Today we finish the Guide to Building a Home Bar Series. To keep everyone up to speed, we’ve covered the following topics already:

1. Exploring Your Options
2. Layout and Design
3. Building Yourself vs. Hiring Out
4. Refrigeration, Part 1: Standard Refrigeration and Draft Beer Systems
5. Refrigeration, Part 2: Wine Refrigeration, Beverage Centers and Ice Machines
6. Look and Feel
7. About Bar Foot Rails and Arm Rests
8. Bar Foot Rails: Before You Order
9. Installing Bar Foot Rails
10. Accessorizing Your Bar

Today we’ll help to make sure your bar is fully stocked for a great experience for everyone who visits.

Stocking Your Bar

Once your masterpiece is completed, you’ll need to stock it with the good stuff.

Everything that you’ll need is going to break down into three basic groups: alcohol, mixers and bar accessories. Ultimately, it’s your bar so it’s your call. What you decide to keep behind the bar is going to depend on what drinks you serve most, but this basic list should get you started.

Alcohol
Any bar is going to need a basic assortment of spirits. There are so many varieties to choose from, so choose your favorite brands and flavors of:

• Rum
• Vodka
• Gin
• Whiskey
• Bourbon
• Tequila
• Schnapps
• Triple Sec
• Scotch
• Wine (both red and white)

Mixers
Keep everyone happy with cocktails! Be prepared to make everyone’s favorites with these standard mixers. The following should get you ready to serve approximately 50 people:

• 1 bottle of dry vermouth for martinis
• 1 bottle of grenadine
• 1 bottle of Rose’s lime juice
• 1 bottle of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 gallons each of orange juice, cranberry juice and iced tea
• 1 gallon each of grapefruit, pineapple and tomato juice
• 6 liters each of tonic water, seltzer, cola, diet cola, lemon lime soda and club soda

Don’t forget

• Ice
• Lemons
• Limes
• Olives
• Cherries
• Celery stalks for Bloody Marys
• Salt for margaritas

Bar Accessories
To mix and serve your drinks, you’ll need some handy bartending tools. Here’s what we suggest to start:

• Shot glasses
• Cocktail shaker
• Bar caddy
• Bottle openers
• Bar mats
• Blender
• Bottle pourers
• Straws and stirrers
• Margarita glass rimmer
• Glassware – beer mugs, stemware, rocks glasses
• Cocktail napkins

Consider the Ultimate Home Bar Set if you prefer to get it all at once!

I hope our Guide to Building a Home bar Series has helped a number of you to being on your way to creating or upgrading a bar of your own at home. Feel free to pass along any questions by commenting on any of the posts.

Cheers!

TAGS [ HOME BAR | HOME BAR BUILDING | STOCK YOUR BAR | MIXERS | BAR ACCESSORIES ]