Beginners Home Bar Guideline

  The Academy of Professional Bartending School in  Westchester County NY

Welcome to our ongoing Bartending series. These articles are here to provide the novice   as well as the veteran bartender prepare drinks , learn new techniques and a general 1 stop shop for anything and everything to do with the bartenders world .

Here at the Academy, we teach you the skills and methods with emphasis on the art and craft of preparing cocktails . We teach and help you develop the  necessary speed and knowledge of all the favorite cocktails . We encourage that with attention on classic as well as creating new and exotic cocktails . This enables our students to work in ANY environment that serves alcohol with confidence.

We hope you enjoy our bartender series packed with histories, facts and advice. Today’s article is:

How to Set Up a Home Bar

Maybe you’re thinking about planning a special event or you just want to have a well stocked bar .

The basic set up for a home bar from can be quite a costly ordeal . If cost is a factor you’ll want to start off slowly. You would have to consider things such as materials, hardware, tools, bar equipment / supplies and of course the alcohol . make? a budget. Then over the course of the next few weeks bit by bit put the pieces together. The end result? A finished bar, completely stocked that any bartender would be proud to have in their home!

 

Starter Home Bar

Please remember that our list for bar set-ups should be used as a general guideline .

The following alcohol selections would allow you to set up a starter bar somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-$250.

SPIRITS

Vodka - 750ml - Vodka, one of the world's most popular liquors, is composed strictly of water and ethanol. Vodka can be made from any fermented element : grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, grapes or rice. When it comes to vodka, avoid the cheap stuff . They have a less than favorable taste. This not only ruins the drink but the patrons time as well. . Purchasing premium brands such as Belvedere, Grey Goose or Kettle One can obviously become quite costly . If your on a fixed budget stick with your mid-range brands such as Absolut or Finlandia. 

Gin - 750ml - Gin is a alcohol whose predominant flavor is taken from juniper berries . Although many dissimilar styles of gin have existed since its introduction , gin is broadly distinguished into two basic legal categories. Distilled gin is created in the traditional manner, by re-distilling neutral alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries and other botanicals. Compound gin is made by merely seasoning neutral spirit with essences without re-distillation, and is not as highly regarded . Beefeater, Bombay Dry English Gin or Tanqueray would be wise choices.

Canadian Whisky - 750ml - Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large amount of rye, typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. According to the laws of Canada, a Canadian whisky must be mashed, distilled and aged in Canada. All whiskies sold in Canada must be aged for at least 3 years in a wooden barrel of not greater than 700 L (approx. 185 U.S. gal) capacity. Some whiskies of choice would be Canadian Club or Seagrams V.O.

Rum - 750ml - Rum is a distilled alcohol made from sugarcane  by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak and other barrels. The bulk of the world's rum distillation occurs in and around the Caribbean and in several Central and South American countries. Suggested brands: Bacardi, Mount Gay Premium White or El Dorado White.

Tequila - 750ml - is a Blue Agave-based distillate made specifically in the area surrounding the city of Tequila and in the highlands of Jalisco. The red volcanic soil in the surrounding region is specially well suited for cultivation of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year. Your mid range picks might be: Corazon Blanco, Corralejo Blanco,  Herradura Blanco or Milagro Silver.

Red Wine - 1 bottle - 750ml - It's color can be derived from a vast array of grape varietals  ranging from grapes that are scarlet to deep purple. It is the grape skins that are responsible for the red wine’s distinct color spectrum. The skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process, allowing the dispersion of both color and tannins. The individual wine’s particular red hue depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin’s pigmentation is in contact with juice. There are far too many variations and factors when choosing wines. Go for your personal preference. You can find some very good wines that are moderately priced.

White Wine - 1 bottle - 750ml - are not white. They are in truth yellow, golden or straw-like in color. Its color can be derived from an assortment of grape varietals. White wines are made from the grape juice and grape skin of green, gold or yellowish colored grapes or from just the juice and not the skin of select red grapes as with some Champagnes.

Beer - is fermented, hop flavored, malt sugar tea. There are four basic building blocks required? to make beer: water, malted barley, and hops. Yeast, (often listed as a fourth ingredient, although not a part of the finished product) is used to ferment the hop flavored malt sugar tea into a bubbly liquid with an average of between three and seven percent ethyl alcohol by weight. (In some cases, such as a Barley Wine, the alcohol content can go to almost 11% by weight.) Both beer and ale are made from essentially the same four building blocks with the major variation being the type of yeast used to ferment the product.

Basically, beer is categorized into one of three different categories: lagers, ales, and the rest fall into a category called specialty beers.

The difference between a lager and an ale is the type of yeast used in fermentation.

Ales - Ale yeast is called top fermenting because of its tendency to gather at the surface of the brew during the first few days before settling to the bottom.  To brew ale, fermentation must take place in warmer temperatures for the yeast to multiply and do its magic. Ales are usually higher in alcohol and will be noticeably fuller and more complex.

Lagers - The lager yeast simply flocculates (not at the surface) and settles to the bottom. Therefore it is known as bottom fermenting. Lager yeasts need cool temperatures during fermentation to perform their magic. Lagers tend to be lighter in color and usually taste drier than ales. They are in general less alcoholic and complex. This is the most common beer type sold in the U.S.

Specialty Beers - Specialty beers are either ales, lagers, or a hybrid of the two that will contain other ingredients that cause it to not fit into a true ale or lager style.

