The first time I discovered soda water I was way too young to enjoy it with booze. Being a big fan of sweet beverages like fruit punch and chocolate milk, I immediately concluded that it was an absolutely awful drink. I’m proud to report however, that my tastes have matured and these days I love it.

Before my KegWorks days, I drank your usual cheapie soda water right from the gun or I bought a two-liter bottle from the grocery store. I had no idea that you can make your own soda water and I certainly didn’t have any idea how easy it is! The homemade stuff tastes better and it is really easy to do! I can only imagine that it must be better for you too, without all of the chemicals and preservatives that go into bottled stuff. All you need is a soda siphon and some charger cartridges.

You can also make wine spritzers, sparkling juices and more!

Click for some recipe ideas.

For classic Soda Water, here’s what you do:

Fill It

• Rinse the siphon with warm water before you start for good measure
• Press the lever to make sure that the siphon is empty and there is no gas pressure, then unscrew the top and take out the siphon tube. Leave the plastic sleeve in the body of the siphon, as it provides air space that you need for the siphon to work!
• Fill to the top with cold water. If the level drops a bit after you fill it, just leave it - do NOT top it off because that will reduce the air space.
• Replace the siphon tube and screw the head firmly back on.

Charge It

• Insert a seltzer charger cartridge into the cartridge holder with the neck of the cartridge facing the open end of the holder.
• Lift the small-hinged cover on the head of the siphon to expose the charging thread.
• Screw the holder on gently until a resistance is felt. Make sure that the cartridge is held in position, then screw the holder down quickly and wait until no more gas can be heard bubbling in to the water.
• Shake the siphon vigorously for 15 seconds to dissolve the gas in the water.

Safety Note: NEVER use more than one bulb per charging, unless you’re using a 2-liter size siphons that require two bulbs.

Remove the Bulb
Unscrew the bulb holder to remove the empty bulb - there should be a gentle hiss. Don’t be alarmed. A loud hiss indicates that the siphon was not shaken enough to dissolve all the gas. Push the hinged cover back down.

Helpful hints

• Use really cold water, the colder the better!
• Put the siphon in the refrigerator after you’ve filled and charged.
• Shake the siphon vigorously if it has been left standing for a few days.
• When you pour the soda, press the lever gently to control the flow down the side of the glass. That way the sparkle lasts longer!
• When the siphon bottle is not in use make sure to keep the screw threads and the bottle clean and dry.

Cleaning
Your siphon just needs an occasional rinse out. Before removing the siphon head for cleaning or refilling, make sure the siphon is empty by depressing the lever.

TAGS [ SODA SIPHON | SODA SIPHONS | SODA WATER | SPARKLING WATER | COCKTAIL MIXER | COCKTAIL MIXERS ]

Even in tougher economic times, it may behoove bar owners to pick up efficiency-inducing items. Overall business may not be steadily growing but the regular business your bar does see will probably shell out a bit more if served more quickly and efficiently than at another establishment.

Save Time Pouring Draft Beer
Bars set up their draft beer systems in a number of ways, as you may have noticed. In regard to expediency, I am speaking only to faucet placement. Many bars I’ve been to have their taps running from one end of the bar to the other, forcing bartenders to run up and down, wasting time and forcing paying customers to wait.

That’s where 3- and 4-tap towers come in. Instead of having 7 beer faucets spanning across the entire bar, this particular establishment (one of my favs, by the way) utilizes both a 3-tap tower and a 4-tap tower, right next to each other. This keeps all of the draft together in a spot that’s easy to access, cuts pouring and running time, and it looks sleek too!

Save Time Mixing Well Drinks
Draft beer isn’t the only area of your bar that can be made more efficient - your well liquor can be better organized too. Notice the speed racks running along the entire length of the bar, in the picture below. Keeping your most-used liquors directly in front of the bartender saves more time mixing drinks than you can imagine, leaving him with time to make even more money, serving even more customers.

Pop back again for more organizational tips to increase the expediency of your bartenders through speed and efficiency. Cheers!

TAGS [ BEER TOWER | DRAFT BEER TOWERS | SPEED RACK | LIQUOR SPEED RACKS | ORGANIZE YOUR BAR ]

Today marks the very last day of World Cocktail Week, and what impeccable timing we have, adding three new cocktail garnishes to our arsenal just yesterday. Not just any cocktail garnishes, mind you, but drunken ones.

