How to Equip a Home Bar

Stock your bar with the tools of the trade so that mixing drinks is a breeze.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 10 Swizzle Sticks
• 1 Box Cocktail Picks
• 2 Long-handled Bar Spoons
• Cocktail Shaker
• Coil-rimmed Cocktail Strainer
• Corkscrews
• Drinking Straws
• Heavy-duty Blenders
• Juicers
• Set Of Measuring Spoons
• Two-sided Jiggers
• Wooden Muddlers
• One-sided Jiggers

1. Make sure you have a heavy-duty blender for cracking ice cubes and crushing ice if you plan to serve frozen drinks.
2. Buy a cocktail shaker and coil-rimmed strainer for mixing drinks. A plain metal shaker is best for beginners since it can take more of a beating.
3. Get at least one of each kind of jigger, the little cups used to measure drinks. A two-sided jigger has a 1-oz. measure on one side and a 1 1/2-oz. measure on the other side, while a one-sided jigger has 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1-oz. measures.
4. Get at least two bar spoons with long handles for stirring drinks, plus a set of measuring spoons for measuring salt, sugar and bitters.
5. Purchase either a waiter corkscrew, which fits in a pocket, or the easier-to-use winged corkscrew.
6. Make sure you have a wooden muddler on hand for crushing herbs and sugars if you plan to make juleps or old-fashioneds.
7. Buy an electric juicer if you want to use only fresh juice.
8. Choose fun cocktail picks and the cocktail napkins on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Mixed drinks contain alcohol, so use moderation.
• Never drink and drive.