Home Bar Essentials: 7 Tips on How to Set Up and Stock a Home Bar

A well-stocked home bar is an absolute necessity for every gentleman who loves to drink with class or anyone who loves entertaining guests. This interesting piece educates you on the top home bar essentials you need so you can entertain your guests just like a pro.

Truth be told, starting your home bar can seem overwhelming to any man, but it doesn’t have to be so.

A home bar with the right home bar essentials is a gathering point in your home when you entertain. Learning the art of mixology at home is very fun – I am speaking from personal experience.

I love having friends and family come over to my place especially on weekends and holidays – plus I have an apartment that is fully equipped with the right furniture and appliances (no I’m not bragging). So I see myself playing the bartender surrounded by a group of people laughing and enjoying themselves with drinks and cocktails made by yours truly.

See gentlemen, the power of a well-mixed drink can help you impress your boss, woo a girl on a date, and make her fall for you even more, and of course, impress your friends.

I had to learn the art of mixing drinks. So, ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to announce to you that I am a ‘budding mixologist’ and a gentleman with a sweet taste for Vodka Martini (shaken not stirred) and The Old Fashioned – Mad Men’s Favorite Cocktail.

Since you have decided to join the league, I’m sure you will have this burning question in your mind. 

WHAT DRINKS DO “I” NEED FOR “MY” HOME BAR?

Gorgeous Home Bar via Instagram

First of all…

You should always remember, it’s “YOUR” home bar so just put what you are comfortable with and can afford. Here are two important guidelines to help you:

• Just start small, if you don’t have room or any place to store your home bar, keep it small and simple. Nobody will arrest you for it!
• There’s no need to make your home bar look like a liquor store, just go for the basic gentleman’s drinks. Again, start small!

Now back to the main agenda, here are my suggestions on bar essentials you need to stock your home bar with.

Home Bar Essentials: 7 Tips on How to Set Up and Stock a Home Bar

1. Cabinets/Tables

Remember those small pieces of fine furniture filled with liquors that your dad use to hang on the wall? Well, that’s what a cabinet is.

As for the home bar tables, it’s a fancy table or cart that serves as a home for your home bar essentials. But be careful if you’ve got kids.

Overall, you should know that this is not a mandatory requirement for a home bar, you can actually do without this if you’ve got a kitchen cabinet. So you don’t have to go through the trouble of installing a wall cabinet or shop for a fancy table. Use your kitchen cabinet as your home bar if you’ll like to save more!

2. Alcohol

The most important thing about a home bar is alcohol. Yes, I mean varieties of alcohol! It could be wine, gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, just name it – any kind that you can get your hands on. Besides, variety is the spice of life. 

3. Mixers

This is not a necessity but they can really come in handy if you want to mix your drinks. But if you’re starting small, you can do without it until you’re ready to take the big step!

For those who want to mix drinks, the mixers you stock in your home bar depends on the kind of cocktails you want to make. So if you’re a novice, you will need to go for the basics; coke, tonic water, Orange juice, Cranberry juice, etc.

4. Glassware

Every type of drink deserves its own glass. The shape and size of the glass play a major role on the drink tastes, so you may want to be sure which glass to get. A little advice, don’t go overboard and stick to what is really necessary. For starters, go for an old-fashioned glass, beer mugs, coups, high balls and wine glasses. For more about glassware, see our article on How to Choose the Right Glassware.

5. Garnishes

By garnishes I mean those little decorations you see on your drinks. Honestly, they are there to add a little panache to your drink or to nibble on something as you sip your drink. The type of garnish you add to a drink depends on the drink – Cocktails mostly use lime or lemon while a Gin-based tonic uses olives and onions. Remember I’m a budding mixologist.

You can just store your garnishes in a fridge if you don’t have a big bar. For your garnishes you will need; olives, onions, limes or lemons, salt, sugar and lots of ice. Never go without ice!

6. Recipe Book

You need a good mixologist recipe book. Personally, I love researching about new cocktail recipes, plus I love experimenting with different cocktails. You can find eBooks on mixology books on the internet.

7. Tools

Tools? Don’t be confused, I’m not referring to Pliers, Spanners, and Hammers.

You can’t make a good drink without the right bar tools. You will need a corkscrew, bar spoons, a cocktail shaker, strainer, juicer, funnel, straws, napkins, toothpicks for the olives etc. Now you can start mixing those drinks!

FINAL THOUGHTS

As you’ve learned today if you don’t have a storage space for a home bar, with a little creativity and effort, you can install a home bar with the right home bar essentials in a small part of your home.

Having the right alcohol, mixers and tools can make or break a party, but with these home bar essentials we’ve covered here today, you will be a master behind the bar in no time.

And maybe your place will be everybody’s favorite place to hang out! winks

I hope this inspired you to get started with your home bar today.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Always remember – The Abuse of Alcohol Is Dangerous for Your Health. Drink Responsibly. Cheers!

Until next time gentlemen – Sayonara!

Yours in Style,

Kobi O. Mbagwu (Mr. Kobi)
Founder, KOBI KOACHMAN
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KOBI KOACHMAN

My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion to change people’s lives. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

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