Whether you’re entertaining your family, or want to mix a fancy cocktail for your friends, a well-stocked home bar is sure to impress.
What you need: EQUIPMENT
A space to set up your bar
Jigger
All drinks need to be measured – just watch in your favourite cocktail bar! Jiggers allow you to get precise and consistent measurements to help you balance your cocktail.
Shaker Set
We recommend double tin shakers as they will help you feel when your cocktail is chilled and diluted. They will also last you a lot longer than a traditional Boston shaker (glass on tin) which should you accidently drop it will shatter into a thousand pieces.
Mixing Glass
Around 500ml is a good size for your home bar.
Strainers
There are two types of strainers: A Hawthorne strainer and a Fine Strainer. You’ll need one of each. The purpose of the Hawthorne strainer is to hold the ice back in your shaker as you pour out your cocktail (whether shaken or stirred). A fine strainer is used in combination with the Hawthorne strainer and is used to strain out the shards of ice (that break off when shaking), and any bits of fresh ingredients such as mint – giving you a smooth drink that doesn’t continue to dilute once in the glass.
Bar spoon
For stirring drinks. Fun fact. The spoon measures 5ml of liquid for those small measurements.
Big ice-cube trays
Elbow Juicer/Juice Press
Fresh is always best. Juicing lemons / limes/ oranges/ grapefruits fresh will give you the best cocktails. Your elbow juicer will save you time and energy.
Paring Knife
Not just for cutting your fruit in half to juice, but for creating elegent twists for garnishes.
Muddler
Helps you to crush things e.g. ice (to make crushed ice) or Mint (releasing the oils and therefore flavour into your drink).
Glassware
We recommend starting with 6 of each.
Rocks Glasses – 6 to 8 oz are a great size. Used for cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, Negroni or Mai Tai.
Collins / Highball Glass – 10 to 12 oz. Used for the Tom Collins, Vodka Soda, or Mojito.
Coupe or Martini Glasses – 6 to 8 oz. Used for Martinis, Sidecar, Manhattan or Daiquiris.
Wine Glasses – Red, White & Champagne
What you need:
LIQUOR
Vodka
Keep it simple. Ketel One or Grey Goose will work well.
Gin
Two – three varieties. We suggest The West Winds Sabre, Citadelle & Peddlers. If you’re looking for a Navy Strength you can add in The West Winds Broadside (58% ABV).
Tequila/Mezcal
A quality tequila will get you a long way. Try Don Julio Reposado and Mezcal Viejo Indecente.
Rum
There are so many styles of Rum so you should have at least 2 classic styles plus one flavoured. Stock up on The Grove White Rum, The Grove Dark Rum and The Grove Coconut Rum.
Whisk(e)y
Scotch Whisky
At the minimum you need a blend, a smooth single malt and a peated single malt. We’d start with Chivas Ultis, Tomatin 18 YO and Lagavulin 16 YO.
Irish Whiskey
Jameson or Middletons
Bourbon
Middletons or FEW
Rye Whiskey
Rittenhouse Rye
Japanese
Yamazaki 12YO
Brandy/Cognac
One will get you a long way. Pierre Ferrand.
Triple Sec
Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
Dry Vermouth & Sweet Vermouth
MaiDENii Vermouths (remember to keep refrigerated once open so that it doesn't go off)
Other Liqueurs
Coffee Liqueur – Mr Black
Maraschino Liqueur – Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Frangelico
Crème de Cacao
Framboise
Bitters
Angostura Bitters and Orange Bitters will get you 95% of the way!
And you'll of course need a bottle of Campari for those Negronis!
What you need: SOFT/MIXERS
Tonic Water
High quality is essential. Go for East Imperial or Fever Tree.
Soda Water & other soft beverages
Ginger Beer / Cola / Lemonade /Pink Grapefruit are popular. We’d stick with Australia’s CAPI range which use the highest quality natural ingredients.
Sugar Syrup (also known as ‘Gomme’)
Very easy to make yourself, and will keep for months!
To make 1L, add 2kg white/caster sugar to 1L of boiling water and stir until liquid is clear.
Allow to cool. Bottle in glass bottles.
Fruits / Garnishes
As you want these fresh for each drink, we suggest you stock them as you need them.
Mint, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Pink Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Cherries
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