Prepping The Bar
How should I organize my bar?
When organizing a bar, you should make sure that you have everything you could possibly need within reach. The easiest way to achieve that is with what we call a "speed rack." In your "speed rack" you have all of your main liquors and mixers, your ice, your "shaker", your "jigger" and your strainer so you can quickly and efficiently mix any cocktail. Glassware should also be in arms-reach and you may want to keep some napkins nearby for your guest. It's important to think about safety when you're setting up a bar; if you're making a lot of drinks, you're definitely going to spill some. The best way to stay safe around spillages is to have some kind of mat laid down that will prevent people from slipping up and causing themselves, or others, injury. One final idea would be to have a tip jar, a good bartender is going to get tips.
How should I stock my bar?
The most important thing about stocking your own bar is to use very popular, name brands. Stocking quality products is going to be key to impressing guests. Attempting to stock at least one brand from each type of liqueur is a good idea. It would be wise to stock at least one red wine, one white wine, one champagne, one scotch, one bourbon, one whisky, one cordial, etc. Always remember, you can have a huge bar and still not cover every different type of liqueur that there is. I think if you can try to stock one of each type, you'll impress your guests.
What tools will I need for my bar?
You'll need a wide variety of bar-tools if you're going to set up your own bar. The most important one is your cocktail shaker because almost all cocktails that you're going to make need to be shaken. The best way to do that is to take one large cocktail shaker and one smaller cocktail shaker, using a shaker is crucial in bartending. Another tool that you need for your bar is a bar-spoon, this is used for drinks that require stirring, not shaking. You also want to make sure you have a strainer. A strainer is used to pour shaken drinks that don't have any ice in them, this means that you can retain all the liqueur and juice/soda, but none of the ice. You'll also want to have a "jigger". A "jigger" is important for newcomers to bartending as it allows them to pour out alcohol in the correct quantities. Once people become more comfortable with serving drinks, it is no longer necessary. Another necessity for a home-bar are pourers. Pourers go on the tops of bottles and allow easy access for the bartender. Good pourers have screens inside to stop flies and other insects getting into the alcohol, this is a good idea. You'll also want a cork-screw, for your wine; a blender, if you want to do frozen drinks like Margaritas and a muddler. Muddlers are gaining popularity as drinks like Mojitos and Kipperanias are becoming very mainstream. A muddler is a long, usually wooden or plastic tool that you use to crush all of the fruit in your glass or in your shaker for some of these high-end drinks. Finally, you'll want a knife, for cutting garnishes or fruit.
