If you’re an avid cocktail drinker, you likely know all about the cocktail renaissance of the late 90s and early aughts. Before that, if you strolled into your neighborhood bar, you might be lucky enough to find a bartender who could whip up a palatable Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, or Gin & Tonic. The cocktail renaissance changed everything. It led to countless cocktail bars, new and exciting spirits, a new generation of creative, talented, boundary-pushing bartenders, and, of course, a renewed interest in home mixology. If you’re in the latter group and your home bar consists of a few bottles and a jar of maraschino cherries, you’ll need my help. It’s time to set up a decent home bar to entertain friends and family.
I’m not any different from you. Before I started writing about alcohol, I didn’t have much of a home bar to speak of. Sure. I had a handful of random bottles, an ice tray in the freezer, and a bottle or two of bitters. I couldn’t really make much. Over the years, my collection has grown (bigger than my wife would like) and so has my assortment of tools. And while I’ll get into the necessary bottles and other ingredients later, the main crux of this article is the tools.
Why should you set up a home bar?
There are a variety of reasons to set up a home bar. First, you get to make drinks in the privacy of your own home. You need to take a short walk to your basement, garage, home office, or den. You don’t have to wade through a sea of raised arms, hoping to get a bartender’s attention because you are the bartender. Another reason is the cost. It’s a lot cheaper to buy your own booze and ingredients than to order a few cocktails at a bar. Lastly, you can let your creative juices flow. You’re the one tasting it, so why not push the boundaries by mixing up unique flavor combinations. It’s up to you and your imagination.
What tools do home bartenders need?
If you want to drink your whiskey neat or on the rocks or make a simple Martini (stirred and definitely not shaken), you don’t need many tools. But if you want to make cocktails that require shaking, straining, and other bartending techniques, you’ll need to buy some mixology tools. Below are some of the most important bartending tools.
Shaker
First, and possibly most important, you’ll need a sturdy, durable shaker. A great choice is the Boston Shaker. This two-piece metal tin shaker lets you vigorously shake, chill, and aerate cocktail ingredients.
Strainer
Your shaker won’t do much for you without a strainer. A great choice is a Hawthorne Strainer. This metal, mesh, spring-fitted tool sits on top of a shaker as you pour into your cocktail, coupe, or rocks glass, stopping ice, fruit pulp, seeds, and herb stems from getting into your drink.
Mixing glass
Sure, you can use a pint glass. But if you’re serious about home bartending, you’ll want a heavy, durable mixing glass. It’s designed specifically for cocktails that require mixing.
Bar spoon
If you’re buying a mixing glass, you’ll also need a great bar spoon. Bar spoons have long, sometimes twisty designs so they can reach into the deep glass to mix the ingredients.
Jigger
If you want to measure the alcohol content in your drinks correctly, you’re going to need to buy a jigger. You’ve probably seen this double-sided metal measuring device at your favorite cocktail bars.
Muddler
If you’ve ever thought about making a Mojito, Mint Julep, or Caipirinha, you’ll need a solid, durable muddler. This wooden or metal tool lightly crushes herbs (like mint or basil), sugar, or fruit. This is a simple way to add extra flavors to your drinks.
Handheld citrus press
Many popular cocktails like the Margarita, Daiquiri, and Sidecar call for fresh fruit juice. Sure, you could buy fresh-squeezed lemon juice, lime juice, or orange juice, but wouldn’t you rather make it yourself? All you need is a small, handheld juice press to squeeze the juice right into your drink.
A corkscrew with a bottle opener
This one is rather self-explanatory, and you also probably already have one of these wacky-looking devices at home. But you need a corkscrew to open bottles of wine and other alcohol with pesky corks that aren’t easy to remove. A bottle opener is a must-have if you plan to sip a beer or two in between all the cocktails you’re making.
Must-have spirits and ingredients
Now that you’re all set with the bartending tools, you need to buy some spirits and ingredients. Otherwise, what would you make with all your newly purchased tools?
First, you’ll need a few essential bottles. This includes a decent bourbon, a versatile rye whiskey, flavorful white rum, a botanical London dry gin, a balanced blanco tequila, and a crisp, easily mixable vodka. Really, that’s it. Also, if you have a particular spirit you enjoy working with, you can buy a bottle or two of that while you’re getting your home bar started.
To make myriad classic cocktails, you’ll also need a good, flavorful triple sec (orange liqueur), sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and an Italian bitter liqueur like Campari. You’ll also need bitters. I suggest Angostura and Peychaud’s
Bottom line
I know I threw a lot of information at you in this article. It might also feel like you have a bit of homework to do. Just have fun with it. Nobody is going to judge your cocktail shaking skills or your flavor combinations. Also, don’t feel like you immediately need to go out and buy all of the tools, spirits, and ingredients today. You can start slowly by purchasing a few items at a time. All in all, this is a new adventure, and I hope you’ll get a lot out of it. Maybe you’ll even invent a new cocktail that will eventually become a household name like the Margarita or Old Fashioned.
