What to Stock in a Home Bar
A home bar has become a very common thing nowadays. Most homes, whether it is a townhouse or an apartment, have some sort of bar set up. Whether it is a small corner in the kitchen or an entire room dedicated to your collection of alcohol, stocking your bar with the right items makes all the difference. We have gathered a list of products you will need to have the perfect bar set up at home. If you have the right location chosen, furniture and things like the bar fridge and wine racks are set up, all you need to do is stock your bar. We have gathered a list of products that you will NEED to transform your home bar into a professional bar in no time. Hopefully, our suggestions will be enough to answer your queries on how to stock a home bar.
Cocktail Making
While a lot of people don’t really have a bar set up specifically for cocktails, some do. Whether you like cocktails or not, if you have a big space for your bar we suggest storing all cocktail making essentials for the next dinner party at your place. Moreover, it always looks cool when you can whip out beautiful cocktails for your friends in the comfort of your home. So, if you are asking yourself what you need to stock your bar at home, then keep on reading.
Shakers
There are different kinds of cocktail shakers that you can invest in. It depends on your comfort and skills when it comes to making cocktails.
Cobbler Shakers
For beginners, this is the best option when it comes to shakers. The cobbler shaker is a steel shaker that comes with a strainer and a measuring cup as well. Since it is all combined in one piece it is easier for you to make a cocktail. You won’t need additional pieces with a cobbler shaker however, it will take longer to shake your cocktails. Additionally, the material of the shaker being steel allows it to cool down much faster which can also make it harder to clean. At times, if it gets too cold you could have problems opening the cap as well. Another problem you could face is that the strainer of this shaker has larger holes and won’t be able to hold back smaller ingredients.
All that being said, cobbler shakers are a great investment. They are available in different sizes and if you plan on buying them, then we recommend buying at least two. This will allow you to make different kinds of cocktails without having to worry about constantly cleaning one shaker.
Boston Shaker
Some level of skill is required when dealing with Boston shakers. These consist of two glass-like containers which include a large tin container and a smaller glass container. If you get a Boston shaker, you will need quite a few additional accessories to make a cocktail. However, it is easy to use and clean as well. The only worry is that the glass container can break if you push it or tap it too hard. If you are trying to better your cocktail making skills then a Boston shaker is a better choice. It will take a bit more effort but this can help you perfect your cocktail making skills. Moreover, you can whip out cocktails much faster with these shakers.
French/Parisian Shaker
If you want an aesthetically pleasing cocktail shaker, this is the one for you. The Parisian shaker has been around for a while but is not very commonly used. It combines the features of both cobbler and Boston shakers. The shape is very similar to a cobbler but it doesn’t contain a strainer. It is pretty to look at and usually comes in different colours as well. They are easy to use, clean and extremely durable. The only problem you might face is that they are usually available in a smaller size, so you can just make one cocktail at a time.
Tin-on-Tin Shaker
The design is exactly like that of the Boston shaker. The only difference is that both containers are made of tin. The tin allows the drink to cool down much quicker giving you a better seal. So, you don’t have to worry about the drink spilling out. The only downside of tin containers can be that if you are mixing drinks in the shakers one after the other, the containers can get stuck together due to them being too cold.
Strainers
Straining cocktails is a crucial step in cocktail making. If you want a smooth cocktail that goes down the throat like butter then you need the right strainer.
Hawthorne Strainer
This is perhaps the most commonly used strainer that you will come across even in professional bars. The design looks a little complicated with a metal disc and perforated holes and an attached handle to the disc. It has prongs on the side to stabilize its hold when pouring the drink. Hawthorne strainers fit perfectly well with Boston shakers, so if that is your shaker of choice, then this strainer should be your choice. The only problem you might face with this strainer is cleaning the spring which can be a bit tedious.
Fine Mesh Strainer
A cheap and effective strainer, the fine mesh strainer is the one you usually see in the kitchen but is slightly smaller. This helps make your drink super smooth and you don’t have to deal with any sort of pulp or pit, just a smooth drink. It is used with the other strainers to catch any stray bits that escape the first strainer. While this is not a necessary tool in the bar, there is no harm in buying it since it’s pretty cheap.
