Thirsty for a negroni? A sloe gin fizz? Pick the right bar, and you’ll get a righteous one.
But you don’t need to head to a good saloon to quench that classic-
cocktail desire.
Make your own. With practice, you’ll be concocting just about anything, which will make you extremely popular. You might have competition, though.
“There are more people nowadays having cocktail parties featuring classic cocktails,” says Yuri Kato, the New York publisher of the website cocktailtimes.com. “They are loving the retro culture.”
It doesn’t take much to create a home bar, Kato says. Just don’t forget a jigger or some other device to measure ingredients.
“It is your responsibility to make sure everybody is going home safely,” she says. “You want to make sure you aren’t overserving your guests.”
To build your own bar, says Kato, you’ll need barware, glassware, liquor, liqueurs, mixers and condiments.
When in doubt, she says, go natural. Use fresh apple juice rather than an apple liqueur. Instead of Bailey’s Irish Cream, make your own using cream, whiskey, coffee and chocolate.
– Douglas Brown
…
A well-stocked bar
Barware
Cocktail shaker
Bar spoon
Citrus reamer/juicer
Jigger
Muddler
Strainer
Glassware
Highball
Old-fashioned
Collins
Martini
Liqueur
Amaretto
Grand Marnier
Sweet vermouth
Dry vermouth
Liquor
Scotch
Bourbon
Whiskey
Vodka
Gin
Rum
Tequila
Brandy
Mixers
Orange juice
Lime juice
Lemon juice
Club soda
Tonic water
Tomato juice
Coconut cream
Pineapple juice
Grapefruit juice
Simple syrup
Condiments
Bitters
(regular and orange)
Grenadine
Hot sauce
Superfine sugar
Salt
Ground black pepper
Eggs
Cream (heavy and light)
Nutmeg
Ground cinnamon
Garnishes
Olives
Lime
Lemon
Cherries
Pineapple
Cocktail onions
Fresh mint
