The Home Bar Set-Up Guide
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Here at the Academy, we teach you the skills and methods with emphasis on the art and craft of preparing drinks . We train and help you develop the essential speed and knowledge of all the famous drinks . We encourage that with attention on classic as well as creating new and exotic drinks . This enables our students to work in ANY environment that serves alcohol with confidence.
We’ve decided to create a mini-series all about mixing drinks, recipes, and generally anything to do with bartending. This series was designed with both novice as well as the veteran bartender. We hope you enjoy them. Today’s article is:
How to Set Up a Home Bar
Maybe you’re thinking about planning a special event or you just want to have a well stocked bar .
The initial set up for a home bar from can be quite an expensive ordeal . Start off slowly if money is an issue. You would have to consider things such as materials, hardware, tools, bar equipment / supplies and of course the spirits . Create a budget. Then over the course of the next few weeks gradually put the pieces together. The end result? A bar that is capable of serving your guests efficently.
Starter Home Bar
Just a reminder that our list for bar set-ups should be used as a general guide .
The following alcohol selections would allow you to set up a starter bar somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-$250.
SPIRITS
Vodka – 750ml – Vodka, one of the world’s most popular liquors, is composed strictly of water and ethanol. Vodka can be made from any fermented element : grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, grapes or rice. When it comes to vodka, avoid the cheap stuff . They have a less than favorable taste. This not only ruins the drink but the patrons time as well. . Obtaining premium brands such as Belvedere, Grey Goose or Kettle One can plainly become quite expensive . If your on a limited budget stick with your mid-priced products such as Absolut or Finlandia.
Gin – 750ml – Gin is a alcohol whose dominant taste is taken from juniper berries . though several dissimilar styles of gin have existed since its introduction , gin is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories. Distilled gin is crafted in the customary manner, by re-distilling neutral spirit of agricultural origin with juniper berries and other botanicals. Compound gin is made by simply seasoning neutral spirit with essences without re-distillation, and is not as highly regarded . Beefeater, Bombay Dry English Gin or Tanqueray would be safe choices.
Canadian Whisky – 750ml – Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain alcohols containing a large proportion of rye, typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. According to the laws of Canada, a Canadian whisky must be mashed, distilled and aged in Canada. All whiskies sold in Canada must be aged for at least 3 years in a wooden barrel of not greater than 700 L (approx. 185 U.S. gal) capacity. Some whiskies of choice would be Canadian Club or Seagrams V.O.
Rum – 750ml – Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually matured in oak and other barrels. The majority of the world’s rum production occurs in and around the Caribbean and in several Central and South American countries. Suggested brands: Bacardi, Mount Gay Premium White or El Dorado White.
Tequila – 750ml – is a Blue Agave-based spirit made specifically in the area surrounding the city of Tequila and in the highlands of Jalisco. The red volcanic soil in the surrounding region is particularly well suited for cultivation of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year. Your mid range picks might be: Corazon Blanco, Corralejo Blanco, Herradura Blanco or Milagro Silver.
Red Wine – 1 bottle – 750ml – It’s hue can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals ranging from grapes that are reddish to dark purple. The skin of the grape is what dictates the color of the wine. The skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process, allowing the dispersion of both color and tannins. The individual wine’s particular red hue depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin’s pigmentation is in contact with juice. There are far too many variations and factors when choosing wines. Go for your personal preference. You can find some very good wines that are moderately priced.
White Wine – 1 bottle – 750ml – are not white. They are in truth yellow, golden or straw-like in color. Its color can be derived from an assortment of grape varietals. White wines are made from the grape juice and grape skin of green, gold or yellowish colored grapes or from just the juice and not the skin of select red grapes as with some Champagnes.
Beer – is fermented, hop flavored, malt sugar tea. There are four basic building blocks needed to make beer: water, malted barley, and hops. Yeast, (often listed as a fourth ingredient, although not a part of the finished product) is used to ferment the hop flavored malt sugar tea into a effervescent liquid with an average of between three and seven percent ethyl alcohol by weight. (In some cases, such as a Barley Wine, the alcohol content can go to almost 11% by weight.) Both beer and ale are made from essentially the same four building blocks with the major variation being the type of yeast used to ferment the product.
Basically, beer is categorized into one of three different categories: lagers, ales, and the rest fall into a category called specialty beers.
