In no particular order here are 10 tools this bartender babe thinks you should have for you home bar!
1. Triple Sec
This orange-flavored liqueur is used, literally, at every bar, for almost everything. Margaritas, Kamikazes, L.I.T.'s, sidecars just to name a few all feature Triple Sec. It's affordable and a good start to mixing like a pro. You may be more familiar with its 2 bougie sisters, Cointreau and Grand Marnier. Both are considerably more expensive than Triple Sec, so if you're a #BudgetBartender like me, the basic sister will do just fine.
2. Fresh Citrus
Never underestimate the value of a lemon or lime! Adding fresh citrus to cocktails somehow pulls everything in the shaker together. Most times, it's the "something missing." At this point of my career fresh citrus is one of the first things I add in my shaker. Sometimes I have not the slightest clue as to what I'm going to come up with next but one thing I know is it will have citrus.
3. Sour Mix
Sour mix is another staple at every bar as it is very versatile and can be mixed with anything. If you want to make classic and popular bar drinks you will need sour mix. And you know if you don't have to buy it, I don't want you to. You can easily make and store this at home. One of the first things I did as bar manager was cut carbonated sweet & sour mix from the inventory and began making it in-house. Most recipes call for equal parts lemon & lime juices and simple syrup shaken over ice. I'm sharing my recipe with you but I encourage you to play around with this. I do not like my sour mix to be too sweet or too sour, so I add water and store in a 2 qt. store 'n pour container. One of the best things about making your own is just that, it's your own. Adjust to your liking.
Sour Mix: half cup lime/ 1 cup lemon/ 2 cups simple syrup/ 4 cups water
4. Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar, 1 cup water. Store in glass container. Boom. You could buy it, but why would you? It's simple enough to make and you can flavor it with almost anything in your fridge. I love having mint simple syrup at the bar. If I'm super busy and someone insists on having a mojito *rolls eyes* mint simple syrup is a nice short cut. I don't have to bother with the muddling, just throw fresh mint in the shaker & give it a few good, firm shakes. I've also played with thyme, basil, and even sweet potato simple syrup. You can create or remix so many cocktails with this stuff. Have fun with it!
5. Aromatic Bitters
This may not be for everybody but if you want to elevate your cocktail game you will need this stuff! If you like Old Fashion's at home, you'll definitely need this stuff. Aromatic bitters is a mix of botanicals and liquor. True to its name, it adds a bitter or bittersweet flavor to cocktails and is primarily used to bring balance to sweet and/or sour cocktails, while also bringing a lot of complexity to the flavor profile. Angostura Aromatic bitters is probably the most popular brand but there are tons of brands and flavors on the market. Get adventurous with it!
6. Bar Spoon
Bar spoons are not your traditional kitchen spoons. The shaft is twisted or corkscrewed. This feature aerates liquids and makes layering liquids easy. The twisted shaft is also useful for gently stirring cocktails. You should place the spoon in between your thumb, index & middle fingers and rotate, gently moving the spoon around the mixing glass to stir. Stirring cocktails as opposed to shaking them blends ingredients gently but does compromise the liquor too much, that's important.
There are 3 bar spoons on the market. I've listed them in order from my favorite to my least favorite: European (flat disc top has double function: muddling and layering), Japanese (sleek design, tear drop shaped top adds weight for balanced stirring), American (basic).
7. Fine mesh & Hawthorne strainers
With all the muddling and infusing we're going to have going on, we will need strainers! The fine mesh strainer will be helpful when you want to muddle fresh fruits and vegetables but don't want to chew them while you drink. The Hawthorne strainer will be helpful if you're serving out of a boston shaker.
8. Cocktail Shaker
Get one! I prefer the 2-piece Boston shaker with a 28 oz stainless steel base and a 18 oz stainless steel or glassware top. You should also have a Hawthorne strainer for this shaker style. There are many different shaker styles on the market. Find one that feels good in your hands and that compliments your at home bar.
9. Jigger
Many businesses require bartenders to use jiggers for every pour because it's the only way to guarantee consistency, amongst other benefits of using a jigger ($$$$). But for you, jiggers are important because proper pours are crucial to the "wellness" of the cocktail. Jiggers come in a variety of 1/4 oz measures. Free-pour bartending requires a count to measure a pour. 1 count = 1/4 oz. So a 6 count is equivalent to 1.5 oz, this is the standard pour in mixology. If you have not mastered the free-pour definitely pick up a jigger. (We will revisit the standard pour and talk about how to practice your free-pour later!)
10. A Good and I mean GOOD bottle of wine
Every classy bar needs at least one classy bottle of wine. You already know what I'm thinking, choose your favorite "cause that's yo' business" but whatever it is, make it a good one. For me, myself, I like to have a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand around. The two brands I trust the most are Oyster Bay and Kim Crawford.
** A Note From The Bartender**
Save your liquor bottles! You can repurpose them for storing homemade simple syrups and sour mix. You can also use them to serve batched drinks for any occasion.