© Kolya Korzh / Unsplash.comA basic bar setup for a limited budget
Setting up a home bar can become quite confusing and costly. There are a variety of spirits and liquors available today, and you want to start with the essentials! For simple entertaining purposes, even on a limited budget, stock these items first:
| One 750 ml bottle of gin | One 750 ml bottle of whiskey (bourbon, rye, Irish, or Canadian) |
| One 750 ml bottle of light or dark rum | One 750 ml bottle of blended scotch |
| One 750 ml bottle of blanco tequila | One 750 ml bottle of white domestic wine |
| One 750 ml bottle of vodka | One 750 ml bottle of red domestic wine |
| One 750 ml bottle of brandy or cognac | Twelve 12-oz. bottles of beer (domestic or imported) and 12 cans of hard seltzer |
| Three 750 ml bottles of the liqueurs and cordials of your choice (suggestions include Irish cream or coffee liqueur, an orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier, a sweet or dry vermouth, amaretto, Chambord, Frangelico, and St-Germain) | One 750 ml bottle of nonalcoholic spirit or twelve 12-oz. bottles of nonalcoholic beer |
Supplies for any contingency
If you plan on serving a variety of cocktails, you need some supplies, including the following mixers, garnishes, bar tools, and glasses.
You’ll need one bottle of the following mixers for every five guests:
| Cola or diet cola | Lime juice |
| Cranberry juice | No-alcohol spirit
Orange juice |
| Energy drinks
Ginger ale |
Pineapple juice
Pomegranate juice |
| Grapefruit juice | Seltzer water or club soda |
| Grenadine | Tomato juice |
| Ginger Beer | Tonic water |
| Lemon-lime soda | |
| Lemon juice | |
You also need these fruits, garnishes, and seasonings:
| Aromatic bitters
Lemon and orange twists |
Salt and pepper |
| Lime and lemon wedges | Simple syrup or superfine sugar |
| Maraschino cherries | Tabasco sauce |
| Olives | Worcestershire sauce |
| Orange slices |
These bar tools make for easier cocktail creation:
| One cocktail shaker | One Hawthorne strainer |
| One mixing glass | One Julep strainer |
| One bar spoon | One jigger |
| One corkscrew | One handled citrus juicer |
Here are the glasses that you should have on hand:
| Six 16 oz. pint glasses | Six 12 oz. Collins glasses |
| Four rocks glasses | Four white wine glasses |
| Four coupe glasses | Four red wine glasses |
| Six shot glasses | Four Champagne flutes |
Classic cocktail recipes that are great for all occasions
The cocktail recipes listed here are classics for a reason — they taste good. Whether you’re a professional bartender or someone who likes to make cocktails at home, you should learn to make these classic recipes.
Bloody Mary
This cocktail is probably the most famous of the “hair of the dog” morning-after concoctions.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 4 oz. tomato juice
- Dash Worcestershire sauce
- Dash Tabasco sauce
- Dash salt and pepper
- Dash lemon juice
- Celery stalk for garnish
Pour vodka over ice in a glass. Fill with tomato juice. Add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and Tabasco sauce. Stir and garnish with a celery stalk.
For those who enjoy their Bloody Marys spicy, add more Tabasco or even horseradish.
Cosmopolitan
The most popular drink of the new millennium.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. citron vodka
- ¾ oz. Cointreau
- ¾ oz. lime juice
- ½ oz. cranberry juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lime wheel.
Daiquiri
While this drink is often thought of frozen, the classic shaken version is delicious and offers a lot of fun variations.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. light rum
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- Lime twist for garnish
Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
Espresso Martini
This modern classic is one of the most popular cocktails and has a lot of dessert-like variations.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1/2 oz. coffee liqueur
- 1 oz. espresso
- 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- Coffee beans for garnish
Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
Manhattan
A popular classic cocktail that was created at the Manhattan club in New York City.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. rye whiskey
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Cherry for garnish
Add all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Margarita
A great drink for a hot summer day.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 oz. sweet and sour mix or lime juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Shake ingredients with ice or blend ingredients with crushed ice. Serve in a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Martini
A simple and elegant classic.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive for garnish
Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or an olive.
Mojito
This classic muddled cocktail is a great summer sip!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. rum
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- 1/2 lime to make 3/4 oz. lime juice
- 8–10 mint leaves
- 1/4 oz. club soda
- Lime wedge and fresh mint for garnish
Combine simple syrup, lime, and mint. Muddle ingredients to extract the juice of the limes. Fill glass halfway with crushed ice. Add rum and stir to combine. Top with more crushed ice and club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint.
Negroni
This classic cocktail is from Italy. It has been said that it was originally a stronger riff on the Americano, which replaces the soda water with gin.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnish
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with an orange peel.
Old Fashioned
You will have a warm summer glow after this one!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1/4 oz. simple syrup
- 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel or maraschino cherry for garnish
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into rocks glass and garnish with either orange peel or maraschino cherry.
White Russian
If you’re watching calories, you can use whole milk or half-and-half rather than cream. Skim and 2 percent milk produce unsatisfactory results. The Dude in The Big Lebowski settled for nondairy creamer powder in one scene; that option is for emergencies only.
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 oz. vodka
- 1/2 oz. Kahlúa
- 1/2 oz. cream
Shake ingredients and serve over ice in a rocks glass.