Since I’ve posted two drink recipes this week (the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sour and Starbucks Iced Coffee Copycat), I’m in the mood for all things drink related. PLUS…watching Mad Men where there’s a constant drink in everyone’s’ hands and they all have mini bars in their offices really inspires me to step up my home bar, so here’s this week’s Sweet Sunday on How to Stock a Home Bar:
Liquors
- Vodka – this is probably the most common liquor to have as part of your home bar- you’ll use it for cocktails such as screwdrivers, vodka tonics, and many more. A delicious Vodka I like is the Citrus Honey Vodka from Great Lakes Distillery, located here in Milwaukee.
- Gin – for martinis, gin & tonics, and tom collins
- Rum – there are both dark and white rums, use white rums in drinks such as mojitos and dark rums in rum & Cokes.
- Bourbon – for manhattans and whisky sours
- Tequila – for margarita or tequila sunrises
Mixers
- Club Soda – you can go all fancy pants with this San Pellegrino club soda
- Tonic Water – how fun does this Tonic Water Sampler pack look?
- Fruit Juice – you have to stock classic Orange Juice – it’s great with so many cocktails
- Bitters – I like to use bitters from Bittercube which is also located here in Milwaukee, they have very unique flavor combinations, but you could always go with classic bitters.
- Soft drinks – think things like Coke & Sprite.
- Cocktail Shaker – you definitely need a fun shaker set like this one
- Muddler – if you buy the above set, the muddler is inculded, otherwise, one like this
- Short Glass – like such
- Tall Glass – like such
- Stem Glass – think martini or margarita glasses
Odds & Ends
- Bar Cart – store all your items on a cute vintage bar cart like this one (even has a world map on it) or this one
- Straws – I love adding a little cute paper straw into a drink, like these pink paper straws
- Napkins – seriously, how adorable are these polkadot cocktail napkins? I’m off to purchase them right now!
- Ice Bucket – no one likes a warm cocktail, store ice in an ice bucket
- Recipe Book – it’s always fun to have a recipe book for creating unique cocktails, like this one called Bartending Basics
There you have it – how to stock a home bar! Do you have a home bar? Any things that are a must in yours?
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Sarah Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
Love this! Really great advice. And that tonic sampler you linked to looks fantastic. I love Q Tonic, and have been enjoying Fevertree lately too.
Sweetphi says
I totally love fancy tonic waters too, they just add a little flair to cocktails! So glad you liked the advice, thanks for commenting!
cheri says
We have come a long way since the 60’s for sure. Great tips Phi!
Sweetphi says
Some days though Cheri-wouldn’t it be nice to look over at a drink cart in the office? lol. Thanks for commenting!
mimi says
Great information! Isn’t it odd that people really used to drink so much at work in the 60’s? I would have been asleep at work!
Sweetphi says
And how did they get any work done?!? I would have been so out of it all the time lol. Thank you for commenting!