Essential Components of a Full Bar

Sure, you can buy a few cases of beer and call it a day, but if you really want to set the stage for a special evening and impress your friends, play bartender and mix guests a real drink. From liquor to jigger, here’s everything you need to set up a full bar at home.

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Liquors

‍Ideally, stock a bottle of each: cognac, white rum, gin, bourbon, vodka, tequila, and blended Scotch. However, if you don’t have the room or the budget to collect them all, start with your favorites; after all, it’s your bar. Alcoholic mixers to have on hand: triple sec, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Nice to have: a liqueur or two (for example, Irish cream or coffee- or almond-flavored).

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Nonalcoholic Mixers and Drinks

‍Go ahead and pick up your favorite mixer, whether it’s a citrus-flavored soda or margarita mix, but also stock up on the basics: club soda, tonic water, cola, ginger ale, cranberry juice, and orange juice. These can also double as beverages on their own for those who don’t care to imbibe.

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Wine

‍Though wine is the most common host(ess) gift (in other words, you don’t need to buy a lot of it), you should have at least a couple of bottles of your favorite red, white and rose on hand when the first guest arrives.

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Beer

‍For those who want nothing more than a nice cold one, keep some bottles of light and dark brews in your fridge or an ice chest.

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Garnishes

‍Garnishes add a splash of visual appeal and flavor to a finished cocktail. At a bare minimum, provide lime and lemon wedges, pitted green olives and kosher salt. Extra points for mint leaves and lemon twists.

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Glassware

‍In order to have a full bar you must also have a full glass set: beer mugs, shot glasses, martini/cocktail, rock glasses (tall/short), and wine glasses. This collection ensures that your guest will be able to enjoy absolutely anything that your bar can offer.

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Tools

‍Cocktails don’t just pour out of a bottle and into a glass. Here are the standard bar tools for most mixed drinks:

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• Ice cube trays and/or ice: If you have room in your freezer, start making ice the day before your party and store it in large plastic bags as you make it. Otherwise, get a few bags of ice for drinks on the rocks and a few more if you plan to have a cooler.

• Bar spoon: A cereal spoon or a straw just doesn’t cut it for a proper cocktail. A bar spoon is tall and thin enough to stir in any type of glass, allows you to pour one liquor over another for a tequila sunrise or other layered drink, and even serves a measuring tool.
• Muddler: If you plan to make an old-fashioned or mojito, you’ll need this big, fun-to-use tool to give the ingredients the little extra crush they need to release all their flavors.
• Jigger: A jigger is a small measuring device, much like a shot glass. It usually has two barrels — the standard, larger end holds 1.5 ounces, while the smaller end holds an ounce.
• Cocktail shaker: Most cocktails must be shaken before they’re served; some shakers even include their own strainer.
• Strainer: The last thing you want in a drink is a bunch of pulp and ice bits falling in after it’s shaken and ready to be served. To avoid that, just pour the drink through a strainer.
• Citrus press: If you use fresh fruit in your drinks, this tool is a must. An essential for any drink that calls for a kick of citrus.
• Others: Corkscrew, bottle opener, straws/stir sticks, ice tongs, pour spouts.

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