The difference between a lager and an ale is the type of yeast used in fermentation.
Ales - Sometimes referred to as “Top Fermenting because the nature of ale yeast is to form near the surface in the early stages prior to settling to the bottom of the vat. Warm temperatures are needed during the fermentation process so that the yeast can multiple. Ales , in general, have a tendency to be fuller, more complex and a higher alcohol content.
Lagers – The lager yeast simply flocculates (not at the surface) and makes its way to the bottom. Therefore it is known as bottom fermenting. Lager yeasts need cool temperatures during fermentation to perform their magic. Lagers tend to be lighter in color and usually taste drier than ales. They are generally less alcoholic and complex. This is the most common beer type sold in the U.S.
Specialty Beers - can be a combination of both lagers and ales, or a spinoff of the two mixed with other additives which places it outside the true style of either lager or ale.
Intermediate Home Bar
So you want to kick it up a step . A reasonably intermediate stocked bar runs between $350 – $450.Of course you already have the products suggested above in the start-up list. Stock the following to step-up to intermidiate level:
Aperitif - 750 ml – is an alcoholic drink that is usually served to increase the appetite prior to a meal and are commonly served with something small to eat. Ouzo would be an example and is popular in Greece.
Bourbon is an American whiskey that has been in production since the 18th century. Bourbon is made primarily from corn and named after Bourbon County, Kentucky. Some bourbons would be Jim Beam or Wild Turkey.
Brandy – 750ml – meaning “burned wine” and is a spirit made from wine or other fermented fruit juices. Brandy should not be selected solely on it’s price . A low-quality brandy can ruin an otherwise great cocktail.
Coffee Liqueur – 750ml – Cordials are high-alcohol, high-sugar beverages with infused flavorings usually derived from herbs, fruits, or nuts. Most liqueurs range between 15% and 55% alcohol by volume. The most popular coffee liqueur is the Mexican Kahlua. An alternative would be Tia Maria from Jamaica.
Irish Cream – 750ml – is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, cream, and other fixingss which sometimes include coffee, which can be served on its own or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot. Irish Cream typically has between 15 to 20% alcohol by volume and is considered a cream liqueur. Some examples would be Cask and Cream, Ryan’s or Carolans.
Red Wine – 2 bottles – 750ml – It’s color can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals ranging from grapes that are scarlet to deep purple. It is the grape skins that are responsible for the red wine’s distinct color spectrum. The skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process, permitting the diffusion, distribution of both color and tannins. The specific wine’s specific red shade depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin’s pigmentation is in contact with juice. There are far too many and factors when choosing wines. Go for your personal preference. You can find some really good wines that are moderately priced.
Scotch – 750ml - is a whisky that is made exclusively in Scotland. Scotch whisky is divided into 5 categories: Single malt , blended malt , blended Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whisky, and single grain Scotch whisky.
Sparkling wine or Champagne - Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. Champagne is produced only within the Champagne region of France.
Triple Sec – 750ml – is a variety of Curaçao, an orange-flavored liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter oranges from the Caribbean. Triple sec, which is French for Triple Dry, is one-third as sweet as regular Curaçao. It is widely used in mixed drinks and recipes as a sweetening and flavoring agent.
Vermouth - 1 bottle of Sweet & Dry – 750ml - is a fortified wine, flavored with aromatic herbs and spices. The different types of vermouths are sweetened, dry or semi- dry. Mostly used in your Martini’s, Rob Roy’s and Manhattan’s.
White Wine – 2 bottles – 750ml – are not white. They are actually yellow, golden or straw-like in color. Its color can be derived from an assortment of grape varietals. White wines are made from the grape juice and grape skin of green, gold or yellowish colored grapes or from just the juice and not the skin of select red grapes as with some Champagnes.
Full Home Bar
The folllowing are recommended additions to the intermediate bar if finances and space allow for it.
We suggest increasing the number of cordials as well as adding different wine and beer options.
Cream Sherry - 750ml – is a common type of sweet sherry made by blending different wines
Flavored Vodka - 750ml – There are many varieties to choose from.
Gold tequila – is the result of blending Silver Tequila with either Reposado or Añejo or extra Añejo Tequila.
Irish Whiskey – is a whiskey made in Ireland. There are several types of whiskey common to Ireland: Single Malt, Single Grain, Pure Pot Still and Blended Whiskey.
