The bottom line of Stocking Your Home Bar

All the invitations have been sent out and you’re expecting a large crowd for your first gigantic soiree of the season. You’ve loaded up on all your chums ‘ fave top shelf liquors, laid in a supply of mixers and have all of the ice you could possibly need, good to go.

Unfortunately, you forgot to properly accessorise your bar. When visitors turn up, they’re forced to mix drinks out of red plastic party cups. Worse, you did not think to get a muddler for the mojitos or a cocktail shaker for martinis. The party is over just as it was getting under way and everybody is heading straight for the corner bar instead of enjoying an evening at your home.

A well loaded bar goes beyond the libations and garnishes. To be functional, you need to have the tools of the trade as well. That suggests obtaining accessories which will help you and your guests make the ideal drink, whether it is a retro Tom Collins, a Manhattan Iced Tea or a sour apple martini.

These are some basics you’ll want to always have available for your home bar:

* Can and bottle opener
* Simple to use corkscrew
* Foil removers
* Stir-sticks, straws toothpicks, coasters, cocktail serviettes
* Tall, heavy usage mixing glass or shaker
* Shot glasses
* Coil rimmed cocktail sieve
* Small sharp knife to chop fruit
* Large pitcher
* Measuring spoons
* Muddler
* Ice bucket with tongs
* Electric blender
* Home bartender guide and recipes
* Pourers and stoppers
* Cocktail Shakers

Ensure you get quality equipment. Nothing is more frustrating than having a cork break because you only have on hand a cheap butterfly corkscrew that you picked up from a discount store.

You may also want to be sure you have the right glassware available. Accept it or not, an Old Fashion glasses doesn’t serve the same purpose as a High Ball glass. And you don’t want to appear like a bartending noob by serving martinis in a wine glass.

These are some of the sorts of glassware we recommend:

Tulip-Shaped Bubbly Flutes
High Ball Glasses
Old Fashion Glasses
Martini Glasses
Wine Glasses

John Carter is the owner of BarParts.com. BarParts.com offeres over 600 Bar Accessories and Wine Accessories for the Wine Connoisseur