If you love the idea of sitting down with a nice drink after a long day, an at-home bar makes a great choice. You’ll save the time and expense of going to a real bar, and you can still make the same variety of drinks. Bars inside your home or business can be tailored to your space and your goals. Follow this guide to build a bar that simplifies the work of making all of your favorite drinks and provides a comfortable place to entertain.
Create a Layout for the Bar
Before you can start dreaming up the drinks you’ll make in your new bar, you need to formulate a plan. You can find a design to accommodate all spaces, from a tiny nook with a few bottles and glassware to an extensive basement setup ideal for entertaining. Evaluate the space you can dedicate to the bar and make a list of the kinds of things you want to have. Imagine yourself standing in front of the bar, and write down your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and if-you-have-room options. Prioritization will help to ensure that you have room for the equipment, tools, and spirits you’ll use the most.
Select Tools and Glassware
Even the simplest bar setup needs some tools and glassware. Start by writing down a list of the drinks that you want to make. Pretty much everyone can benefit from these tools:
- Jigger for measuring spirits
- Strainer to keep the ice and seeds out
- Citrus juicer to extract juice effectively
- Muddler to mash fruits and herbs
- Bar spoon to stir cocktails
- Shaker for mixed drinks
- Ice bucket to chill drinks
Remember that you’ll need some glassware. Common options include wine glasses, shot glasses, highballs for tall drinks, martini glasses for mixed drinks, and old-fashioned glasses for drinks on the rocks.
Choose Spirits
When you begin shopping for spirits, the sky truly is the limit. Unless you plan to entertain extensively, start slowly and build your way up. Choose a small selection of wines and hard liquors that form your most common drinks. You can’t go wrong with these:
- Rum
- Whiskey/Bourbon
- Vodka
- Gin
- Brandy
- Tequila
- Triple Sec
Go with your favorite brands to start. When you’re ready to branch out, pay a visit to a winery or liquor store with trained personnel. Take a class or attend a tasting to get a better sense for what you like and how to pair your favorites with food.
Stock Up on Accompaniments
Of course, most drinks involve a few accompaniments, like mixers, garnishes, or sweeteners. You’ll need at least a few, depending on the drinks that you like to make. Try these options:
- Fruit juice
- Fresh fruit, like lemons, limes, oranges, or cherries
- Fresh herbs, especially mint
- Mixers, like grenadine, club soda, tonic water, cola, or ginger ale
- Sweeteners, such as honey or simple syrup
Mixers can take up more space than you think, so be sure you have the storage for bottles and cans and tools to prepare the garnishes.
Consider Equipment Options
If you want to take your new bar to the next level, you might want to invest in some equipment to make it run more smoothly. A refrigerator provides the perfect tool to keep your cans of club soda, hard cider, or beer nice and cold. Wine refrigeration makes it easy to chill the wine to the perfect temperature for serving. Add an espresso machine for the ability to make an espresso martini or a hot toddy. If you have the space, consider making it a wet bar with a sink and running water. You’ll have an easier time cleaning up.
Making the perfect bar doesn’t have to require a lot of space or money, although you can certainly build it up if you have more room and funds to equip. Plan out your perfect layout, then purchase all the tools, glassware, equipment, and spirits to make it happen.
We hope you found this blog on the Ultimate Guide To Setting Up An At-Home Bar, useful. Check out our post on A Cozy Home: Spaces That Deserve More Attention for more great tips!
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