When setting up your home bar, always use popular name brands. These brands aren't always the most expensive, but they tend to be the most recognizable and your guests will get a quality product.
The basic setup
A basic bar setup for your home and for spur-of-the-moment entertaining should consist of the following:
One 750 ml bottle of the aperitif of your choice (Campari, Dubonnet, Lillet, and so on)
One 750 ml bottle of sparkling wine or champagne
Four 750 ml bottles of white domestic wine
Two 750 ml bottles of red domestic wine
One 750 ml bottle of dry vermouth
One 750 ml bottle of sweet vermouth
One 750 ml bottle of flavored vodka (stick to orange, lemon, raspberry, or vanilla flavor)
One 750 ml bottle of vodka (domestic)
One 250 ml bottle of vodka (imported)
One 750 ml bottle of gin (domestic or imported)
One 750 ml bottle of rum
One 750 ml bottle of Scotch
One 750 ml bottle of single-malt Scotch
One 750 ml bottle of whiskey (domestic or imported)
One 750 ml bottle of bourbon
One 750 ml bottle of tequila
One 750 ml bottle of brandy or cognac
Twelve 12 oz. bottles of beer (domestic or imported)
Three 750 ml bottles of the cordials of your choice (such as Irish cream, coffee liqueur or Kahlúa, Grand Marnier, triple sec, Cointreau, Sambuca, white or green crème de menthe, Galliano, B&B, Frangelico, amaretto, peach schnapps, and so on)
The approximate cost to set up this bar is between $500 and $600 if you're using domestic and local brands. If you use premium brands, add 20 to 30 percent.
Use mostly premium brands. You don't want your guests thinking that you'd serve them anything but the best.
A more complete bar
If you plan to serve more than the basics at your bar, add the following items to the basic bar:
One 750 ml bottle of Russian or imported vodka
Two 750 ml bottles of flavored vodka (such as lemon, orange, vanilla, or raspberry)
One 750 ml bottle of imported gin
One 750 ml bottle of dark rum
One 750 ml bottle of coconut-flavored rum
One 750 ml or 1.5 liter bottle of 12 year old Scotch
One 750 ml or 1.5 liter bottle of single-malt Scotch
One 750 ml bottle of Irish whiskey
One 750 ml bottle of Canadian whisky
One 750 ml bottle of Tennessee whiskey
One 750 ml bottle of gold tequila
One 750 ml or 1.5 liter bottle of V.S. or V.S.O.P. cognac
One 750 ml bottle of port (imported)
One 750 ml bottle of cream sherry
One 750 ml bottle of Italian red wine
One 750 ml bottle of French Bordeaux
One 750 ml bottle of French Burgundy
One 750 ml bottle of California white wine
One 750 ml bottle of French champagne (nonvintage)
Two 750 ml bottles of cordials
Twelve 12 oz. bottles of imported beer
Six 12 oz. bottles of light beer
Six 12 oz. bottles of ale
The added cost of these items is about $500 to $600.
The ultimate bar
If money is no object and you want the most complete home bar, add the following items to the lists above:
Three 750 ml bottles of flavored vodka (such as lemon, orange, vanilla, or raspberry)
One 750 ml bottle of imported or super-premium domestic vodka
One 750 ml bottle of 15 year old single-malt Scotch
One 750 ml bottle of V.S.O.P. cognac
One 750 ml bottle of armagnac
One 750 ml or 1.5-liter bottle of imported brandy (from Germany, Spain, or Portugal)
One 750 ml bottle of dark rum
One 750 ml or 1.5-liter bottle of flavored rum
One 750 ml or 1.5-liter bottle of gold tequila
Two 750 ml bottles of cordials
Two 750 ml bottles of vintage imported champagne
Two 750 ml bottles of domestic champagne
Two 750 ml bottles of French Bordeaux
Two 750 ml bottles of French Burgundy
Two 750 ml bottles of robust Italian red wine (Barolo)
Two 750 ml bottles of California white wine
Two 750 ml bottles of California red wine
One 750 ml bottle of German white wine
Six 12-oz. bottles of assorted microbrews
Six cans (sizes vary depending on brand) of an energy drink (such as Red Bull or Rockstar)
The added cost of the ultimate bar is roughly $600 to $700.
Mixers and other supplies
You need one 2 liter bottle of the following mixers for every five guests:
Cola or diet cola
Cranberry juice
Energy drinks (Red Bull and Monster in original and sugar-free varieties)
Ginger ale
Grapefruit juice
Lemon juice or lemon mix
Lemon-Lime soda
Lime juice
Orange juice
Pineapple juice
Pomegranate juice
Seltzer water or club soda
Tomato juice
Tonic water
You also need the following fruits and garnishes:
Lemon twists
Lime and lemon wedges
Maraschino cherries
Olives
Orange slices
Finally, don't forget these items:
Angostura bitters
Salt and pepper
Superfine sugar
Tabasco sauce
Worcestershire sauce