Creating Your Home Bar: Must-Have Essentials and Tips

A night out in the town can be expensive, so why not bring the experience home? Creating a bar in your home is the ultimate hosting power move. Whether you’re a beginning bartender or a mixologist connoisseur, creating your ideal setup requires a few simple steps. Joe Canal’s in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, has a large inventory of home bar essentials. Here, we discuss the must-haves for your home bar and explore important tips to help make it happen.

Proper Glassware

The type of glassware you serve your drinks in plays a significant role in how you and your guests enjoy the beverages. Different barware is designed to complement the various aromas and flavors of cocktails and spirits. Additionally, drink glasses help to elevate the look of your home bar.

The different types of barware you need to get started include:

• Wine glasses: Correct wine etiquette requires wine to be served in a proper glass. While there are several types of wine glasses, choosing a universal option covers your bases.
• Rocks glasses: This barware staple is ideal for sipping spirits and cocktails. Short and wide in stature, you create your concoction right inside the rocks glass.
• Pint glasses and beer mugs: Serve beer as intended with pint glasses and beer mugs. The wider top allows the beer to release aromatics and gives room for the head.

The Right Supplies

A homeowner who wishes to create a personal cocktail bar will first need the proper supplies:

Bar Tools

Crafting certain cocktails and other mixed drinks requires special tools of the trade. To ensure you’re able to serve your guests their favorite drinks, stock your home bar with these bar supplies:

• Shaker
• Strainer
• Pitcher
• Bar spoon
• Jigger

Garnishes

To take your home bar to the next level, have garnishes on hand to serve with your drinks. Some to consider include:

• Olives
• Lemon and lime wedges
• Maraschino cherries
• Rosemary and mint

Mixers

Mixers enhance flavor and add color to your creations. Some mixers to have on hand with your home bar include:

• Simple syrup
• Bitters
• Club soda
• Tonic water
• Pineapple, orange, and cranberry juice

Keep Space and Storage in Mind

Where you choose to place your home bar is critical. For example, placing your home bar in a secluded area of your home can take away its pizzazz. You will want to designate space for your home bar setup where you do most of your entertainment. The living area, dining room, and off of the kitchen are good areas to consider.

Storing your bar tools and essentials is an important component of creating your home bar. Having them within reach allows you to remain engaged with your guests and not have to walk away to gather the necessary supplies. Cabinets or shelving make great storage solutions for at-home bars. Homeowners with limited space can use bar carts or other small pieces of furniture to fashion a unique design for their home bar.

Finishing Touches

Homeowners can round out their home bar with finishing touches to make it one-of-a-kind. Cocktail-inspired artwork, plants, and lighting can help elevate the aesthetics of your home bar. Don’t forget about coasters, cocktail napkins, and ice. Your guests will appreciate these small details.

Essential Liquors for Your Home Bar at Joe Canal’s

No home bar is complete without a good selection of spirits, wines, and beer to serve. Stocking your home bar with different alcoholic beverages will allow you to broaden your palate and serve up more drinks to your guests. Joe Canal’s prides itself on offering a large selection of spirits and more. For instance, consider the assortment of beverages we offer to stock your home bar:

• Vodka
• Gin
• Whiskey
• Rum
• Tequila
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Hard seltzer
• American light lager
• IPA

We welcome everyone to view our complete selection of premium liquors at our Lawrenceville, NJ location. To make stocking your home bar even easier, we ship wine and spirits to customers throughout the Garden State. Contact us today to learn more about our home bar essentials.