HOW TO STOCK YOUR HOME BAR
having a well-stocked home bar gives a great place to entertain guests and practice your mixology skills and with a small collection of basic spirits, mixers, glassware and bar tools, you’ll be able to make almost any standard mixed drink even invent a few new cocktails of your own.
LET’S START NOW!!!
The foundation for the majority of cocktails, a well-rounded Home Bar should include at least one bottle of each of the 6 base Liquors (Spirits):
VODKA:
is a distilled alcoholic beverage (38% + ABV) made from grains or vegetables (or any other raw carbohydrates like potatoes, sugar beet, and corn for that matter). Vodka is one of those spirits in which the delicate flavor of the base ingredient used may or may not be tasted in the final product. It is almost always sold unaged, and today's vodka is considered one of the purest forms of distilled spirit available. (Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan, Black Russian, etc.)
is a distilled spirit drink, colorless liquid containing at least 37.5% alcohol that has its flavor principally derived from juniper berries. and other botanical ingredients. Coriander seeds are usually included, together with ingredients such as angelica root, herbs, and orange and lemon peels. There are a variety of styles, from the famous London dry gins to modern gins that are less piney and more approachable. There are different types of gin: London Dry Gin, Plymouth Gin, Old Tom Gin, Genever, and Navy Strength . (Cocktails: Gin&Tonic, Clover Club, Negroni, Dry Martini, etc).
TEQUILA & MEZCAL (AGAVE SPIRITS)
are distilled spirit, made from the fermented juice of the Mexican agave plant, dependent on where the agave was grown and the style. The term Mezcal refers to spirits made from the agave plant, Tequila refers to a specific type of mezcal that can only be made from Blue Weber Agave. (Technically all Tequila is Mezcal). Different types are: Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. (Cocktails: Margarita, Paloma, Tequila Sunrise, etc.)
is a distilled liquor obtained from sugarcane juice or sugarcane molasses, fermented by yeast (or yeast and butyric acid bacteria), retorted, and then matured in oak casks. Rum is indigenous to Cuba and is a traditional Sugarcane liquor in many Caribbean and West Indies countries such as Brazil and Jamaica. Several styles of rum have been exploited globally, including white rum, golden rum, dark rum, aged rum, over-proof, depending on the ageing time and process. (Cocktails: Mojito, Daquiri, Pina Colada, Dark&Stormy, etc.)
is an amber-coloured distilled spirit made out of fermented grain (most often rye, wheat, corn, or barley). Most whiskeys are aged in wooden casks before bottling and have a minimum 40 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Different types are: Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Canadian Whisky and Japanese Whisky. Whiskey (with an 'e') refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States. Whisky (with no 'e') refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits.(Cocktails: Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Mint Julep, Sazerac, etc.)
Brandy is a distilled spirit made from wine or a fermented fruit mash. Cognac is a specific type of brandy produced from distilled white wine. Different types of brandy are: Cognac, Calvados, Grappa, Pisco, Armagnac, etc. (Cocktails: Vieux Carre , Alexander, Sidecar, Champagne Cocktail, etc.)
Liqueurs help to modify the flavour profile of a cocktail, they are essentially sweetened spirits ranging in a wide variety of flavours, from bitters and herbal, to fruity and coffee flavoured. Here there is a list the most used in my home bar:
ORANGE LIQUEUR:
is an orange-flavoured liqueur made from dried orange peels. You can drink it neat as an after-dinner treat, but it's typically added to popular cocktails like Margarita, Sidecar, Cosmopolitan, etc. Most famous brands are Cointreau and Grand Marnier. (Cocktails: Margarita, Corpse Reviver n’2, White Lady, etc.)
are Italian bittersweet aperitifs, Campari is infused with an extract of various bitters and aromatics such as pomegranate, ginseng, orange peel, the bark of cascarilla trees, and citrus oil, it is characterized by its intense aroma, bitter flavour, and incredible versatility, it is also an essential ingredient in classic cocktails such as Negroni, Jungle Bird or Americano. Aperol secret infusion that combines bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb, herbs, and alcohol and characterized by its combination of bitter, fruity, and floral flavour and a low alcohol content of only 11% ABV. The most popular combination is undoubtedly Aperol Spritz.
Coffee liqueurs are dark, syrupy-sweet, and alcohol-based. They're great in cocktails, but also delicious on ice cream, waffles, and even in actual coffee! (Cocktails: White Russian, Espresso Martini, Black Russian, etc.)
Vermouth is a fortified wine that is flavoured with a variety of herbs and spices. It is traditionally made in two major styles: dry (white) vermouth and sweet (red) vermouth. Dry vermouth, originating in France, is famously used to make Martini and is dry and floral. Sweet vermouth usually comes from Italy, is sweet, spiced, and herbal, and is used in cocktails like Manhattan and Negroni. Dry and sweet vermouths are also enjoyed as an aperitif.
is a clear cherry liqueur made from Sour Marasca cherries can be enjoyed in many classic cocktails like Aviation, The Last Word, Martinez, etc.
are a neutral, high-proof alcohol infused with botanicals such as spices, barks, fruits, roots, flowers, leaves, and herbs. Bitters give your drinks complexity and depth of flavour. There are three major bitters you should have stocked in your bar to make classic cocktails: Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters and Peychaud’s Bitters
3. ESSENTIAL MIXERS:
Most cocktails require a mixer or two. Having a basic collection of Liquors and a diverse array of mixers allows you to make most standard cocktails. Here are some mixers that every home bar should have:
JUICES:
are basic ingredient in many cocktails. Every home bar should be stocked up with bottles of orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, lemon juice, and lime juice. This set will allow you to make most standard cocktails.
SIMPLE SYRUPS:
is a key ingredient in many cocktails and other drink recipes. You can make your own simple syrup at home, you need just equal parts granulate sugar and water and keep a fresh bottle behind the bar as a quick and easy way to sweeten your cocktails. You can also infuse your simple syrup with countless ingredients—including spices, herbs and fruit—based on the flavour profile you want to achieve.
SODAS:
should have a collection of basic sodas as well as club soda and tonic water. They can be mixed into cocktails or served on their own to non-drinking guests.
GARNISHES:
Though not technically mixers, garnishes are a great way to improve the presentation and taste of a cocktail. Keep your bar stocked with maraschino cherries, oranges, and grapefruits to give you a diverse array of garnishes to add to your cocktails.
ICE:
is an essential ingredient that many overlook. Not only does it keep your drink at a chilled temperature, but it also impacts the overall quality of the cocktail.
4. ESSENTIAL GLASSES:
As a home bartender, you’ll want to understand the difference between some basic cocktail glasses. Here’s a list of the type of glasses you’ll likely find in a well-stocked home bar:
ROCKS:
Cocktails served in Rocks glasses are:
Old Fashioned
Sazerac
Negroni
COLLINS (HIGHBALL):
Cocktails served in Collins glasses are:
Gin fizz
Gimlet
Tom Collins (the cocktail that named the glass!)
COUPE GLASS:
Cocktails served in a coupe glasses are:
Martini
Manhattan
Daiquiri
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