Back when I had just moved to my own place, one of my biggest goals was to have a well-stocked mini bar so that I could invite friends over and impress everyone with my cocktail-making skills. After a lot of time, research, and effort, I was able to build my dream mini bar and today I am ready to give you some advice on what essential things you need to look for when setting up your own home bar.
Spirits and Liqueurs
Let’s start off with the most obvious thing, the foundation of any bar – the spirits and liqueurs. No matter if you prefer taking shots or creating difficult cocktails, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, vodka are a must in your home bar, as they are usually the key ingredients in any drink. In this case, the quality is the one that makes all the difference between a tasty beverage and one that will give you a terrible hangover, so don’t skimp when shopping. As per liqueurs, orange, coffee, and Irish cream ones are the most versatile ones to have in your collection.
Bar Toolkit
The number of tools you need for your mini bar depends entirely on how passionate you are about cocktail making. If you are a newbie who is just trying to make a cocktail every once in a while and doesn’t plan on taking this hobby more seriously, there’s no need to invest in a variety of fancy equipment. Either way, there are some things such as bottle openers, measuring cups, shakers, strainer, mixing spoons, and ice molds that every mini bar should have.
Glasses
Sure, you can go to your local Target and get the cheapest glasses and say that “they’ll have to do”, or you could go the extra mile and invest in some fancy short and whiskey glasses that will immediately make your mini bar look luxurious. Personally, Irish glasses are my favorite. Not only are they made of durable and high-quality glass, but they also feature absolutely stunning pewter designs that make great conversation starters when hosting a party. You can find a large selection of Irish glasses online at https://www.keilys.com/irish-gifts/glassware/, and there is definitely no shortage of designs to choose from.
Syrups
Even if you prefer to take your whiskey on rocks and fight the urge to look down on those who prefer sweet drinks over strong ones, you still need to have some syrups in your collection. Thankfully, a simple sugar syrup is extremely easy to make using things you already have at home. For a basic syrup that goes perfectly with cocktails, lemonades, and even coffee drinks, mix one cup of sugar and one cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat, stir until the sugar dissolves, and let it cool. Then, pour it into a bottle and it is ready to use! Other than that, you need some fruit syrups such as raspberry or coconut, and some stronger ones like ginger
