Do you enjoy hosting dinner parties and gatherings with friends but find that the drinks are always a hassle? Are you tired of running to the liquor store every time someone offers to come over for drinks?
It might be time to invest in a home bar. By stocking your home bar with a few key bottles of liquor and some essential mixers, you’ll be able to whip up any drink your guests might desire. This guide will provide you with tips on how to curate the perfect home bar.
1. Stock your home bar with the essentials.
When creating a standard set of drinks for your home bar, you can stock only those products that do not require a low temperature. These can include red and white dry wine, homemade liqueur, vodka, gin, and whiskey, which you can purchase on this link. It is always allowed to dilute these drinks with canned soda or homemade juice.
Remember, vodka is a liquor used in almost every popular cocktail. Experiment with it and try different combinations to see which one suits your taste. From Screwdrivers, Bloody Marys, and Martini to fruity summer Malibu mango drinks, it will become your go-to spirit.
You can even name a few cocktails after you! Then again, drinks are not the only thing you need in your bar. Make sure to have plenty of mixers, ice, and glasses for serving.
2. Choose a variety of mixers to go with your spirits.
A bar is as good as its mixers. When it comes to choosing mixers, the options are countless. Whether you’re opening at a bottle of rum or splashing vodka, ginger beer is key to adding zest to any drink.
This sparkling beverage is especially handy when you do not want to get drunk but still want the cocktail experience. Ginger beers also range from sugar-filled to spicy. When choosing the right one for your cocktail, make sure to find a balanced ginger beer that does not contain too much sugar, has moderate spices, and a vibrant effervescence.
3. Enjoy your bar setup and choose interesting bottles and glasses to display.
Many drinks come in creative and interesting packaging, so they can be used to decorate your home bar. If you do not like typical decorations for it, replace them with unusual and unique-looking bottles and always have a serving for your guests on hand. You can get them at thrift stores, antique shops, or online.
When decorating your home bar, bottles are not the only thing that plays a crucial role. Glasses with unique designs for different drinks also play an important role. Make sure to get them in different sizes and shapes so that you can serve different drinks. Combine both bottles and glasses to create a unique design that looks attractive.
Last but not least, to complete your mini bar and create cocktails like a real professional, you need accessories such as straws, umbrellas, paper parasols, etc. Get creative and experiment with new flavors!
4. Make sure you have all the necessary tools for mixing drinks.
You need tools for a functional home bar: a bottle opener, cocktail shakers and jiggers, a corkscrew, recipes, and other basic elements. A small cutting board and a good knife will also come in handy.
You can keep some of these things in small drawers under the drink, or hang them on hangers that you can place above the bar. Before starting, understand how to use them properly, and you’ll be good to go!
5. Experiment with different flavors when making cocktails.
If you want to experiment a bit with your cocktails, try making them with different flavors such as natural ingredients. Nothing beats the natural flavor and color! Get creative and come up with your own unique recipes. Do not be afraid to try new things such as flavored liquors or syrups.
The important thing is to be careful when using them because they can make your cocktail sweeter than expected. In that case, you will have to reduce the amount of sugar.
