If you love having friends over for dinner, or if you're the kind of person who enjoys throwing parties for practically every occasion, then you know the importance of having a properly stocked bar at home. Whether you drink alcoholic beverages or not, a home bar is a sophisticated addition to your home and a convenient way to always have drinks to offer to your guests.
While we’re all still practicing safe social distancing, it’s the perfect time to set up your own home bar and stock it with the best bottles around. Although setting up a home bar may sound like a meticulous and daunting task, it actually has the potential to be quite fun and enriching. Plus, the rewards you will reap from this process are the beautiful wines and liquors displayed in your very own home bar.
If you have been contemplating building your own bar at home, but just don’t know where to start, you have come to the right place! With our short yet comprehensive guide, you will find all the best pieces of advice for stocking and setting up your home bar with all the essentials. Let’s get started!
Selecting Bar Tools & GlasswareÂ
When scouting for the ideal glassware and bar tools for your at-home bar, there aren’t really any rules. The only thing you should take into account is to go with bar tools that correspond to your personal style. After all, it is your own personal bar, so make it as you wish.
With regard to bar tools, you will be needing to equip your home bar with the basics, such as highball glasses, lowball glasses, flutes, a mixing glass, a jigger, a shaker, a strainer, and a bar spoon. When heading out to the stores or shopping online to buy these bar essentials, it is advisable to look for items that are suitable for commercial use. This would give you assurance that they would work great for your home bar too.
Location
Traditionally, a home bar is installed in the kitchen or dining area. However, you can place it literally anywhere in your house, as long as it is not directly exposed to the sun. It is recommended to set up your bar in an area where the temperature is steady and no direct sunlight is present. This way, you prevent the liquors from deteriorating in quality.
The Design
A home bar’s appearance can range from sleek and simple all the way to extravagant and stunning. Wherever your taste sits on the spectrum of aesthetics, the sky is definitely the limit when it comes to design choice.
If you want to have your collection of wines and spirits displayed on a platform that enables mobility, then a bar cart is your best bet. Bar carts are effective means to build a home bar while saving space. On regular days, this cart is an understated piece of sophistication that radiates exquisite elegance throughout your living space. However, during social gatherings, this piece of furniture instantly becomes the life of the party and the center of attention. They’re easy to set up, organize, and approach. It encourages your guests to just walk up to it and help themselves to a drink.
If you want to kick it up a notch with more permanent set up, go for the console table. You can pick your favorite table, credenza, or cabinet with compartments wherein bottles and bar tools would fit perfectly. To make this brilliant transformation, all you have to do is organize your bottles and glasses on top of the table or credenza. Just arrange them in the best way possible, while the bar tools sit pretty in a drawer or nearby container/shelf. If you still have room on the top surface, you can add a little sprinkle of decor with a lamp, figurine, or flower vase. Make it both functional and beautiful!
Last but not least, you might want to dive right in and install a genuine wet bar in your home! A wet bar comes complete with all the components that you need to store, display, mix, and serve up your favorite beverages. Along with your other bar essentials, stock this area with towels, a small trash can, and cleaning agents under the sink. With a wet bar, you will be fully stocked with all the essentials in one place.
The Basic Liquor Must Haves
Everyone has their own personal taste when it comes to drinking wine, spirits, or cocktails. The first step in stocking your home bar with drinks is choosing your favorites. Start small and work your way up as you discover more mixes that you enjoy.
Whatever you preferences are, it always a good idea to purchase these basic yet popular drinks to store in your bar:
- Gin
- Bourbon Whiskey
- Scotch Whiskey
- Tequila
- White Rum
- Dark Rum
At Spirit of York, it is our aim to craft the world’s most premium and exquisite spirits. Visit us today to know why the spirit knows no bounds!