While you may have designated your weekend to explore the best bars around the city, there is nothing as satisfying as your own cocktail den. You can make yourself those favorite drinks and even call up a few close friends to enjoy the time together.
Contrary to popular belief, establishing a home bar does not have to be a very expensive endeavor. You do have the option to choose from a variety of affordable freezers, spirits, mixers, and tools for display along with your favorite scotch and wine; and not breaking the bank each time.
Besides, you don’t really need a separate room for that. Just identify the ideal, unused space of your living room and use the following tips to convert it into your private nook –
- Place a Bar Trolley
Gold-tone bar carts are the hottest trend right now. They can be bought in any size to fit with your space and makes a great ‘area on the wheels’ to mix a drink and serve the guests. But because these are usually open from all sides, you need to keep them organized all the time and not leave the items scattered or put messily.
- Repurpose your Old Console Table
If you have cabinetry, console table, or a sideboard lying ideal in your home, you can use it to store all those essential bar tools. Inside the drawers, you can store the accessories, and on the tabletop, you can put your beautiful wine bottles and delicate glasses to flaunt. You can also place some decorative items for an added interest.
- Think of Variety
You may have a particular choice for liquor, but if your bar is filled with bottles of the same, there is too little to experiment with. On the other hand, if you have a good blend of rum, brandy, scotch, wine, and essential bitters, you can try out so many different versions of cocktails. However, you don’t have to buy your inventory in one go. Start with your preferred choices and expand your collection with time.
- Buy Appropriate Tools
If you are more interested in making cocktails, there is plenty of things you might have to buy. Soda siphon, a vacuum sealer, muddler, jigger, shaker and strainer are some of the essential barware you need to consider. Whenever you do, buy them from professional suppliers whose both quality and design is A-grade. Anything fit for commercial use would work great in your home bar too.
- Store the Liquor Right
If you wish to store your liquor for a long time, you must keep it in a cool, dark place. Keep it away from direct sunlight at all costs and closed as tightly as possible. Also, if the liquid level starts going low, consume it at the earliest so that the air doesn’t impact its taste and flavors. If you are fond of wine, I would advise investing in a wine cooler to prolong its shelf life.
