Photo Credit - istock/NikiLitov
There are only a few things more enjoyable than having a properly stocked bar in the comfort of your own home. I’m not talking about having one go-to bottle stashed away in the back of your freezer, and a 6-pack of beer that you picked up on your way home from work. What you need, friends, is a solid bar stocked with the basics, so you can entertain (and impress) guests, as well as treat yourself to the gift of a properly mixed drink. Starting a home bar may seem daunting or superfluous, but when you can artfully craft a cocktail of your guest’s choosing, you’ll surely be glad you took my advice. I’m not saying that mixing the perfect Moscow Mule or Gimlet for your lady or your boss is guaranteed to help you score that second date or that promotion…but I’m not, not saying that, either.
Stocking a great home bar is easier than it sounds. It is primarily based on how much you can afford to spend, and how large you want your arsenal of options to be. If you have a lot of money to blow and want a top-notch bar with the finest curated liquors, then by all means, go forth (also, let’s be friends). However, the good news is, you can also achieve a successful home bar filled with all the components that you’ll need to make a wonderful selection of drinks without breaking the bank. No matter what your budget, you’ll need to start with the basics. Below is a laundry list of essentials you’ll need to stock your dream home bar.
- STEP 1: PICK YOUR BUDGET
I’ve broken down your “laundry list” (below) into three different TOTAL budgetary ranges:
- $350
- $550
- $775
Meaning, you really have no excuse not to have a bar in the comfort of your own home after reading this article! The costs throughout this article are an estimate, and my budgets are meant to be used as a guideline, as prices are subject to change, and things like glassware and bar tools will depend on which brands you ultimately choose to purchase and the quantity. However, the big picture is that you can truly have a well-equipped bartender’s paradise at home, without dropping thousands of dollars. I’ve even taken the liberty to break down my liquor suggestions for the 3 total budget tiers of $350, $550, and $775 (including 1 of each liquor essential–not including beer or wine, flair, bar tools, and glassware). I’ve made it easy, now go out there and make your home bar yours.
- STEP 2: STOCKING UP ON A VARIETY OF LIQUOR
WHISKEY:
Ah, whiskey. A good whiskey can soothe any man’s (or woman’s) soul and is necessary when musing over deep thoughts that only a strong liquor can assuage. For a solid bar, you’ll want to have both bourbon (the sweeter variety of whiskey) and rye (a little spicier) whiskey in your arsenal. A scotch whiskey wouldn’t be too bad to keep around, either. (Prices are an estimation as they will vary from region to region)
$350 Budget (Choose 1 Rye, 1 Bourbon):
Jack Daniels Old No 7 Rye - $20
Templeton Rye - $18
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon - $21
$500 Budget (Choose 1 Rye, 1 Bourbon):
Sazerac 6 Year Rye - $30 - $38
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon - $21
Old Forester 1920 Bourbon - $30 - $45
$775 Budget (Choose 1 Rye, 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch):
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year - $42
Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Bourbon - $41
Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask Scotch - $58
VODKA:
The ultimate failsafe of many a home bars, be sure to keep at least one good vodka around. If you do enjoy vodka on its own, go ahead and venture into other flavor-infused frills for shots and whatnot. If that’s not your thing, and your vodka consumption is limited strictly to the cocktail, stick to a smooth, flavorless, high-quality variety.
$350 Budget (Choose 1):
Deep Eddy 80 - $15
Svedka - $20
$500 Budget (Choose 1):
Wheatley - $20
Dripping Springs - $32
$775 Budget:
Absolut Elyx - $45
GIN:
There’s all sorts of good options out there when it comes to gin, but if you’re looking to keep it simple, stick to a nice dry gin for your cocktail needs. If you’re a diehard fan of gin, you can kick it up a notch. It’s all up to you.
$350 Budget (Choose 1):
Dripping Springs Artisanal Gin - $20
Hendrick's - $20
$500 Budget (Choose 1):
Beefeater - $19
Citadelle - $24
$775 Budget (Choose 1):
St. George Botanivore - $40
Brooklyn Gin - $40
RUM:
Make sure you have a white rum in your home bar, which is quintessential for mixing many cocktails. For punches, dark rum is key. If this home bar is for your personal use, white rum will do you just fine. If you plan to throw a party, add a dark rum into the mix.
$350 Budget (Choose 1):
Kraken Spiced Rum - $12
Flor de Cana 4-Year-Old White - $16
$500 Budget:
Plantation 3 Star White Rum- $20
Plantation Original Dark - $30
$775 Budget:
Clement Agricole Rum - $30
Plantation O.F.T.D. - $35
TEQUILA:
Necessary for those evenings when nothing else will quench your thirst but a good old-fashioned margarita (so, every single Tuesday night). The kind of tequila you get depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re all about margaritas, gold tequila will do the trick and is generally on the cheaper side. If you like to consume your tequila straight up, silver tequila is the way to go. No matter what, make sure the tequila you buy is “100% agave,” otherwise it’s full of fillers, and nobody wants that.
