A well-stocked bar makes bartending simpler.
A well-stocked bar -- whether in a restaurant or at home -- is crucial to a smooth, successful bartending experience. The best bars are carefully stocked with all the tools and equipment you might need to create a drink. They also feature a wide variety of alcohol and mixers, and any garnishes or condiments that are needed to be a drink's crowning touch. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Alcohol
When gathering bartending supplies, alcohol may be the most important item on the list: after all, you can't exactly tend bar without it. When stocking a bar, make sure all types of alcohol -- liquor, liqueurs, beer and wine -- are sufficiently represented. (When stocking a home bar, alcohol experts and aficionados recommend starting with what you like to drink and building from there.) Important liquors to have on hand include bourbon, cognac, gin, vodka, light and dark rum, rye, tequila, Scotch whiskey and vermouth. For liqueurs, stock amaretto, Bailey's Irish Cream, Contreau, creme de cacao, creme de cassis and creme de menthe, as well as flavored brandies, Hpnotiq, Southern Comfort, Kahlua, Grand Marnier, Sambuca, sherries and triple sec. Stock a variety of beer and both red and white wines.
Tools
Preparing drinks requires a wide array of tools to help you tend bar more efficiently (and to look good while doing it!). The most basic tools include a bottle opener and corkscrew, a shaker and a strainer, and a bar spoon. Other tools can include cocktail napkins and coasters, straws, toothpicks, a cutting board and sharp knife (for cutting fruit and other garnishes), an ice bucket, and a blender or ice crusher for making frozen drinks. To keep things need and tidy, have plenty of containers for storing garnishes, and lots of bar towels for cleaning up messy spills.
Glassware
Depending on the size of your bar, you may choose to feature more or fewer styles of glassware. Some glasses are elemental, such as shot glasses and wine glasses, and are typically used for specific drinks. Other glasses are less rigid in their prescribed uses. Common glassware types include the Collins glass, the highball, the old-fashioned or "on the rocks" glass, beer mugs and pilsners, the Irish coffee glass, the champagne flute, the brandy snifter and the cocktail glass. Some specialized glasses include the pousse cafe glass and the parfait glass.
Extras
Finally, your bar should be well stocked with an array of condiments, garnishes and mixers. Popular condiments include cream, nutmeg, grenadine, salt and pepper, simple syrup, Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. For popular cocktails, keep cranberry, grapefruit, orange, pineapple and tomato juices, as well as pina colada mix, and fresh limes and lemons. An array of sodas -- club soda, regular and diet colas, lemon-lime sodas and ginger ale--completes your bar.
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