Fruit and such has long been a great addition to your favorite mixed drinks, adding color, flavor and flair. Fresh garnishes are most often the way to go, but that’s not the only route. Perhaps next time you’re mixing up a Manhattan, you might try adding a Whiskey Tipsy Cherry instead. Each gigantic, liquor-soaked, long-stemmed cherry bursts with fresh fruit flavor and malt whiskey. Even try muddling these with orange for an incredible Old Fashioned with an extra boost of whiskey.

If dirty is more your style, our Vermouth Tipsy Olives are a perfect solution. I don’t know about you, but I find that, oftentimes, bartenders bruise the alcohol in my mixed drinks by adding far too much vermouth (Tip: just a swirl of vermouth will do - you should even toss it out after it’s coated the glass… please, please stop overusing vermouth… PLEASE!). With these French vermouth-soaked, pimento paste stuffed olives, there is no need to add any extra vermouth to your cocktail - it would just be supreme overkill.

Finally, in celebration of the last day of World Cocktail Week, a nod to another cocktail classic, the Gibson Martini, originally created in the late 1800’s. This martini is exactly the same as the original gin martini, except a pickled cocktail onion is used as a garnish instead. Of course, you couldn’t choose a better cocktail onion than our Vermouth Tipsy Onions, which add the vermouth kick for you (unless you prefer a ton of vermouth, which I don’t).

Gibson Martini
2½ oz gin
½ oz vermouth (or less, depending on your taste)
1-3 cocktail onions for garnish

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cocktail onion(s) and enjoy.

TAGS [ COCKTAIL GARNISHES | TIPSY CHERRIES | TIPSY OLIVES | TIPSY ONIONS | LIQUOR SOAKED GARNISHES | COCKTAIL RECIPES | GIBSON MARTINI | GIBSON MARTINI RECIPE ]

Here in Buffalo we have a hard time getting certain things done. Some specific examples are, building a casino, building a Bass Pro, developing the waterfront, making the playoffs, and my personal favorite, building a bridge. The Peace Bridge is a huge bridge joining the Unites States and Canada. If you’re interested in learning more, visit The Peace Bridge Authority.

There was a big debate here involving a second bridge; an expansion, fancy signature bridge or a twin span being built. The only thing I know about this issue, is that it shares one thing in common with all things related to big projects in Buffalo. Nothing is happening! Or is it? The Peace Bridge Authority might have the solution. In fact, they may have found a simple solution to many of the problems that face us today….. Light it up!

For just a drop in the bucket, 1.2 million or so dollars, they have added a high tech lighting system to the bridge. Problem solved! I think this is a brilliant way to fix the way we feel about certain things. You have a boring serving tray?

Light it up!

If you have a boring old basement bar and you don’t know what to do with it…
Light it up!

Dull, dark ass pool table?
Light it up!

Is your clock old, stupid or normal?
Light it up!

And finally, is your dumb, plastic, antique looking "open" sign a laughing stock?
Light it up!

TAGS [ BAR LAMPS | NEONS | NEON SIGNS | BAR CLOCKS | HOME BAR | BAR ACCESSORIES ]

In these uncertain financial times, you may want to consider the advantage of serving draft beer from home.

Kegworks sells a variety of keg fridge conversion kits that will allow you to serve fresh draft beer from a spare fridge in your home; Right now our popular C240 Kegerator Conversion Kit is only $159.95, and it includes an empty CO2 tank that you can get filled at a local welding supply place.

Let’s say your household drinks 2 cases of beer a week, with the cost of a case of beer at approximately 20 dollars.

The average cost of a half keg of the same beer is about 55 dollars. That works out to about 8 dollars per case for the same amount of beer out of the keg.

So your weekly savings would be about 24 dollars a week, so the conversion kit would pay for itself in about 7 weeks.

Not bad, considering the enjoyment factor of fresh draft beer versus bottles or cans.

Cheers!

TAGS [ KEG BEER | DRAFT BEER | DRAFT BEER AT HOME | DRAFT BEER TIPS ]

We recently finished an 11-post series on How to Build a Home Bar. To make sure you’ve got all of our tips easily at hand, here’s a culmination of the posts, in order of publish date:

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
11. Stocking Your Bar

If you have any questions on any of these posts, or anything else home bar or draft beer related, please feel free to comment on our blog or contact our Customer Service department toll-free at 877.636.3673

Cheers!

TAGS [ HOME BAR | HOW TO BUILD A HOME BAR | BUILDING A HOME BAR | STOCKING YOUR BAR | BAR ACCESSORIES | BAR FOOT RAILS ]

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 ]