Essentials for Your at-Home Wet Bar or Bar Cart

Adding a bar cart to your home enables you to make fancy cocktails for your guests and adds a bit of vintage charm to any room. If you have the bar cart but don’t have the supplies to go on it, this list of home bar essentials can help.

  • Cocktail shaker. Invest in a high quality cocktail shaker made of a durable material like stainless steel. This will help you to mix drinks thoroughly and to pour them without spills.
  • Bottle opener and corkscrew. If you or your guests prefer wine and beer to a complex cocktail, these basic tools will come in handy.
  • Wine glasses, martini glasses, highballs, and tumblers. These are the necessary glasses for just about any drink you’ll make.
  • Blender. It’s not possible to make an icy margarita without a high quality blender, so be sure to keep one stored under your bar cart.
  • Cocktail strainer. These tools strain out pulp, ice, and other solids from cocktails while letting your booze pass easily into a glass.
  • Cutting board and knives. If you frequently garnish drinks with lemons, limes, and other fruits, keep an arsenal of sharp knives and a reliable cutting board on hand.
  • Coasters. You’ll never worry about guests ruining your wooden furniture when you have a supply of coasters in your bar cart.

The Guide to A Well-Stocked Wet Bar [Esquire]
25 Essentials for a Legit Home Bar [Complex]
10 Things You Should Have in Your Home Bar [Buzzle]

Signature Cocktails: Make Your Next Party Great!

It’s the small details that make celebrations truly memorable. To impress your guests, delight them with the thoughtful details, like signature cocktails! Signature cocktails are a fun and easy way to set the tone for your next party. Not only that, but it will save you from setting up a full bar! Your guests will love sipping on your signature concoction as they mix and mingle.

Enhance the Theme
Make  sure your signature drink fits the overall feel of the party. For example, if you’re preparing a meal with a Mexican flair, opt for a Margarita or Sangria. Or, if you’re going for a swanky feel, be sure your signature cocktail includes a classy ingredient like champagne.

Make in Advance
The last thing you want is to be mixing drinks all night when you should be enjoying your party! Make a pitcher (or two) of your signature cocktail in advance to save you from playing bartender.

Crowd Pleaser
Make sure you choose a cocktail that will delight a variety of palates – meaning stay away from anything too obscure or too strong. A hint of citrus or a tinge of sweetness is often a good way to go, like a vodka & cranberry spritzer with lime.

Don’t Forget the Garnish
Nothing makes a cocktail feel classier than a little garnish. Think about what would pair well with your drink, and make sure it’s available to your guests – a few berries in the bottom of a champagne flute or a lemon twist to brighten a martini.

Cheers!

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