If you’re thinking of creating a home bar, there are a multitude of design ideas you can go for. Spend some time mulling over the design in relation to your particular home circumstances. Think about how much space you have for your bar, plus which colours and layout will produce the best results. Design experts like Dawnvale have a ton of experience, so it’s always worth checking out specialists before you proceed. Once you’ve got the home bar of your dreams, turn your attention to stocking it with what you need to create the perfect tipple.
Some basics
Resist the temptation to fill your home bar with everything! Consider what drinks you and maybe friends and family enjoy – if you love vodka, obviously that will be something to include and this also applies to your favourite mixers. What kind of drinks do you want to serve? Cocktails have a universal appeal, so stocking with some of these ingredients will also be a good place to start. The bottom line is stocking your bar according to your own tastes as well as your budget. Check out these suggestions for home bar heaven.
Spirits
You won’t go far wrong including these essential spirits for some popular options.
Vodka
With a palate-cleansing flavour, vodka is an excellent base for easy to make cocktails – it’s included in cocktails more than other spirits. The other plus is the choice on the market. Take your pick of brands to suit your pocket and preference.
Gin
It’s hard to remember a time when gin wasn’t that cool. Now, it seems everyone loves this old faithful and it’s assumed a fashionable appeal. You can opt for dozens of flavour variations, including the botanicals. Gin is another good option for cocktails as well as the timeless G&T.
Whisky
Although not everyone’s favourite, it’s a spirit which offers variety in taste, both single and blended. To get started, opt for a couple of bottles for mixing and cocktails. You can really experiment with whisky – bourbon, rye, Irish as well as some decent blends.
Brandy
If you enjoy brandy, think about stocking a bottle even though it’s not that great as a mixer. However, it’s perfect for rounding off an evening after an enjoyable meal with friends.
Mixers
They can elevate a decent tipple into a perfect one. Check out these suggestions for the best results.
Juices
Think humble tomato juice with vodka and you’ve got a delicious Bloody Mary. Juice mixers are relatively cheap and delicious – orange and lime/lemon are standards, but also try cranberry, pineapple and grapefruit for extra bite.
Ice
Simple but effective – imagine a cocktail without ice! You’ll add it to almost every single drink you fix at your bar. Even frozen water has variety so get experimental with cubes, as well as cracked and shaved ice.
