Stocking the Home Bar, Part 1

A work friend of mine recently purchased a home bar. Not an actual bar, as in a piece of furniture, but the alcohol itself. And he went crazy.

Thanks to the wonders of bevmo.com, my friend (who we'll call Phil) received delivery of four (4) cases of hard liquor at a cost greater than $500 but less than $1,000. Needless to say, even I think that's a bit overkill, but then again, you're reading a blog by a guy who easily could walk into a store and drop that sort of money on 5 - 10 bottles of fine scotch. Or tequila. Or bourbon. Or rum. You get the picture.

Phil's ginormous purchase got me to thinking about what I'd buy if I wanted to set up a home bar (a new one, I mean) -- enough breadth to cover most cocktail requests but with a little depth in my preferred spirits. So here's my guide to starting your own home bar.

Mixers

Obviously, a bar is only as good as the liquor being served, but unless you're drinking only martinis and scotch on the rocks, you'll be needing a few mixers. However, mixers are usually the weakest link in the home cocktail chain as most home bartenders don't give them too much thought. The essentials?

Triple Sec - The most frequently used of all the mixers. Adds orange flavor and sweetness to all manner of drinks from the ubiqitous Cosmopolitan to the Sidecar to the Margarita (and yes, I know purists would prefer just tequila, agave nectar and lime, but for our setup purposes, triple sec is a fine ingredient). Cointreau is a high-end triple sec, so if you're feeling flush or particularly ambitious, you should go that route. Grand Marnier is also an orange liqueur, but more on that later.

Vermouth - Yes, you need both dry (white) and sweet (red). Old-fashioned drinkers like a little dry vermouth in their Martinis (try it some time; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised). And Old fashioned drinkers like some sweet vermouth in their Manhattans.

Simple Syrup - Sugar and water. You'd be surprised how many drinks require this. Especially after you've broken your arm shaking drinks enough to completely dissolve the sugar listed in pretty much every drink recipe. The water in the syrup will help open the bouquets of most liquors, if you're worried about dilution. So don't be. Make the syrup yourself and save a little cash.

Sour Mix - Don't buy commercially prepared sour mix. Really, don't buy commercially prepared sour mix. You just made simple syrup; mix some of that with fresh lime and lemon juices. The difference is staggering, although it won't get properly frothy when shaken. If you miss the froth, you can always create it the old-fashioned way; add a little raw egg white to the sour mix. For those of you who prefer your drinks without salmonella but still want froth, you can add a bit of pineapple juice before shaking.

Rose's Lime Juice (and Grenadine) - Essential for a good Gimlet, useful in a Kamikazi, passable in a Cosmo. And grenadine... you can't make a Shirley Temple without grenadine. Nor can you make a Roy Rogers nor a Tequila Sunrise nor a proper Mai Tai Martini. I really do prefer the Rose's brand. They just taste better than any other brands I've had, sort of the way Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail tastes better than its competitors...

Fruit Juices - While you should keep some canned juices (pineapple and tomato keep decently well in cans and, of course, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail) on hand for emergencies and/or last-minute get-togethers, you should buy fresh (flash-pasteurized) juices whenever possible. Orange juice for Screwdrivers and Fuzzy Navels, and if I'm coming over, grapefruit juice for Salty Dogs or just Greyhounds. Also, invest in a citrus squeezer and fresh limes and lemons. Trust me, it makes a big difference.

Sodas - Small bottles of club soda, tonic water, ginger ale, Coca-Cola, Sprite and, for those who just completely missed the point of drinking in the first place, Diet Coke. Bottles are better than cans. Buying small bottles may be more expensive, but they'll work better in the long run unless you're having a big party.

Next up: liquors (not liqueurs).