Basic Home Bar

Given the economy, and the fact that sometimes it's just nicer to enjoy a quiet drink at home, now might be a good time to think about setting up a basic home bar. You ought to be able to get the "starter set" for between a $100.00 and $125.00. That should give you the basic bartending equipment and glassware you need to make most cocktails for you and a couple of friends—but not for a large party. In another post, we'll talk about how to stock the bar with enough alcohol and mixers to begin, without going broke. I'm including ballpark prices here from online retailers, but I'm not linking to the pages. I'll include enough data that you can, if you wish, find the specific product, but honestly, I expect you'll do better shopping locally—especially after adding in the cost of shipping. I'll talk about tools first, and then glassware.

Tools

The right tool for a task is absolutely crucial to performing the job at hand not only competently, but with style. There aren't a terrible lot of bartending tools you'll need, especially starting out. I'm not going to send you out to buy a special daiquiri blender, for example—but there are a couple of odds and ends you should keep close to hand.

Cocktail shaker

You really do need a shaker to make Martinis, Cosmopolitans, Bloody Marys, and pretty much anything you want to serve very cold, but not on the rocks. This is very much a case of having the right tool for the job—and honestly, even though there are other methods you can use to chill drinks, nothing else is as simple and elegant, and nothing else works quite as well or as swiftly. A shaker is useful for thoroughly mixing ingredients, too. Target's "Oneida" shaker is under $20.00 online, and there are a number of other options in the same range.

Muddle

A number of drinks call for lemon, or lime, or orange, or mint, that have been "muddled," or gently crushed. Typically this arcane ritual takes place in the bottom of a glass, and often, you'll need to "muddle" the citrus or other ingredients with a little sugar. You can use an ordinary pestle and a heavy short glass, or you can buy a wooden muddle for about $7.00, like the "Wooden Bar Cocktail Muddler" at Amazon.

Cork screw and bottle opener

You probably already have a corkscrew and a bottle opener in your kitchen. But consider purchasing a second one specifically for your home-bartending needs—especially if you set your bar up somewhere away from easy access to the kitchen. You can spend well over a hundred dollars on a fancy bottle opener, but you'll be fine with a waiter-style corkscrew. It's the basic metal insertable screw, with a lever, that you'll find waiters all over the world using. It's a good idea to get one that has a small blade for trimming the foil from bottles, and there are also those that have a built in bottle opener at one end. You will want a bottle opener, but again, you don't need anything fancy. You might look for one that has a point for piercing cans, too. It comes in useful for things like opening a can of coconut cream. You can find a waiter's style corkscrew for $5.00 to $10.00. You can find a utilitarian bottle opener for under $5.00.

Glassware

Now let's talk about the basic glassware you'll need to serve different kinds of drinks not only with style, but in glasses that will both aesthetically and practically complement the spirits served within.

Shot glasses

These are useful not only for pouring shots, but for serving liqueurs, and for measuring. 1.5 ounces is a good standard size, but the 2.0 ounces are good for the "special" shots that have a float or a garnish, or for a "double." Again, plain glass is just fine, and you don't need a suite. A set of 8, four of each size, should be adequate, and you should be able to find them for about 20.00. Remember, you want the right size; the appearance doesn't really matter so much, unless you feel you really, really need shot glasses with your favorite team logo emblazoned on the side. In that case, do what you have to do.

Burgundy glasses

Burgundy glasses, at about 14 ounces with a sort of "balloon" shape, will work for serving table wine and for drinks like daiquiris. There are a number of lovely and very affordable styles available for under $12.00.

Old fashioned or Rocks glasses

You need a rocks glass for spirits served "on the rocks," neat, or the "and" drinks, like rum and coke. I favor the Galassia "Double Old Fashioned" glasses from Bed Bath and Beyond at 4 for $6.00, though there are any number of alternatives available for between $6.00 and $12.00 for a set of several glasses.

Highball glasses

Tom Collins, Bloody Marys, and most multi-shot drinks, all need a tall, "highball" style glass—though if you're a beer drinker, a pilsner glass is a nice way to serve a Bloody Mary. I like Galassia "Coolers" from Bed Bath and Beyond at four for $6.00. They're companion glasses to the Galassia "Double Old Fashioned" glasses. You might even find yourself pouring a beer into one of these.

Martini glasses

You really can't serve a martini in anything but a martini glass; it's not only traditional, but it's important both for presentation and flavor. Plus, you can use the same glass for a margarita, and it won't be a big deal. You do want to buy a glass that can stand up to cold; possibly even being stuck in the freezer. That means you need to be prepared to pay a bit more. There's a set of Luigi Bormioli Parma 9-1/2-ounce Martini, a set of four, for 25.00 at Amazon.

If you're feeling flush, or if beer is your particular love, you can add steins, pilsner glasses, and lager glasses to your barware for serving various beers. Brandy snifters for cognac and brandies are another logical choice. There are specific wine glasses for every conceivable sort of wine, too. On the bright side, while it might seem like the list just gets longer and longer, the next time someone asks what you want for Christmas, you'll have a ready and affordable answer. Plus, think about how much fun you'll have testing each and every glass . . .