Any ideas and tips for stocking a home bar?

I wanna set up a small home bar to entertain guests. I need help on stocking it though. I don't wanna spend an arm and a leg, but I want it to be classier than buds with the boys. And yes I'm 21, I was born in 86'.





So far I need a Shaker, jigger(measure), stemware (martini, all purpose wine, maybe set of stubs), Highball, lowball, Collins, shot glasses, and a set of stirs.





As for alcohol I'd like it to be well versed and able to produce a wide array of drinks. So far I've thought of Gin (Bombay or Tanqueray london or ten), vermouth, Vodka (Smirnoff and Ciroc grape), Whiskey (Jack Daniels), Rum (Captain Morgan's Spiced), Tequila ( Jose Cuervo), Kaluha, and Yukon Jack.





I'll also need juices like pineapple, cranberry, lime, lemon, orange, pomegranate, soda water, tonic, and pop (Pepsi, Vernor's, Canada Dry, Coke, Sprite).





Any other tips that would help me. Like a rough cost for this stuff, or anything I left out. Also any tricks of the trade or things to impress my guests.

Any ideas and tips for stocking a home bar?
definitely get some crown royal,


in the rum department get bacardi in addition to your captain morgans...


for vodka get some finlandia


for sodas, you dont need both pepsi and coke


grab a bottle of triple sec


dont forget grapefruit juice


you will need some sour mix


plenty of ice


maybe a bottle of amaretto
Reply:Honestly??? I think you have done an excellent job of configuring a really nice bar that would be impressive to most anyone. Sure the "ultra" stuffy bartender might make comments, but your configuration is above average and certainly respectable.


The only thing I saw potentially missing is high end Scotch. A crowd pleaser blended SCotch like Johnny Walker Black then add a Single Malt scotch like a 12 year McCallen Scotch and you'll be all set.
Reply:If you check craigslist you can find reasonably cheap kegerators and while it may appear to be somewhat of a splurge, beer by the keg is far more economical than beer by the bottle or can. I'd also chalk this up to being something you would benefit from on a day to day basis as well. You should be able to get a 5-8 gallon kegerator, gas, and a keg for $200 if you look around.





The rest looks pretty solid though, I'd swap out the pomegranate juice for orange juice both because pomegranate juice is expensive and somewhat limited in its use IMO. Juice/soda would probably be like $30 but a lot of it should be purchased when you need it so it doesn't get nasty.





For glassware I'd also recommend getting some snifters or tulips since they can be dual purposed for both liquor and beer at least if you intend on using "proper" glassware. For all the glassware you've listed you could spend anywhere from $50-200 I'd imagine. Places like Walmart generally have glassware starter sets for a reasonable price but specialty glasses like snifters can set you back up to $8 a piece when purchased new. I'd check ebay and again craigslist.





I'd also swap out the Yukon Jack for perhaps a decent scotch or nice bourbon since you already have Jack Daniels which I'm assuming is for mixing. Perhaps something like Makers Mark. The alcohol I'd just ballpark at $20 a bottle so just under $200.





The equipment would probably be like $30 and could most likely be purchased as a set.





So all things considered about $300-$600.
Reply:First make sure you ALWAYS have plenty of ice! Also, I would choose one more whiskey or bourbon, not everyone that drinks whiskey prefers Jack Daniels. You will definitely need some triple sec. or grand marnier if you want something between well and top shelf. For rum, make sure you have a light and a dark (gold) rum (Bacardi), spiced rum is great and could still be stocked but it is not as versitile as the other rums. You will also need some sweet and sour mix (a must). Frosted beer mugs are always a hit as well. If you really want to impress your guests then get some garnishes as well, such as limes, lemons, cherries, and maybe some oranges or strawberries, and don't forget some salts and sugars for the rims. And, one more tip, when making drinks fill your glass completely to the brim with ice ... the correct term is "build on ice" or "boi" and never, never, never stir drinks for someone, it is a sure sign of being a rookie or a "tacky and cheap" bartender! Unless of course it is a shaken cocktail. Good luck to ya! Stay safe, have fun, and remember that if you are serving and they leave you are responsible for the outcome.
Reply:I think your list looks great. I spent about 400 dollars on bar accessories. I'd get some stoppers/ pourers for the top of your bottles. A corkscrew for wine and a bottle opener would be good. Also a cutting board for cutting limes/ lemons. Ice is a must and if you know you're having a party go buy some limes/ lemons. Olives and pickles are a great thing to keep around and I'd recommend getting juice from the non-refrigerated section because if you don't open it you can keep it for the next party and it won't go bad. Also, redbull is a must!
Reply:The stuff you have listed will look good but pourers, an ice bucket - with scoop and a blender will make any bar look professional.


It will take you a lifetime to build a complete bar. Instead focus on some signature drinks and impressive looking bottles like Galliano (Harvey Wallbanger) frangellico (Nutty Irishman) and bottels with foreign writing on them.





The alcohol on your list above is a good place to start.u can make a lot of drinks with what you have. No matter how many different types of alcohol you have someone will ask for something you don't have. Invest in a cocktail book about $10 - $15 because some drinks have 2-3 different names and different ingredients.





However stuff that goes into a lot of drnks ,tripple sec (orange liquor), baileys and a quality lemon juice.
Reply:Everything looks great! You have to think about what kind of guests you are entertaining, and you have to think about their preferances too. If you want something exotic that almost nobody has tried but is fairly easy to get try Sake, its a japanese rice wine. It comes in 2 variaties: filtered and non-filtered (or coarse). The coarse is my favorite, it is much more complicated tasted and is slightly sweeter, the filtered just tastes like vodka turned bad to me, but maybe try both! (P.S. you drink it in shot glasses, but its a sipping drink.) If you are going to have a bunch of dudes over they might not be impressed, especially if all you know is sweet mixed drinks. A kegorator is a great idea and I have never met a man who was not impressed by one, but they can be expensive. As for vodka maybe try a different brand, it seems to me like you are trying to impress with your bar, so maybe grey goose or belvedere, smirnoff is a classic but you pay alot for the name and the two brands mentioned score higher on every vodka rating I have ever looked at. Pomegranate juice is a nice touch, very colorful and chicks dig it! Not everybody like Jack Daniels, Jim Bean is another favorite or if you are looking to spend a bit more Makers Mark is amazing. Capn' Morgans Tattoo mixes great with cola, its a smoother rum and it goes down easy. Most Gin lovers that I know swear by Tanqueray or Beafeaters. Blue Curaco is a good choice, chicks love blue drinks to death, and it adds a lot of color and not a lot of tast! If its guys, a nice liquer is Jagermeister, one of my fav. chill drinks. A few bottles of wine always brings some class to the joint, but if the cash is slightly tight go with one red and one white, priced somewher between 15 and 25 bucks.



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