$350 Budget (Choose 1):
El Jimador Silver - $20
Corazon Blanco - $17
$500 Budget:
Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado Tequila - $22
Milagro Silver Tequila - $29
$775 Budget:
Tequila Chamucos Reposado - $35
Avion Silver Tequila - $40
Non-Liquor Options (Optional):
These aren’t necessarily essentials, but it’s good to add a few extras to your bar, depending on what you like. If you’re a wine drinker, have a good white and red, at the least, in your home bar. If you enjoy a nice brew, beer is always welcome to the party. If you’re entertaining or throwing a party, be sure to pick up a little of each to imbibe all of your guests.
- STEP 3 (OPTIONAL): EXTRA INGREDIENTS FOR FLAIR
(~ $75 - $150 depending on what you already have, what you purchase, and in what quantity)
You’re gonna need more than just an arsenal of liquor to have a truly perfect home bar. However, the extra stuff is easy to acquire and, odds are, you probably have most of this stuff lying around in your kitchen already! Here are some surefire ingredient basics you’ll want to keep around to make an impressive array of drinks.
Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit)
Jalapenos (if you want)
Bitters (on a budget? Stick to one solid bottle of bitters: Angostura bitters, to be exact)
Sugar cubes
Simple syrup
Vermouth (Sweet and Dry)
Club soda
Tonic water
Cola (or your sodas of choice)
Ginger ale/ginger beer
Cranberry juice
Pineapple juice
Triple sec
Cointreau
Tabasco sauce (and if you really feel like getting inventive, grab some Sriracha sauce too while you’re at it)
Salt, Pepper
Toothpicks
Cocktail onions, olives, and other accoutrements (optional)
- STEP 4: TOOLS
(~ $50 - $70. Keep costs low if you stick to the first 4, pricing leans towards the higher end if you get all the gadgets.)
You don’t need anything too fancy, but the following pieces of equipment should certainly suffice. From beginner to novice bartender, every person should keep the following basic 4 tools at the ready in his/her home bar:
Shaker: Most proper drinks are shaken or stirred, after all. And shakers work wonders at providing a perfect amount of chill to anything from a shot to a cocktail.
Hawthorne Strainer: You’ll need one of these funny looking devices to strain all the ice and/or pulp out of your drink before consumption. (It’s the one with the spring)
Jigger: Accuracy in cocktail making is important. Having a jigger handy to measure your alcohol of choice will ensure that your drinks will be made consistently, every time.
Cocktail Stirrer: Sorry boys and girls, a regular old spoon just won’t cut it for the kind of bar I’m talking about. A long, thin bar spoon will help you stir any cocktail quickly and efficiently without creating a lot of unnecessary disruption that could make the drink cloudy. Also, many cocktail stirrers also act as muddlers on the reverse side, which is great if you’re on a budget.
You should be able to make do with those 4 essential tools. However, if you’re trying to go the whole nine yards (and your budget allows), you should add these to your shopping list as well:
Mixing Glass: A simple yet elegant glass, while not necessary, comes in handy if you’re a big fan of stirred drinks.
Muddler: For bringing out essential oils and potent flavor in citrus and herbs, a muddler is a necessity. Who doesn’t love a good minty mojito?
Channel Knife: Perfect for getting just the right kind of twist out of a citrus peel. Believe it or not, twists often add essential aromatics to a cocktail, and are not to be overlooked!
- STEP 6: GLASSWARE
(~ $100 - $200. This can honestly be as cheap or as pricey as you want, depending on quality, quantity, and variety)
Please, please don’t make a perfectly concocted cocktail and serve it up in a red Solo cup. Glassware for cocktails can get pretty specific, but when trying to save money, you’re safe sticking to the basics–which should cover most of your bases anyway. Have, at the very least, the following glassware at hand and you’ll be ready for most anything.
Martini glasses
Rocks glasses
Coupe glasses (not necessary, per say. But they’re pretty rad.)
Highball (tall) glasses
Red and white wine glasses (optional)
Assorted beer mugs and pints (optional)
Red Solo cups (optional) for use strictly when throwing parties with a larger crowd than your glassware supply can accommodate.
- TOTAL DAMAGE
If you follow my laundry list (and you should) and choose 1 liquor per category, snag all the flair, grab your bar tools (basic 4 if you’re saving money, all 7 if you’re going all out), and some affordable glassware, it’ll cost you between…
- $350 Budget = $307 to $342
- $500 Budget = $421 to $550
- $775 Budget = $751 to $756
Not too shabby of a price tag for a pretty sweet (and very well-stocked!) home bar. I’d call that a win-win situation in my book. And, once you’ve got all your glassware and bar tools together, the cost of stocking your bar only gets cheaper from there on out.
- FINAL STEPS: SHOPPING, STUDY, & SERVE
From here all you need to do is get shopping, learn some bar terms and signature cocktail recipes (Google can seriously be your best friend here), and invite over all your friends to show off your inner bartender.
Cheers & Have Fun!