Julep Strainer
If you’re wondering what kind of mesh strainer your cobbler shaker has, then a julep strainer is the answer. A Julep strainer looks more like a really small and wide slotted spoon. This is not the strainer you want if you want a smooth drink. It is usually used for straining stirred drinks. You can tell by the look of this strainer that it is easy to use and clean.
Jiggers
Cocktail mixing requires a steady hand and exact measurements. You do not want your drinks to have a single overwhelming element. You can get yourself a jigger which is a measurement device used to measure the liquids you put in your cocktail. Single jiggers have a simple design with just one bowl to measure the liquid. Double jiggers have an hourglass shape with two sized bowls on two opposite sides offering different measurements. The Japanese jigger offers the same function as the double jigger but is a little easier to handle and pour out liquids because of its sleek design.
Pitchers and Drink Dispensers
Whenever you have to make drinks for a big group of people, instead of toiling away making individual drinks, start off the event with a drink dispenser or pitcher. Whether you are serving pitchers full of beer or drink dispensers full of sangria, you can rest assured that your guests will at least always have a drink in their hand this way.
Drinks that can be stirred instead of shaken can easily be made in a pitcher or drink dispenser. This way you’ll be able to make a good amount of cocktail that doesn’t really need to be passed around. Whoever wants a drink can just pour themselves one!
Bar Spoons and Muddlers
American, European and Japanese styles are the three types of bar spoons you will come across. Each is slightly different from the others in design and weight. The European style is the most popular amongst mixologists as it also has a muddler attached at the end. At the same time, Japanese bar spoons are quite popular as well. They have a deep bowl and are slightly more weighted towards the other end compared to other bar spoon styles. The weight makes it easier to mix drinks as it offers a nice balance.
Mixology At-Home Cannot Be Complete Without…
While all of the things mentioned above are needed to be a skilled cocktail mixer at home, you still need a few more things. These accessories are not necessary unless you plan on enhancing your mixing skills. Many drinks use up citrus. Whether it is a lemon, lime, orange or blood orange, you will need a citrus juicer to ensure that you get every last bit of juice out of that fruit. Cocktails are all about flavour and a citrus juicer will ensure that you get all the flavour in your drink.
Garnishing drinks is as important as the flavour element. Cocktails are all about the flavour and the look. Using the right ingredients and glass to make your drink look appealing is what makes it all worth it. Paring knives and swivel peelers are the two tools you need to create those beautiful garnishes. From beautifully cut fruit slices to swivels of fruit peels, paring knives and swivel peelers are essential to make your drinks look pretty.
Ice Trays
Talking about pretty-looking drinks, ice plays an important role in cocktails. While most of the time it is used to cool the liquid while mixing, it can also be used as a decorative item when pouring out the drink. Spheres, large cubes or odd-shaped ice cubes are often used to make the drink look a little more fun. This is why we always recommend having a few silicone ice trays. The silicone is quite malleable, so you don’t have to worry about banging the ice tray against a surface to get some ice out for your drinks. Silicone moulds are also available in different shapes, so you can have skull-shaped ice or ice shaped like little guitars.
Glassware
Honestly, we can write an entire article just about the different types of glasses you need for your bar (maybe we’ll do that sooner than you think). Having the right glass for the drink you are serving makes a lot of difference. There is something just not right about serving wine in a tumbler of whisky in a coupe champagne glass. If you are serious about your bar and the drinks you serve, then you have to have the right glassware. There are different types of glasses for different cocktails, wines, beers, champagne, liqueurs, whiskey and more.
You don’t need to have a collection of every different kind of glass for different drinks but have a little variety available. If you’re into cocktails, make sure you have martini and margarita glasses. You can expand your cocktail glass choices to classy looking tumblers, stainless steel Moscow mule mugs and more. Do little research into the different types of glasses available for different drinks and get the ones you know you will be using a lot.
In the end, we’d just like to say, CHEERS!
