Build Your Perfect Home Bar

Everything you need to know about setting up a home bar that will impress your guests and elevate your entertaining game.

Essential Bar Tools

Every great home bar starts with the right tools. These essentials will help you craft professional-quality cocktails without leaving your house.

Cocktail Shaker

The cornerstone of any bar setup. A quality Boston shaker or cobbler shaker lets you properly mix, chill, and dilute your cocktails. The Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins are a bartender favorite for their durability and perfect seal.

Jigger

Precision matters in cocktail making. A double-sided jigger ensures consistent measurements every time. The Japanese Style Jigger offers elegant design with easy-to-read measurements.

Bar Spoon

Essential for stirred cocktails like Martinis and Manhattans. A proper bar spoon with a twisted handle allows for smooth, controlled stirring. The Hiware 12-Inch Stainless Steel Bar Spoon is perfect for reaching into mixing glasses.

Strainer

A Hawthorne strainer fits snugly over your shaker to keep ice and muddled ingredients out of your glass. For stirred drinks, add a fine mesh strainer for crystal-clear results. The OXO Steel Cocktail Strainer offers comfortable handling and reliable performance.

Muddler

For cocktails like Mojitos and Old Fashioneds, a muddler helps release essential oils and flavors from herbs and fruits. Choose a sturdy wood or stainless steel option like the Fletcher's Mill Maple Muddler.

Mixing Glass

A dedicated mixing glass is essential for properly stirred cocktails. The thick glass helps maintain temperature while you stir. The Hiware Professional Mixing Glass holds enough volume for multiple drinks.

Stocking Your Bar: Essential Spirits

You don't need dozens of bottles to make great cocktails. Start with these core spirits and expand from there.

Vodka

The most versatile spirit in your bar. Clean and neutral, vodka works in countless cocktails from Martinis to Moscow Mules. Tito's Handmade Vodka offers excellent quality at a reasonable price point.

Gin

The backbone of classic cocktails. London Dry style gins work for most recipes. Beefeater London Dry Gin is a reliable choice that won't break the bank.

Bourbon

America's native spirit brings warmth and complexity to Old Fashioneds, Whiskey Sours, and more. Buffalo Trace Bourbon delivers exceptional value with rich vanilla and caramel notes.

Rum

Essential for tropical drinks and tiki cocktails. Keep both white rum for Mojitos and aged rum for sipping. Plantation 3 Stars White Rum is perfect for mixing.

Tequila

100% agave tequila makes all the difference in Margaritas and Palomas. Espolon Blanco Tequila offers smooth agave flavor ideal for cocktails.

Triple Sec / Orange Liqueur

A key modifier in Margaritas, Cosmopolitans, and Sidecars. Cointreau is the gold standard, though quality curacao works too.

Vermouth

Both sweet and dry vermouth are essential for Martinis, Manhattans, and Negronis. Dolin Dry Vermouth and Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth are bartender favorites. Remember to refrigerate after opening.

Bitters

A few dashes transform ordinary drinks into complex cocktails. Angostura Bitters is the essential bottle every bar needs.

Essential Glassware

The right glass enhances both the presentation and enjoyment of your cocktails. Start with these versatile options.

Rocks Glasses

Also called Old Fashioned glasses, these short tumblers are perfect for spirit-forward drinks served over ice. The Libbey Heavy Base Rocks Glasses offer a satisfying weight and classic look.

Highball Glasses

Tall glasses for long drinks like Gin and Tonics, Tom Collins, and Mojitos. Bormioli Rocco Highball Glasses provide elegant simplicity.

Coupe Glasses

The vintage alternative to Martini glasses, coupes are more stable and easier to drink from. Perfect for Daiquiris, Sidecars, and any "up" drink. KOOK Coupe Glasses bring Art Deco elegance to your bar.

Wine Glasses

Versatile beyond wine, these work for Aperol Spritz and other wine-based cocktails. A set of Libbey All-Purpose Wine Glasses covers all your needs.

Classic Cocktail Recipes

Master these timeless recipes and you'll be ready for any occasion.

Old Fashioned

  • 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 1 sugar cube or 1/4 oz simple syrup
  • 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Orange peel for garnish

Muddle sugar and bitters in a rocks glass. Add whiskey and a large ice cube. Stir gently. Express orange peel over drink and drop in.

Margarita

  • 2 oz tequila blanco
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 oz Cointreau or triple sec
  • Salt for rim (optional)

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Optionally salt half the rim. Garnish with lime wheel.

Negroni

  • 1 oz gin
  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • Orange peel for garnish

Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with orange peel.

Daiquiri

  • 2 oz white rum
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

Whiskey Sour

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • Egg white (optional)

If using egg white, dry shake first without ice. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with cherry and orange.

Mojito

  • 2 oz white rum
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 6-8 fresh mint leaves
  • Soda water

Gently muddle mint with lime juice and syrup. Add rum and ice. Shake lightly and pour into highball glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with mint sprig.

Setting Up Your Bar Space

A dedicated bar area doesn't require much space. Here's how to create an efficient setup:

Choose Your Location

A corner of your kitchen, a dining room sideboard, or a dedicated bar cart all work well. The key is having enough surface area for mixing and displaying your bottles. A rolling bar cart offers flexibility and style.

Organize by Frequency

Keep your most-used spirits and tools within easy reach. Less common bottles can go on higher shelves or in cabinets.

Ice Matters

Good ice makes good drinks. Consider investing in large ice cube molds for slow-melting cubes in spirit-forward drinks. An insulated ice bucket keeps ice ready during parties.

Fresh Ingredients

Always have fresh citrus on hand. Lemons and limes are essential for most cocktails. Keep a quality citrus juicer nearby for quick fresh juice.

Bar Cart Essentials Checklist

Here's everything you need to get started:

Tools

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger
  • Bar spoon
  • Strainer
  • Muddler
  • Mixing glass
  • Citrus juicer
  • Bottle opener
  • Ice bucket and tongs

Spirits

  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Bourbon or rye
  • White rum
  • Tequila blanco
  • Triple sec
  • Sweet vermouth
  • Dry vermouth
  • Angostura bitters

Glassware

  • Rocks glasses (4-6)
  • Highball glasses (4-6)
  • Coupe glasses (4)
  • Wine glasses (4)

Mixers & Garnishes

  • Simple syrup
  • Fresh lemons
  • Fresh limes
  • Tonic water
  • Soda water
  • Cocktail cherries
  • Olives