Your Cocktail Corner
By Maddy Pontz
Having a well-stocked, beautifully-designed home bar is a dream for many. And yet, it can feel overwhelming – both financially and practically – to achieve. But with a few tips to get you started, you’ll soon be shaking up delicious margaritas and serving classy martinis from the comfort of your own home.
Pick Your Vibe
Based on your personal interior design preferences, as well as the amount of space in your home that you have to dedicate to your bar, you might need to get creative.
For example: Are you a big fan of Midcentury modern who is also living in a relatively small apartment? We suggest thrifting a bar cart! It might take you a bit to find the perfect piece, but local vintage shops, antique and flea markets, and thrift stores are all good places to start. When the bar cart itself is a stunner, you won’t need to do much else to make it shine.
Shop Essentials
Shakers, strainers, muddlers… oh, my! It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the number of bar tools available – and don’t even get us started on the gorgeous glassware on the market!
Instead, start simple. Every at-home bar can begin with three simple tools, all of which you’ll be able to find anywhere from Target to a fine goods shop:
A cocktail shaker – to combine and get those drinks chilly
A jigger – to measure properly
A strainer – to keep each drink smooth and delicious
From there, build out your tools of the trade with things like a muddler, a bar spoon, a citrus juicer, and more.
Stock Your Bar
A trip to the liquor store can quickly become overwhelming – rows and rows of bottles are available to you… but how can you tell which are the good ones?
Go easy on yourself by simply stocking those liquors and mixers that are generally considered to be the essentials – vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, and tequila, plus sodas, simple syrup, and bitters.
Experiment, Experiment, Experiment
The only way to learn what you like is to experiment – so have fun, attempt cocktail recipes old and new, and discover your favorite. Cheers!
