How to Stock a Wet Bar
If you're planning on building your own home bar or are just interested in learning about the essentials of stocking a wet bar, you'll be pleased to learn that it's easier than you might think. Having this skill can come in handy, whether you're planning a party, hosting a wedding, or staying in a suite hotel that has a wet bar in your room. Having a fully stocked bar doesn't take a lot of effort, but it does take a bit of know-how, especially if you want to be able to successfully make drinks from the liquor you stock. Read on to learn more about how you can craft your very own wet bar, no matter what the occasion.
Stocking Liquor and Other Drinks
First things first, you'll need to stock up on different types of alcohol. You don't need to buy everything at once--in fact, it's often recommended that you build up your wet bar little by little, learning how to use various spirits as you go so that you can make a few different drinks with each type of liquor. Start with something like whiskey or bourbon and learn how to make drinks like a whiskey sour or a Manhattan. From there, you can add vodka and gin for martinis and other mixed cocktails, rum, tequila, and other things that won't be used as a base liquor for a cocktail but rather as a flavoring agent. Once you've stocked a baseline of liquors, add things like Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur, sweet and dry vermouth, Campari, and bitters. Not everyone you know will want to drink hard liquor, so you may want to consider stocking red and white wine, as well as assorted beers.
Don't Forget the Mixers
Next, you'll want to stock things that you can make cocktails with. Things like club soda, tonic water, fresh lemons and limes, fresh juices, olives and other garnishes, and simple syrup are a good place to start. Certain drinks call for specific garnishes (for instance, an old fashioned calls for a maraschino cherry and an orange peel twist), so if you want to make something in particular, be sure to research the ingredients you'll need to do so. These mixers and other additions make it easy to put together a plethora of drinks you and your guests will love.
Must-Have Tools
Finally, you'll need to stock your wet bar with the appropriate tools and drinkware necessary to enjoy a cocktail. You'll definitely want a cocktail shaker, a hand juicer for the citrus, and a muddler for certain drinks. You'll also need to have jiggers on hand, which help you accurately measure the appropriate amount of ingredients for the drinks you're making. Also keep on hand a stirring rod or long bar spoon, as well as a wooden mallet for crushing ice and a blender, should you feel like making blended drinks like pina coladas or daquiris.
As for glassware, you'll want some small old-fashioned or rocks glasses, some highball glasses, martini or coupe glasses, and wine glasses.
When you're fully stocked, the party can happen any time. Whether you're building the bar for your home, a special event, or even at a hotel for a getaway, you'll have the skills necessary to make a great drink.
Stocking Liquor and Other Drinks
First things first, you'll need to stock up on different types of alcohol. You don't need to buy everything at once--in fact, it's often recommended that you build up your wet bar little by little, learning how to use various spirits as you go so that you can make a few different drinks with each type of liquor. Start with something like whiskey or bourbon and learn how to make drinks like a whiskey sour or a Manhattan. From there, you can add vodka and gin for martinis and other mixed cocktails, rum, tequila, and other things that won't be used as a base liquor for a cocktail but rather as a flavoring agent. Once you've stocked a baseline of liquors, add things like Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur, sweet and dry vermouth, Campari, and bitters. Not everyone you know will want to drink hard liquor, so you may want to consider stocking red and white wine, as well as assorted beers.
Don't Forget the Mixers
Next, you'll want to stock things that you can make cocktails with. Things like club soda, tonic water, fresh lemons and limes, fresh juices, olives and other garnishes, and simple syrup are a good place to start. Certain drinks call for specific garnishes (for instance, an old fashioned calls for a maraschino cherry and an orange peel twist), so if you want to make something in particular, be sure to research the ingredients you'll need to do so. These mixers and other additions make it easy to put together a plethora of drinks you and your guests will love.
Must-Have Tools
Finally, you'll need to stock your wet bar with the appropriate tools and drinkware necessary to enjoy a cocktail. You'll definitely want a cocktail shaker, a hand juicer for the citrus, and a muddler for certain drinks. You'll also need to have jiggers on hand, which help you accurately measure the appropriate amount of ingredients for the drinks you're making. Also keep on hand a stirring rod or long bar spoon, as well as a wooden mallet for crushing ice and a blender, should you feel like making blended drinks like pina coladas or daquiris.
As for glassware, you'll want some small old-fashioned or rocks glasses, some highball glasses, martini or coupe glasses, and wine glasses.
When you're fully stocked, the party can happen any time. Whether you're building the bar for your home, a special event, or even at a hotel for a getaway, you'll have the skills necessary to make a great drink.
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