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If you already have your own home bar set-up, you’re already familiar with the fun that comes with serving up beverages and connecting with friends and family.
A quality home bar is a fantastic way to add relaxation to your weeknights and show off on special occasions. But if you’re looking to upgrade your bartending skills and create a true cocktail bar experience at home, there are a few things you’ll need.
A Well-Stocked Shelf
The first step to perfecting your home bar is making sure that you have a well-rounded selection of spirits available for guests. You’ll want to make sure you have the right base spirits and ingredients to make basic cocktails like Manhattans, Negronis, and Old Fashioneds. But don’t worry. You don’t need to break the bank to stock your bar.
Start with standard base spirits like whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, and vodka. When putting together your bar for the first time, it’s a good idea to aim for mid-range spirits that aren’t too cheap or too expensive.
Then choose some complimentary spirits to your shelf like vermouth, amaro, or elderflower liqueur. Ingredients like bitters, marasca cherries, and coarse demerara sugar are also good to have on hand.
Tools and Equipment
No matter how good the ingredients, your drinks won’t turn out very well without the right tools and equipment. Start with a good set of mixing tins and a strainer. Most bartenders prefer a Boston shaker set, which is composed of two tins (one small and one large) but you can opt for the smaller cobbler shaker as well.
Depending on the kind of cocktails you want to make, you may also want to invest in a good mixing glass and bar spoon. You could use speed pourers to measure your spirits, but a jigger is usually the best measuring tool for home bars where time isn’t an issue. A citrus squeezer and a muddler are good home bar investments.
Drinkware and Accessories
To really create an authentic bar experience at home, you’ll need some quality drinkware. Of course, you can always use the glasses and drinkware that you already have, but why not go the extra mile? It’s a good idea to start with a few standard wine glasses and pint glasses, but a good selection of cocktail glasses will take your home bar to the next level.
Coupe glasses are popular for most modern cocktails from Aviations to Pisco Sours. Classic old-fashioned glasses are great for straight spirits and rocks drinks. And Collins glasses are essential for any soda-heavy drinks like gin and tonics.
You don’t have to have all (or any!) of these glasses to have a successful home bar, but these fundamental types of drinkware will certainly make your home bar appear more professional and dazzle your guests.
Seating and Furniture
Ingredients, equipment, and drinkware are all important for a great bar. But no matter how well-stocked, your home bar will look awfully lonely all by itself! And besides, great drinks aren’t meant to be enjoyed alone - they’re meant to be shared.
To complete your home bar, great bar furniture is essential. And the best part is, since it’s your own personal bar, the seating arrangement and furniture style is up to you.
For that classic public house look, you can try adding some distinguished pub tables and seats around your home bar. Pub table sets not only give your guests a comfy place to sit, but also provide extra surface space to put drinks, enjoy a meal, or even play cards.
But you don’t necessarily have to stick to a pub theme. You can go for an upscale cocktail bar look by furnishing your bar area with some handsome leather recliners, loveseats, and accent tables.
Or if you’re a minimalist, you can add some sturdy bar stools to give your guests a place to saddle up. From backless adjustable bar stools to fully upholstered counter height bar stools, you can choose from a wide range of styles to suit your bar.
Are you looking to upgrade your home bar? Watson’s has everything you need.
When you shop with us, you’ll find an amazing selection and personalized service, along with the guaranteed lowest prices in the USA. We offer all the furniture you need for your home bar and tons of supplies to make your bar stand out. So, if you want to spruce up your home bar, shop online or stop by your nearest Watson’s location today.
