For sure, before you had your kids, perhaps you and your partner enjoy oneself during Friday happy hours when you’d meet your colleagues at the hippest lounge for a night of conversation and cocktails. But a couple of years later, your Friday happy hours are normally spent at adult playdates like parental commiserating sessions or dinner parties.
Of course, these events become better with a spirituous drink. But maybe you only have a can of soda in stock. It will not do justice, especially coming from a high-society tippling. The solution here is to educate yourself on the benefits of drinking better at home.
Moreover, whether you have children or not, you can undoubtedly benefit from having a well-furnished home bar. For a little help, here are some tips that can help you to get started.
Ensure To Have A Couple Staple Liquors
A home bar could mean different things to other people. For the most part, it might be a closet turned home bar or an actual built-in bar. Also, for some people, it could mean a bar cart that can be rolled with ease from room to room.
Regardless, it is crucial to keep in mind that you don’t need to have an assortment of alcoholic drinks competing with the watering hole of your neighborhood. With a combination of a few mixers and spirits, you can make any visitor, even yourself, happy.
Other than the key base spirits, it is wise to have a few staple bottles of both white and red wine, and sparkling ones, too. If you like sweet wines, the following recommended sweet wines would be excellent for your home bar:
- P.X. Sherry
- Moscato d’Asti
- Ice Wine
- Sauternes
- Vintage Port
On the other hand, for dry wine lovers, you will surely like the following:
- Viognier
- Pinot Blan
- Torrontes
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Keep A Record Of Your Glassware And Bar Tools
A well-stocked home bar has the right tools and equipment to tackle all sorts of cocktails, from the most basic to the most complex. Typical items include a strainer, cocktail shaker, jigger, muddler, bar spoon, and an ice bucket.
Also, keep the beer and wine bottle openers in mind. These items probably end up in the drawers of your kitchen. However, you will save lots of time finding these things if you save some in your home bar.
Furthermore, if you plan on making all kinds of cocktails, it is wise to have a combo of short, tall, and stemmed glasses. With regards to wine, basic stemmed glasses are best for red wine or white wine.
Now is the perfect time to keep track of your glassware. Were any glasses broken? If yes, then better replace them.
Garnishes And Mixers
For most, basic mixing staples like ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, club soda, cola, fruit juices, and tonic water provide enough options. And your personal liking or taste will decide how few or many options you want to keep on hand.
Remember, a cocktail is not truly a cocktail without a garnish. A cocktail without a garnish is like wearing a beautiful dress without any accessories. And to be honest, a nice dress will look better with jewelry. Do you agree?
That said, learning and understanding your go-to mix or blend will aid you in determining your garnishes. However, fresh herbs, olives, maraschino cherries, limes, and lemons are excellent picks to have on hand.
These garnishes won’t stick or linger around as long as the alcoholic drink does. Thus, ensure to include these to your list when you are grocery shopping.
Offer A Non Alcoholic Option
It is always a nice idea to have a nonalcoholic option, particularly when one of your guests refrains from alcohol. That said, have a nonalcoholic version or option of your signature cocktail. Make sure to separate the alcoholic ones from the nonalcoholic options.
Ice
Good ice is important. However, you can’t expect to find good ones in the freezer tray. Because of that, opt for silicone block trays that you can buy at home stores or online. These silicone trays are not only affordable, but they will significantly boost the presentation and flavor of your drinks.
Also, store the ice cubes in Ziploc bags so that they will not acquire any undesired aromas or smell in your freezer.
Takeaway
Some people dream of having a bar at home. Individuals who do not drink often want a bar to entertain their visitors and themselves. If you wish to have a home bar, keep in mind that you need to have the right tools and staple drinks. Part of the enjoyment of welcoming guests is being intuitive with whatever you have in your home bar. That said, don’t be afraid to have fun creating your own drinks!
