After visiting friends and family over the holidays you may have noticed your home bar was lacking. Or it could have been an inspiration to finally get yours up and running. Either way, we’ve got some tips on getting the basics covered without going overboard!
Fact is, the best way to stock your bar is with the ingredients necessary for the cocktails you like to drink. It is your bar, after all! Don’t get overwhelmed right out of the gate; stocking your bar is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it slow and gather quality ingredients over time and eventually, you’ll end up with a bar you’ll be proud to show off!
So, with that in mind, we’ve got a list of the most popular bar basics you’ll need to keep happy hour at the house.
Spirits
Vodka – one of the most popular spirits in the world and a go-to for many cocktails.
Gin – A base spirit for many classic cocktails due to its wonderfully complex flavor profile.
Bourbon Whiskey – On the rocks, neat, or in a cocktail, bourbon whiskey is the essential American spirit.
Tequila – A must-have for trips to Margaritaville, but which type you stock depends on your intentions. Gold tequila is usually used for mixing, while silver is used for serving straight-up.
Rum – The sweetest of the bunch, rum is an exotic go-to. Use the darker rums for punches and the lighter rums for cocktails.
Mixers
Your mixers depend on what you want to make, but it can’t hurt to have the basics handy! Keep in mind that the higher quality the mixer, the better your drinks will be, so resist the urge to skimp on quality here as it will be noticeable.
Club soda, tonic water, cola, Sprite/7 Up, ginger beer, orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, and angostura bitters (technically not a mixer, but used in splashes to flavor drinks)
Garnishes
For the final touch you’ll need to garnish appropriately.
Cocktail olives, cocktail onions, limes, lemons, tabasco, salt, pepper, sugar, and ice.
Tools
You’ll only need a couple of tools to get started and they’re pretty affordable.
A double-sided jigger, a bartender multi-tool, and a shaker.
Now that your bar is stocked all you need to do is put a sign up with your hours of operation or else you’ll be dealing with “customers” well past your preferred closing time!
