Setting Up a Home Bar

Mixing drinks is an enjoyable and common hobby and once you learn a few drink recipes such as a classic espresso martini you may be looking to set up your own home bar. Having your own bar at home offers advantages, such as entertaining your guests, saving money on your favorite drinks, and having a bar within walking distance saving on driving. However, setting up a home bar does require some planning. By taking a few notes and doing some planning, you can set up a home bar that is interesting and fun to use. Here are some general tips for setting up a home bar and the items you will need.

Setting Up a Home Bar

While it may be tempting just to start buying your favorite spirits, some planning can help save time and in some cases save you money. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when setting up your own bar.

• Storage: an important part of ensuring your liquor tastes great from the first shot to the last is proper storage. Your spirits should be stored on a bar cart or in a dark cabinet. Specifically, you should never expose your spirits to direct sunlight as this impacts the flavors. Also, oxygen can affect the taste of bottles that are mostly empty.
• Bar Equipment: to make a good drink you need the right tools. Some of the most important home bar equipment includes a pick, ice bucket, muddler, strainer, bar spoon, shaker, and jigger just to name a few. Also, don’t overlook the little things such as napkins.
• Glasses: the type and amount of glasses you buy should depend on what you intend to use. Some of the most commonly used bar glasses include wine glasses, rocks, highball, martini, and pint glasses. If space is an issue focus on the basics and versatility.
• Spirits: the sheer variety of spirits available today is almost overwhelming and new and innovative products are coming out all the time. Start with the basics (based on what you enjoy most) such as vodka, gin, bourbon, rum, and tequila. Some more complex spirits to add as your bar grows include rye whiskey, scotch, and cognac.
• Mixers: if you’re looking to make a good cocktail, you have to have mixers. Some of the best mixers to add to your bar include Cointreau for its sweet flavoring, red vermouth if you’re making Manhattans, bitters for flavor enhancement, and white vermouth for martinis.

How Much To Spend

A common question when setting up a home bar is how much money to spend. A general rule is to purchase the highest-quality spirits you can afford. Very cheap spirits can reduce the quality of your drinks and spending too much on top-shelf spirits is not economically feasible. Also, you can consider buying local if that is an option.

Final Thoughts

Mixing drinks is fun, and it’s always exciting to learn about new drinks and how to make them. A fully stocked home bar also allows you the chance to practice and expand your skills while also having a good time.