Home Bar 101

Thinking of having friends or family over to your new place? A home bar, even a basic one, is almost always recommended. When deciding how to stock a home bar there are many decisions to make and often involves personal decisions around what you plan to offer for your guests. To make this as easy as possible, some planning into what products and tools you will require to properly host your guests is a necessity.

Primarily any bar needs product, because a dry bar serves very few. For a basic bar that serves most people having spirits that include whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila and rum should cover most drinks today. If you plan on serving cocktails dry and sweet vermouth alongside some bitters will most likely be a sound investment. Personal choice and bank balance will often dictate the quality of spirits on offer. In addition to the previously mentioned spirits a small selection of wine and beer should also be available to your guests.

A bar, home or otherwise, at minimum requires a small selection of tools and equipment. Primarily shot glasses and some form of glassware are needed. A great start for a versatile bar should include rock, wine and pint style glasses. A shaker, ice bucket, jiggers, or other measurement tools, spoons or other stirring instruments and a few bar towels to assist with the common spills associated with any watering hole.

A home bar is a fun, social undertaking. Opening your doors to a select few can make it feel similar to a private function designated only for those whom you choose. An aspect of responsibility does come alongside this particular undertaking. If you soon become known as the party all night, never show up the next morning causing nothing but a nuisance to your neighbour’s type, you may have some explaining to do. In moderation the joys of having a social hangout can be long lasting, and the stories, legendary. So why not class the place up a bit and try your own hand at hosting and creating your very own home bar.

Chris.