While We're At It: My Bar Essentials

A well-stocked bar, like a well-stocked kitchen, says something about a person - mostly that they’ve thought ahead, but also that they probably enjoy a good balance in life. After all, the term “work hard, play hard” wasn’t born out of nowhere. 

Here’s the thing though: this list isn’t a mandate to drink more. If anything, it’s the opposite. The beauty of a good bar setup is it makes it easier to drink well, rather than to drink in excess. Because that’s what it should be about, actually enjoying what you’re drinking, not drinking for the sake of it. That’s why you’ll seldom - if ever - find me with a vodka soda in hand. 

So, here you have a slightly less robust list of the tools, spirits, and mixers I like to have on hand for myself, and for my guests. And if you don’t drink, then at the very least, much of this list applies just as well to mocktails - or you can use it as a reference point for the booze hounds in your life. Either way, cheers! 

The Importance of Good Glassware

Before we dive in, I'd like to state with complete conviction that good glassware is one of, if not the, most important part of a good bar setup. You don't have to invest in top of the line pieces - though if you can and want, I encourage it (and I'll invite myself over to help you break them in) - but finding the right pieces, whatever that may look like for you, is the real trick.

So, let's break down the glassware.

• Wine glasses

  • Sparkling, White, Burgundy, and Bordeaux - I love the Riedel Extreme collection, the LSA Wine Culture collection's White Wine Glass and Red Wine Grand Glass are equally fabulous, but Fable makes my favourite, more approachable glassware

• Champagne flutes & coupes

  • As much as I love a traditional champagne flute (and find the bubbles stay firmer longer), a set of mismatched champagne coupes - used for champagne or cocktails - is a really sexy addition to a bar setup. Credit to JoJo by Jean George in NYC for allowing me to discover this!

• Martini glasses

  • Riedel Extreme, LSA Borough, or anything Sophie Lou Jacobsen if you fancy some colour

• Nick & Nora glasses

  • Vintage is chic here! Use for gimlets, paper planes, manhattans, etc.

• Rocks glasses & tumblers

  • For negronis, old fashioneds, and margaritas

Tools & Accoutrements

• A lovely (and functional) bottle opener

• A very good stainless steel cocktail shaker

• An artistic shaker or stirrer for display and occasional use if your bar setup is on display

• Cocktail making tools

  • Strainer

  • Jigger

  • Stirrer

  • Muddler

• Martini picks

• Ice moulds - ideally, large squares and spheres

• An ice bucket for serving champagne and white wine

• A good decanter

Spirits & Liqueurs

Any drinker will likely tell you there are 1-2 spirits they lean toward, and at least one they avoid altogether. That being said, a bar setup is to please both you and your guests, so really, having a wide array is your best bet.

My top picks for each are as follows:

• Vodka - I am not a vodka girl, but given 80% of my friend's are, it's an essential in my house

  • Grey Goose, or a locally distilled find - I won't bother listing others because if I'm having vodka, there is only one right answer

• Gin - I am, however, a gin girl. And I have strong opinions on which gins suit which purpose

  • Tanqueray No. Ten or Botanist for dry martinis and vespers

  • Hendricks or Monkey 47 for G&T's

  • Botanist, Hendricks, or Citadelle for Gimlets

  • Citadelle or any locally distilled find for anyone who asks for a "filthy" martini

• Tequila & Mezcal

  • Patron Silver or Casamigos Blanco for shots

  • Casamigos Anejo for casual sipping, neat or on ice

  • Espolon or Olmeca Altos Blanco for margaritas

  • Don Julio 1942 if it's on someone else's tab

  • Jose Cuervo if you have a death wish - I'm kidding, avoid at all costs

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• Rum - I will drink one rum and one rum only, and it's this one

  • Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva for sipping

• Whisky, Scotch & Bourbon - I prefer Bourbon, but they each have their own place in the world

  • Nikka From The Barrel, Hibiki, or Yamazaki whisky for sipping

  • Dalmore Scotch Whisky for sipping

  • Woodford Reserve or Bulleit bourbon for cocktails

  • Basil Hayden bourbon for sipping

• Brandy

  • Grappa - there are many wonderful options and trying different ones is half the fun

• Liqueurs - even more essential than many of the aforementioned, IMO.

  • Noilly Prat

  • Vermouth Rosso

  • Aperol

  • Campari

  • St Germain

  • Lillet

  • Amaro Nonino

  • Cointreau

  • Grand Marnier

  • Chartreuse

  • Amarula - reigns supreme over Bailey's in my book

  • Kahlúa - sometimes the only way through is with an espresso martini, ok?

While not a spirit or a liqueur, I'm also a firm believer that having a good Port on hand for after dinner is never a bad idea. Nor is a good sake pairing for that Japanese takeaway.

Garnishes

• Martini olives & brine

  • Castelvetrano or Nocellara are the best olives for martinis of any kind

  • Perello and Queen Green olives have the best olives and brine for pungent dirty martinis

• Amarena Fabbri cherries in syrup for old fashioneds and Manhattans

• Bitters

  • Angostura and other variations to level up martinis & anything else, really

• Fresh citrus

  • Lemon, grapefruit, and orange rinds for vespers and martinis

  • Wedges for spritz's

• Coarse salt & Tajin for margarita rims

• Simple syrup

  • Go the traditional route with 1:1 sugar and water ratio, honey and hot water route for a quick & tasty solution to a syrup shortage, or get creative with flavouring here

    • Almost all creative cocktails have worked infusions into the simple syrup itself, if not in the actual spirit

• Tonic & sparkling water

  • Fever Tree Mediterranean for all intensive tonic purposes

  • San Pellegrino for spritz's

• Herbs & things

  • Level up basic cocktails with herbal infusions

  • Jalapenos for spicy margaritas are a non-negotiable