All the essential tools, tips, and sips for mixing like a pro in your own pad.

What’s better than a bar at home? A well-equipped bar at home. There’s never been a better time to keep the home bar stocked for any occasion. Whether you’re rocking a built in bar, bar cart, liquor cabinet, or a tray on the mantle, don’t get ready — stay ready.

But before you rush out and buy every bottle you see, there are a few simple rules for creating the best (and most efficient) home bar. Here, we breakdown the essentials that’ll build your bar from the ground up. You’ll be hosting at-home happy hours in no time.

Foundation spirits

The foundation of any decent bar is a good selection of base spirits. Gin, vodka, whisk(e)y, tequila, and rum; these are the foundations that do the heavy lifting. They’re the building blocks to almost every cocktail but also do double duty with a simple mixer. Avoid the temptation to buy flavoured spirits (they’ll come later) and stick to the classics when you’re just starting out.

Adding aromatics

After the foundation comes the flair. Add a bit of whimsy to your drinks with aromatics like Campari, bitters, vermouth, and liqueurs to take your home bar to the next level. Most classic cocktail recipes are just a foundation spirit mixed with aromatics. Take a negroni for example, the foundation spirit is gin but it’s the addition of Campari and red vermouth that make it an iconic cocktail. One of the best kept secrets in bartending is ready made simple syrup, it’ll save you the hassle of making your own and is the easiest way to add a sweet touch to any cocktail.

Specialty spirits

Once you’ve got your classic foundation spirits on board it’s time to add something different. Flavoured, infused, and specialty spirits open up a whole new world of experimentation. And they’re a great conversation starter as you explain what makes your gin and tonic so unique. In recent years the development of non-alcoholic spirits has really taken off. It’s worth keeping a bottle on hand for when you feel like something lighter. And so non-drinkers don’t get stuck with plain old soda (again).

Tools of the trade

If you’re just starting out then keep things simple: a cocktail shaker and strainer, a jigger for measuring, and a cocktail spoon for stirring. Usually you can find all of these key tools in a cocktail kit, like this one from Bar Station. Oh, and don’t forget the ice! Add an ice bucket to your bar to save you from walking back and forth to the freezer all the time.

Glassware matters

Top notch drinks deserve top notch glassware. It’s more about having the correct type of glass than owning the fanciest crystal. Two classic varieties to start with are the lowball (a short tumbler sometimes called an Old Fashioned glass) and the highball (tall and thin, these are sometimes called Collins glasses). But don’t be afraid to mix it up and play around. Stemless wine glasses are a great substitute for a lowball. And a margarita served in an old jam jar is just as good as one served in a traditional margarita glass.

Don’t forget mixers

You’ve splashed out on the spirits — don’t let them down with lacklustre mixers. Go the extra mile with premium flavoured tonics and sodas. Fancy some Japanese yuzu in your mixer? Or perhaps you’d prefer an authentic Indian tonic? We’ve got you covered.

Finishing touches

Turning a drink into a cocktail can be as simple as adding a garnish. Grab herbs from the garden, citrus from the fruit bowl, or some salt for a rim, whatever you can find to make it pop. Bonus points if you keep a jar of maraschino cherries on hand for a kitschy throwback.