When it comes to setting up a home bar, think small but not basic. When it comes to liquor, look for small-batch distilleries where you live or as you travel. Stock a bourbon for Old Fashioneds, gin for martinis, vodka for screwdrivers, rum for mojitos and tequila for Palomas. Learn the classics then expand as your tastes evolve. It’s also good practice to have a few non-alcoholic options for guests who don’t drink liquor but still want a creative mocktail. Curious elixirs and zero-proof spirits are widely available and are a welcomed addition to any home bar. Above all, make it beautiful! Your home, your rules.
Essential Supplies: A jigger, stir stick, mixing glass, strainer and shaker are basic tools that will have you mixing like a pro.
Step by Step: Have a cocktail “cookbook” handy to inspire guests to get creative with their cocktails.
In The Mix: Stock up on mixers. Tonic water, bitters, vermouth and simple syrup are used in many core drinks and cocktails.
Varied Vessels: Keep glassware simple: a flute for fizzy, a coupe for martinis and a highball for everything else.
DESIGN INDEX:
Bar at the home of Katie & John Reichert, Maple Bourbon by Aerodrome Distilling, Wild Rag Vodka by South Texas Distillery, Glassware & Champagne bucket from Park Seven and ‘Katie & Co.’ art by Franco Mondini-Ruiz.
