Stock Your Bar

Dec 30

With the right tools and ingredients, you can mix up anything from a classic old-fashioned to a refreshing mojito in just a few minutes. This guide covers the must-have bar supplies to ensure you're ready to shake, stir, and pour like a pro. Let's build a bar setup that’s functional, stylish, and always ready for happy hour!

Tools:

Cocktail Shaker: A must for mixing drinks like martinis and margaritas.

Jigger: For precise measurements of spirits, syrups, etc.
Citrus Juicer
Mixing glass: For stirred drinks like Manhattans.
Bar spoon: Helps mix ingredients smoothly without aerating.
Jigger: For precise measurements of spirits.
Strainer: To keep ice and fruit pulp out of your finished drink.
Muddler: Perfect for crushing herbs, sugar cubes, and fruit for a mojito or an old fashioned.
Corkscrew or wine bottle opener: Necessary for wine enthusiasts.
Bottle opener: Simple but essential for beers and ciders.
Ice bucket and tongs: Keep your ice clean and within reach - mostly for parties and gatherings.

Glassware

The right glassware enhances both the look and taste of your drinks. Different cocktails shine when served in the proper glassware. I’ve link options available on Amazon but don’t forget to check out your local thrift shops for gently used unique glassware.

Spirits: The Basics

Vodka: A neutral spirit made from grains or potatoes, known for its clean, crisp taste. Perfect as a base for cocktails where other flavors take center stage.
Gin: A botanical spirit distilled with juniper berries and other herbs and spices, giving it a fragrant, herbal flavor profile.
Rum: Made from sugarcane or molasses, rum comes in light, dark, and spiced varieties. Light rum has a subtle sweetness, while dark rum offers rich caramel and molasses notes.
Tequila: Distilled from blue agave, tequila has a distinctive earthy, slightly sweet flavor. Choose blanco (unaged) for bright, citrusy notes or reposado (aged) for a smoother, oaky profile.
Whiskey: Made from grains like barley, corn, rye, or wheat and aged in barrels, whiskey offers a complex range of flavors from sweet caramel to smoky oak, depending on the style.
Triple sec or Cointreau: Orange-flavored liqueurs made from orange peels, adding a sweet, citrusy kick to cocktails like margaritas and cosmos.

Mixers

Club soda: Great for spritzers and highballs.
Tonic water: A necessity for gin and tonic fans.
Bitters: There are so many different kinds of bitters but Angostura bitters are the go-to for many classic cocktails and definitely a bottle to have on hand.
Juices: Orange, cranberry, and lime juice are cocktail staples.
Simple syrup: Sweetens drinks without granulated sugar.