How to Build and Start Your Own Home Bar

The home bar should reflect the owner's personal taste. Not everyone needs to stock every exotic liquor on the market. You shop for whatever you and your friends usually drink. If all you drink is beer, wine and straight vodka, then that is all your bar should supply. While every bar will be slighlty different, here are some basic guidelines to building up your own home bar.

First, you'll need to purchase a bar counter and quality high bar tender chairs. The online site, efurniturehouse.com, has a beautiful bar counter which includes a wine rack for about $611. It is best to purchase a bar counter that is made of a sturdy wood material, that is not easily broken. Depending on what style you choose, a quality bar stool set will run you about $169 to $359. Barproducts.com is an online site that has everything you need to stock a well-equipped bar.

A basic home bar should include:

Liquors:
1 bottle bourbon (750 ml)
1 bottle brandy (750 ml)
1 bottle Canadian whiskey (750 ml)
1 bottle dry gin (1 3/4 liters)
1 bottle rum (1 3/4 liters)
1 bottle Scotch whiskey (750 ml)
1 bottle tequila (1 3/4 liters)
1 bottle vodka (1 3/4 liters)

Liqueurs:
triple sec
creme de menthe
creme de cacao
kahlua
amaretto
Drambuie
Benedictine
Cointreau

Wine and Beer:
1 bottle dry vermouth (small)
1 bottle sweet vermouth (small)
2 six-packs beer (1 regular, 1 light)
2 bottles white wine
2 bottles red wine
1 bottle rose wine
1 bottle champagne or sparkling wine
Beer Fridge
Wine Fridges

A more advanced bar should include:

Liquor:
1 bottle brandy
1 bottle V.S.O.P. cognac
1 bottle dry English gin
1 bottle dark rum (Jamaican)
1 bottle gold rum
1 bottle light rum
1 bottle blended Scotch whiskey
1 bottle Tennessee whiskey
1 bottle gold tequila
1 bottle white tequila
1 or 2 bottles premium vodka (Russian or Scandinavian; store in your freezer)

Liqueurs:
framboise, kirschwasser, plum brandy (slivovitz) or other flavored brandies of your choice
creme de cassis, sambuca, Galliano, Frangelico, Kahlua,peppermint schnapps, peach schnapps, or any other of your favorite liqueurs

Wine:
3 apertif wines, such as Dubonnet, Lillet, or Campari
1 bottle cream sherry
1 bottle port
1 bottle madeira
several bottles of your favorite white wines, including at least one table wine and one dessert wine
several bottles of your favorite red wines, ranging from dry to sweet
2 or 3 bottles of champagne and/or sparkling wine

Whether you stock a basic or advanced bar, you'll need these items on hand:
Bloody Mary mix
club soda
coffee
cola
cranberry juice cocktail
cream (heavy and light)
cream of coconut
Falernum
ginger ale
grapefruit juice
grenadine
lemon juice
lime juice
orange juice
orgeat (almond syrup)
passion fruit juice (or nectar)
pina colada mix
pineapple juice
seltzer
7-up
sour mix
tomato juice
tonic (quintine) water
water (distilled or spring)

No bar would be complete without these garnishes:
bitters (Angostura, orange)
cherries (maraschino)
cinnamon sticks
ice (three types: cubes, cracked and crushed)
lemons
limes
nutmeg
olives
onions (pickled pearl)
oranges
salt
sugar
Tobasco
Worcestershire sauce

The right bar equipment must be on hand to ensure your bartending success:
barspoon (long)
can/bottle opener
champagne bucket
cocktail napkins
corkscrew (winged version or waiter's)
covered cocktail shaker
cutting board
electric blender
ice bucket and tongs
ice scoop
juice extractor
lemon/lime squeezer
martini pitcher
measures/shot glasses
measuring cup
measuring spoons
mixing pitcher
muddler (wooden)
margarita machines
paring knife/bar knife
picks (for garnishes)
punch bowl and glasses
saucers for salt and sugar
seltzer bottle
shaker set: shaker (mixing) glass and metal tumbler
speed pourers
strainer
straws
swizzle sticks
towels

All bar glassware includes:
balloon
beer goblet
beer mugs
beer glasses
brandy snifter
champagne flute
champagne saucer
champagne tulip
cocktail
collins
double rocks
goblet
highball
martini
hot drink mug
parfait
pilsner
pony (cordial)
pousse-cafe
red wine
rocks
sherry
shot
sour
white wine

After fullfilling this checklist, all you'll need to purchase is a drink recipe book. And remember, when serving guests, always be responsible by calling a cab for those drinkers who are unable to drive. Or you can opt to serve your guests coffee while allowing some of the liquor to wear off. Offer appetizers. Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream directly from the stomach, and good food provides a balance for drinkers, slowing the rate at which they drink and absorb alcohol. Serving food also adds to the air of hospitality, allowing everyone to have an even better time. Sandwiches, dairy products, meats and fish are good bets. If young children are around, supplying non-alcoholic beverages and "virgin" drinks are a good option. Parties can take on themes such as Super Bowl celebrations and tropical themes. Bars can also be set up for small wedding celebrations. Making toasts to the bride and groom can be a very memorable occasion when you supply your own home bar. Cheers!