A home bar should be stocked with the essentials, such as vodka, rum, and gin plus other special mixtures.
MUST-HAVE LIQUORS
It is important to have a few basic hard liquors on hand at all time because they are versatile enough to accommodate a gamut of different drink requests. Therefore, if you find yourself entertaining unexpectedly, you will be able to relax knowing that you can definitely accommodate any basic drink requests. In fact, many of these must-haves are popularly served "on the rocks." It is important that you don't skimp on these basic liquors - go with reputable, well-known brands. There is nothing worse than the taste of vodka from a plastic bottle!
Here are the basics:
Vodka
Rum
Gin
Whiskey
Scotch
Bourbon
Tequila
SECONDARY LIQUORS
If you have the cash to expand on your selection, you should begin introducing some flavored liquors to your home bar. That way, you have the ability to make some trendier drinks and you can even start experimenting with some original recipes of your own. Visit your local liquor store, peruse the flavored liquors, and pick up some of your favorite flavors, such as vanilla or coconut rum or apple brandy.
Here are some secondary liquor suggestions:
Coffee Liqueur
Schnapps
Irish Crème
Brandy
VINO
Wine drinkers are a fickle bunch sometimes, and you can't be expected to have a wine cellar full of endless choices. Just supply your bar with the basics in wine unless you are a true wine enthusiast. Often times, your guests will bring a bottle of wine when you invite them to a dinner party, so you may not even wind up needing to use your stocked wine.
Here are the wine-stocking basics:
Red (Merlot is a popular choice here)
White (Chardonnay is a crowd-pleaser)
Blush (White Zinfandel is the best way to go for your blush)
Sparkling (Go with a dry sparkling wine that you can serve along with light desserts or use for toasting on special holidays. You could also replace your sparkling wine with champagne.)
BEER
If you are a beer lover or if most of the people that you tend to entertain generally prefer beer to wine or mixed drinks, you should keep a supply of beer at home. If your home bar doesn't have a refrigerator, keep the beer in a cooler filled with ice next to the bar so that you don't have to travel from your bar to your kitchen every time someone needs another bottle. Glass bottles are much classier than cans, and most people feel that beer just tastes better out of a glass bottle (and best out of a tap, but that's getting too elaborate for a home bar). If you are having a large group of people over, you might even consider getting a keg for the occasion. In addition to beer, you may want to keep some malt drinks in stock, such as wine coolers or hard lemonades.
In addition to your alcoholic stocking needs, you also have to stock your home bar with several other products. Mixers are very necessary for making mixed drinks, and garnishes not only add flavor, but they look great too. Here are the non-alcoholic items that you should stock your home bar with:
MIXERS
Coke
Lemon-Lime Soda
Orange Juice
Cranberry Juice
Seltzer Water
Tonic Water
Lemon Juice
Pineapple Juice
Ginger Ale
Grapefruit Juice
Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream
Sour Mix
V-8 Juice
GARNISHES
Celery
Mint Leaves
Cherries
Pineapple Wedges
Strawberries
Kiwis
Whipped Cream
Sprinkles
Lemons
Limes
MISCELLANEOUS
Ice
Cocktail Napkins
Drink Umbrellas
Straws (thin)
Coasters
Drink Fruit Skewers (some of them are shaped to look like swords)
