Don’t wait!

 Cheers!