10 things every home bar needs
Five spirits, a few mixers, fresh citrus and the right tools make almost any classic cocktail. Here’s the checklist, plus the two upgrades that change the whole setup: better ice and a proper place to keep it all.
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I · The short versionQuick picks for a first home bar
| No. | Pick | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tools in one boxBartender kit with stand $$$$ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
| 2 | Glass you’ll use mostGlencairn whisky glass, set of 2 $$$$ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
| 3 | Martini nightRiedel Vinum XL martini glasses $$$$ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
| 4 | Big upgrade: iceGE Profile Opal 2.0 nugget ice maker $$$$ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
| 5 | Big upgrade: a real barARTPOWER bar cabinet with wine racks $$$$ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
II · The checklistThe ten things, in the order you’ll need them
01 Five base spirits
Vodka, gin, rum, tequila and whiskey cover nearly every classic cocktail. Buy mid-shelf bottles you’d sip on their own; you can specialize later. (We don’t link to alcohol. Buy it locally.)
02 Mixers
Tonic, club soda, ginger beer, cola and cranberry juice. Small cans beat big bottles because they stay fizzy. Want something less ordinary? See unconventional mixers.
03 Citrus
Lemons and limes, every time, plus an orange for twists. Fresh juice is the single biggest upgrade over bottled sour mix.
04 Simple syrup
Equal parts sugar and hot water, stirred until clear. It keeps about a month in the fridge.
05 Bitters
A bottle of aromatic bitters turns whiskey and sugar into an Old Fashioned. Pick it up wherever you buy spirits.
06 Bar tools
Shaker, jigger, strainer, muddler and a long bar spoon. Buying them as a set is cheaper than one at a time, and a stand keeps them off the counter: bartender kit with stand. Why the spoon matters more than you think: the bar spoon guide.
07 Good ice
Big cubes for spirits, crushed or nugget ice for juleps and tiki drinks. If your bar runs on ice, a countertop nugget machine is the upgrade guests notice. Owners of the GE Profile Opal 2.0 love the ice but say to use distilled water and descale it, or it gets loud. The Silonn is the budget alternative; owners like the ice but report grinding noises and mixed long-term reliability.
08 Glassware
Highballs, rocks glasses, a pair of coupes or martini glasses and a nosing glass for whiskey cover it. Start with Glencairn whisky glasses, the default tasting glass on r/Scotch, and Riedel Vinum martini glasses. More ideas: stylish glassware.
09 Garnishes
Cocktail cherries, olives, citrus twists and cocktail onions. Keep jars in the fridge door and a sharp paring knife nearby.
10 Somewhere to put it all
A cart works for a dozen bottles. Past that, a cabinet hides the clutter and keeps light off your bottles. Owners of the ARTPOWER bar cabinet report one to two hours of assembly and quick replacement parts when something arrives damaged. Prefer a cart? The Linon Gina gold bar cart has locking casters and mirrored shelves. See all of them in bar carts and cabinets.
III · Asked oftenFAQ
What should I buy first for a home bar?
Tools and ice before more bottles. A shaker, jigger and strainer plus good ice improve every drink you make with the bottles you already own.
Do I need a recipe book?
It helps. Pick one classic-cocktail book and work through it; you’ll learn which bottles you actually use before you buy more.
Keep reading: Bar carts & cabinets · The bar spoon · The hydration station