Port – is a Portuguese style of fortified wine originating from the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.
Scotch – 12 year old
Scotch – Single malt
V.S.O.P. Cognac – named after the town of Cognac in France, is the most famous variety of brandy. V.S.O.P stands for Very Special Old Pale, where the youngest brandy is stored at least four years in a cask, but the average wood age is much older.
MIXERS
Ok, so you’re now set up with the basic spirits. Here’s a basic guideline for your mixers.
Club soda
Tonic water
Lemon Lime soda
Cola: Diet and regular
Ginger Ale
Tomato Juice
Grapefruit Juice
Orange Juice
Lime Juice
Pineapple Juice
Cranberry Juice
Lemon Juice
Garnishes: Lemons, Cherries, Oranges and Limes
Cocktail Garnish
Ok you have the mixers It is used to serve mixed drinks, especially Tom Collins cocktails. It is cylindrical in shape and narrower than a highball glass. Whatever beverage is served in this glass is intended to have a straw in it with aromatic garnishes. It is popular to serve Mojitos in this glass as well.
Cordial – think shot glass with a stem. They are small and stemmed glasses used for serving small portions of your favorite liquors or liqueurs at times such as after a meal. A Cordial glass is about 1.5 to 2 ounces in size.
Flute – is for the bubbly. The slender shape is intended to concentrate the bubbles that come from Champagne. This glass is good for any Champagne based cocktail, but not much else.
Highball – this essential piece of glassware looks like a taller version of the Rocks glass. This glass is used for most of your tall and cool refreshing drinks that use juices and mixers. It is typically between 8 to 12 ounces.
Hurricane – this specialty glass was put into popular use by Pat O’Brian’s in New Orleans serving up their Hurricane cocktail of the same name. As the story goes the proprietor of the bar was given a case or two of these very strange glasses and he challenged his bartenders to develop a drink to serve in it. As it turned out the drink and the glass were a hit. Any frozen or tropical cocktail can be served in this glass but it does hold quite a lot of liquid.
Margarita – are easy to distinguish from your other glassware. It is actually a Mexican sombrero turned upside down. Beyond the Margarita this glass can be used for just about any frozen cocktail.
Parfait/Pousse-Café – these two glasses look fairly similar and are used for layered cocktails and dessert cocktails. These glasses have square bases, short stems and a narrow bowl.
Pilsner glass – is a glass used to serve many types of light beers, but is intended for its namesake, the pilsner. Pilsner glasses are generally smaller than pint glasses. They tend to have a short neck at the bottom, followed by a rounded taper to a slightly bulged area that forms the glass.
Red Wine – the larger bowl allows red wine to breathe more and express its aroma. In a pinch the Red Wine glass can be used in the same way as the White Wine glass. This glass also comes in many different sizes.,
Rocks – also known as lowball and old fashioned glass. These glasses are usually reserved for an unmixed drink served over ice or with cocktails having few ingredients. Most commonly you will find Double Rocks glasses in public bars, which holds 8 to 10 ounces. Shot – the shooter is a popular drink type and the Shot glass is made for it. The Shot glass can be short and squat or taller and skinny, but can hold 1 or 2 ounces. Mostly straight liquors or liqueurs are served in it.
Shot Glass - Originally a bar measuring tool, ( and still used as one) , the shot glass has become the choice for “shots” of spirits. The shot glass holds between 1oz – 2ozs.
Snifter – the Snifter, sometimes called a Brandy Snifter, has a very large bowl and is a fairly short glass. This glass is used for sipping aged liquor. The large bowl allows the liquor to breathe, but then it’s smaller at the top to concentrate the aroma to the nose when you are sipping. Only a small amount of liquor is poured into a Snifter. Because they are all different sizes the best way to fill a Snifter is to lay it on its side and pour the liquor in until it is just about to spill out of the glass. Once you set it straight you will have the perfect amount poured.
Sour – more of the specialty glassware. The Sour glass is a shorter more pointed shaped White Wine glass. This glass is specifically used for the Sours family of cocktails (Whisky Sour, Amaretto Sour, etc…). In a pinch this glass can be used in the same way as the White Wine glass.
White Wine – the white wine glass is actually a very versatile piece of glass. In a pinch it can used in place of the Cocktail, Cordial, Shot, Red Wine, Flute, Sour, and Snifter. There is a wide variety of sizes in this glass.