How to Stock a Bar Cart

When it comes to your abode bar the options are literally endless. Every time the words endless and booze are used in the aforementioned judgement things can get expensive really fast. Here is how nosotros stock our bar cart and the steps we took to build it out.

Hey guys! Passing the blog off to my husband today so he tin bring all his bar cart tips and tricks. Take it away Thomas!

My best advice when it comes to your dwelling bar is to have your time edifice out your cocktail station and effigy out the purpose you want it to serve. Who does it serve? Is it going to be a argument piece? Is it a place to store all your alcohol?

Gaby and I honey to entertain so our bar carts primary purpose is to house all our booze and brand it easy and accessible for guests to make a cocktail when they come over. Everyone has specific preferences when information technology comes to drinks then nosotros have the approach of giving them the tools to make their own cocktail of choice. Nosotros want people to accept a good time and feel relaxed when they visit. A fully stocked bar is a good commencement footstep to achieving that.

The Cart:

Flex your creative muscles here, literally anything can be used equally a bar cart. A tabular array, an actual "Bar Cart", or the corner of a volume shelf. Literally any apartment surface can piece of work. The only rule is that information technology should not be in directly sunlight. Spirits need to be stored at room temperature. Keeping them cool and abroad from direct sunlight preserves them longer. As temperatures rise, the alcohol begins to expand and tin evaporate more speedily. This changes the flavor profile and quality of the booze.
This is the bar cart that we have

The tools:

Cocktail Mixing Glass

I prefer to use a cocktail mixing glass vs a shaker, sorry James Bond. For some reason when I think of cocktail mixing spectacles I retrieve of the Keen Gatsby. Shakers give off more than of that sports bar college frat vibe where the bar tender is wearing a sweatband effectually his forearm with a bottle opener nether information technology while mixing upward v midori sours.

As far equally practicality, I discover cocktail mixing glasses more convenient vs a shaker. The wider base and larger mouth makes it easier to cascade and less likely to tip over. Glass allows you to run into the beverage y'all are mixing and it just looks cool to see the spirts combine when they are stirred. Every time I use a shaker the lid either does not seal and information technology gets everywhere or, I cant get the tiptop off and lose half of my drinkable when information technology finally gives fashion. This is the one we have.

Mixing Spoon

If yous go the mixing glass route yous demand a spoon. Nothing specific when it comes to spoons. Become a colour that matches your bar set. Gold, rose gold, silvery. Does not matter, y'all practise you 🙂 This is the mixing spoon we utilise

Strainer

Some other necessity when information technology comes to the mixing glass route. I similar a strainer that has a round handle and some weight to it. As for colour this is another area where you can mix and match with your other tools. This is the one we employ

Jigger:

These are confusing because they come in all different sizes. Some cascade but single sizes others have 2 sizes. Our jigger is 4.5 cl on ane side and 2 cl on the other side. iv.v cl = i.5oz and 2cl = .67oz. As to why the smaller side is not half of the larger side I am not sure? I like to mensurate cocktails not so much in ounces but parts then this keeps information technology simple for me and is scaleable across all jiggers.

When it comes to Jiggers ours has a handle on it and I find it actually awkward to cascade and go along it standing upwards. Our current Jigger came in a bar set that Gaby and I got for our wedding so we are in the market for a new one. Based on the inquiry I accept done this Jigger consistently gets the highest scores.

With that being said, it has a black rubber grip around the middle which is not the sleekest looking matter to have alive on a bar cart. If you are going for a swanky looking bar cart and want a jigger that looks expert while you mix I would go for this jigger

Lastly, if you take a shot glass, that volition piece of work perfectly fine when mixing cocktails, they are just a piddling more hard to take a make clean cascade.

Bottle Opener –

Gaby and I accept gone through a one thousand thousand bottle openers. Our electric current favorite can be plant here Another choice we love is here on Amazon. Both openers have a solid weight to them and fit easily in your hand.

Shot Glasses – our go to shot glasses (nosotros take 8)

Tequila Shot Glass – Our go to Tequila Shot Glass used for sipping not shooting (we have 8)

Snifter – This is the go-to for sipping the aged tequilas and scotches.