Intermediate Home Bar

So now your ready to expand your stock . A reasonably intermediate stocked bar runs between $350 - $450.Of course you already have the products suggested above in the start-up list. Stock the following to step-up to intermidiate level:

Aperitif - 750 ml - is an spirited drink that is usually served to increase the appetite prior to a meal and are commonly served with something small to eat. Ouzo would be an example and is popular in Greece.

Bourbon is an American whiskey that has been in production since the 18th century. Bourbon is made primarily from corn and named after Bourbon County, Kentucky. Some bourbons would be Jim Beam or Wild Turkey.

Brandy - 750ml - meaning "burned wine" and is a   liquor distilled from wine or other fermented fruit juices. Brandy should not be choosen by price alone . A low-quality brandy can ruin an otherwise great cocktail.

Coffee Liqueur - 750ml - Liqueurs are high-alcohol, high-sugar beverages with added flavorings usually derived from herbs, fruits, or nuts. Most liqueurs range between 15% and 55% alcohol by volume. The most widely recognized coffee liqueur is the Mexican Kahlua. An alternative would be Tia Maria from Jamaica.

Irish Cream - 750ml - is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, cream, and other components which sometimes include coffee, which can be served on its own or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot. Irish Cream typically has between 15 to 20% alcohol by volume  and is considered a cream liqueur. Some examples would be Cask and Cream, Ryan's or Carolans.

Red Wine - 2 bottles - 750ml - It's color can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals  ranging from grapes that are red to deep purple. It is the grape skins that are responsible for the red wine’s distinct color spectrum. The skins are in contact with the grape’s juice during the fermentation process, permitting   the dispersion of both color and tannins. The individual wine’s exact red tone depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin’s pigmentation is in contact with juice. There are far too many variations It is used to serve mixed drinks, especially Tom Collins cocktails. It is cylindrical in shape and narrower than a highball glass. Whatever beverage is served in this glass is intended to have a straw in it with aromatic garnishes. It is popular to serve Mojitos in this glass as well.

Cordial – think shot glass with a stem. They are small and stemmed glasses used for serving small portions of your favourite liquors or liqueurs at times such as after a meal. A Cordial glass is about 1.5 to 2 ounces in size.

Flute – is for the bubbly. The slender shape is intended to concentrate the bubbles that come from Champagne. This glass is good for any Champagne based cocktail, but not much else.

Highball – this essential piece of glassware looks like a taller version of the Rocks glass. This glass is used for most of your tall and cool refreshing drinks that use juices and mixers. It is typically between 8 to 12 ounces.

Hurricane – this specialty glass was put into popular use by Pat O’Brian’s in New Orleans serving up their Hurricane cocktail of the same name. As the story goes the owner of the bar was given a case or two of these very strange glasses and he challenged his bartenders to develop a drink to serve in it. As it turned out the drink and the glass were a hit. Any frozen or tropical cocktail can be served in this glass but it does hold quite a lot of liquid.

Margarita – are easy to distinguish from your other glassware. It is actually a Mexican sombrero turned upside down. Beyond the Margarita this glass can be used for just about any frozen cocktail.

Parfait/Pousse-Café – these two glasses look fairly similar and are used for layered cocktails and dessert cocktails. These glasses have square bases, short stems and a narrow bowl.

Pilsner glass - is a glass used to serve many types of light beers, but is intended for its namesake, the pilsner. Pilsner glasses are generally smaller than pint glasses. They tend to have a short neck at the bottom, followed by a rounded taper to a slightly bulged area that forms the glass.

Red Wine – the larger bowl allows red wine to breathe more and express its aroma. In a snap the Red Wine glass can be used in the same way as the White Wine glass. This glass also comes in many different sizes.,

Rocks – also known as lowball and old fashioned glass. These glasses are usually reserved for an unmixed drink served over ice or with cocktails having few ingredients. Most commonly you will find Double Rocks glasses in public bars, which holds 8 to 10 ounces. Shot – the shooter is a popular drink type and the Shot glass is made for it. The Shot glass can be short and squat or taller and skinny, but can hold 1 or 2 ounces. Mostly straight liquors or liqueurs are served in it.

Shot Glass - Originally a bar measuring tool, ( and still used as one) , the shot glass has become the choice for "shots" of spirits. The shot glass holds between 1oz - 2ozs.

Snifter – the Snifter, sometimes called a Brandy Snifter, has a very large bowl and is a fairly short glass. This glass is used for sipping aged liquor. The large bowl allows the liquor to breathe, but then it’s smaller at the top to concentrate the aroma to the nose when you are sipping. Only a small amount of liquor is poured into a Snifter. Because they are all different sizes the best way to fill a Snifter is to lay it on its side and pour the liquor in until it is just about to spill out of the glass. Once you set it straight you will have the perfect amount poured.

Sour – more of the specialty glassware. The Sour glass is a shorter more pointed shaped White Wine glass. This glass is specifically used for the Sours family of cocktails (Whisky Sour, Amaretto Sour, etc…). In a pinch this glass can be used in the same way as the White Wine glass.

White Wine – the white wine glass is actually a very versatile piece of glass. In a pinch it can used in place of the Cocktail, Cordial, Shot, Red Wine, Flute, Sour, and Snifter. There is a wide variety of sizes in this glass.