How To...

How To Stock a Home Bar

Are you an aspiring bartender? Looking to throw an event at your home? SYRUP Magazine has put together a simple step-by-step "How To" on Stocking a Home Bar.

Stocking a home bar depends on a variety of different factors. For example, what are the alcohol preferences of your future patrons, how much space is available in your bar and how much money are you willing to spend? Below is a list of basic liquors, liqueurs, wine, beer, mixers, and bar mixes. These are essential tools of the trade, and you may alter the list as necessary, but keep in mind the guest's tastes.

Basic Liquors:
  • Vodka – (Absolut or Skyy)
  • Gin - (Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire)
  • Rum – you should have three different types (1) dark – (Myers's Rum), (2) light – (Bacardi), (3) spiced – (Captain Morgan's)
  • Whiskey – (Jack Daniel's)
  • Bourbon – (Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, Jim Beam)
  • Brandy – (Hennessey, Courvoisier, Remy Martin)
  • Scotch – (Cutty Sark, Johnnie Walker, J&B)
  • Tequila – (Jose Cuervo, Sauza Comemerativo, Patron Silver)
Liqueurs:
  • Schnapps – (Peach, Apple, Butterscotch, Midori)
  • Crème's – (Crème de Menthe, Banana)
  • Brandies – (Cherry, Blackberry)
  • Others – (Kahlua, Jagermeister, Rumple Mintz, Frangelico, Chambord)
  • Orange Flavored Liqueurs .
Wine:

It's hard to keep every taste bud happy. So, it's a good idea to have a good bottle of Merlot and Chardonnay.

Beer:

As the same with wine, beer really depends on the tastes of your guests. Depending on the amount of people you are entertaining, keep a small selection of beer such as, Corona, Budweiser and Coors. The bigger the party, the more variety you should include: Sam Adams, Heineken, Guinness, and Becks.

Including non-alcoholic beer is also a good idea. Some of your guests may prefer the taste value, rather than the amount of alcohol content.

A new arena you might want to test are "Clear Malts", such as, Skyy Blue, Schmirnoff, and Bacardi Silver.

Mixers:
  • Cola – (Coke or Pepsi)
  • Diet Cola – (Coke or Pepsi)
  • Sprite/7up
  • Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, and Club Soda
  • Pineapple Juice
  • Orange Juice
  • Cranberry Juice
  • Grapefruit Juice
Bar Mixes:
  • Sour Mix – You can either buy it bottle or powder form.
  • Margarita Mix
  • Bloody Mary Mix