Former Style Drinking glass – we utilize these for a diverseness of cocktails such every bit sipping scotch, bourbon, and tequila along with Margaritas and Vodka strawberry lemonades not simply one-time fashions (nosotros accept half dozen of these)

High Ball Glass – Nosotros use these for cocktails that contain a large proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer, and are poured over ice like 1000&T'southward, Pimms Cups, or Mojitos: (we take 8 of these)

Coupe Glass -Our go to for champagne. I similar these much ameliorate than champagne flutes because it allows for them to jiff improve and open up a bit more: (we have viii of these)

Decanter: these serve 2 purposes:

1. The first is to remove the sediment from the wine. Sediment impacts the flavor and can be establish in older more tannic wines.
2. The second reason is to allow air into the wine which lets information technology open upwardly and release Hydrogen Sulfide (sulfur scents) after just opening. Annotation that vino can open to much, so it's a fun balancing game to play while enjoying.

Booze

Bourbon/Whiskey:
A good burn with high proof. The crazy affair with Bourbon is that its not super expensive compared to other higher priced boozes out at that place.

1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof won Whiskey of the Year in 2017. Its also around 124 proof so it packs a punch. Y'all feel the burn of the booze but its super smoothen and delicious.
2. Michters Kentucky Straight Rye: 84 proof. Spice with fiery notes, citrus, butterscotch, and oak.
3. Aged Japanese Whiskey- If you can go your easily on any aged Japanese Whiskey do it. They are currently playing catchup because this stuff was and then popular and they sold out. Favorite brands are Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu, and Nikka. Nikka coffey grain is readily available and succulent.

Scotch:
In that location are and so many amazing scotches out there. Scotch was my get to sit downward "fancy drink" until I discovered Tequila which is now my primary sipper. With that being said you can't get wrong with Macallan 12. Not crazy expensive and a smooth delicious scotch. Fruity notes with a nice spice end. Not overly smokey which is my preferred flavor contour. I tend to avert the more peaty or smokey scotches.

Gin:
Monkey 47 is our go to Gin. It has subtle citrus notes but leans to be more floral in flavor profile and non super Junipery. Mixed with the London Essence original tonic h2o and a slice of grapefruit and you have an all time G&T. Side note, if anyone tin can detect London Essence Original Tonic h2o in united states of america please let me know.

Tequila:
This is my become to spirit. Used to hate information technology, now I love it. Once I was taught to sip anile tequila similar a nice scotch I instantly became a huge fan. Our "house" tequila for mixing is Casamigos Blanco. I have a variety of sipping tequilas I will bask depending on the state of affairs.

1. Casamigos Anejo is my everyday sipper.
2. Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia was the start actress anejo tequila I had and is absolutely delicious. It is anile for 3 years and blended with xxx year former tequila from the Cuervo family's private reserve. Flavor wise it is a mellow flavour with floral, vanilla, cognac notes toward the finish.
3. Dos Artes Extra Anejo is my current favorite tequila. Cute bottle, super smooth and notes of caramel and vanilla. Absolutely delicious.
4. Casa Dragones Joven we break out for super special occasions. Its a blend of blanco tequila and extra anejo that has been filtered to be articulate. I of the well-nigh delicious tequilas I have ever had. We will break out this bottle to sip on for very special occasions. Vanilla notes with a pear like finish.

Rum:
Rum is starting to go more than popular with Tiki drinks making a comeback. Gaby and I recently got introduced to Ten to One Rum and its delicious. The white rum is has flavors of banana and pineapple, with a impact of fiery spice. The night rum has like notes to the white but of like a grilled pineapple and butterscotch finish.

Vodka:
Cant really go wrong with Grey Goose or Belvedere. Pretty direct forrad here. Our vodka lives in the freezer not on the bar cart.

Apéritifs

Aperol: Gaby'due south go to for her spritz, not much more needs to be said here.

Compari: Needed for negronis and Milano-Torinos. Runs a little bitter but perfect in so many cocktails.

Other Mixing Essentails:

Sweet Vermouth: Needed for Manhattans, Negronis, Vermouth Spritzs,

Dry Vermouth: Vodka and Gin Martinis

Angostura Bitters: Needed for Old Fashions, Manhattans, and so many other cocktails.

Mixers:

Bundaberg Ginger Beer for Moscow Mules.

Topo Chico or any other sparkling water

Tonic Water, once again if anyone knows where to go London Essence Original Tonic water in the states please permit me know

And of course the WGC Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail Mix, Blood Orange Peach Spritz Cocktail Mix and Bloody Mary Cocktail Mix to round it all out!

Ice Cube Trays: Big Cubes for Scotch Small Cubes for the High Ball Cocktails.

At present that you know how to stock a bar cart, it's time to make some cocktails. These are our get-to favorites:

1. Cocktail Recipe Index Page
2. Skinny Margarita
3. Crushed Blackberry Moscow Mules
4. Encarmine Maria
5. Spiked Pink Lemonade

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Source: https://whatsgabycooking.com/how-to-stock-a-bar-cart/

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