Beginners Guide to Creating a Perfectly Stocked Bar

So a few weeks ago, I asked my friends on Instagram for any recommendations for any must haves when trying to create a nice well rounded stock of spirits for my bar, well bar cart. I will admit that I am a beginner, so I wanted to create a Beginners Guide to creating a perfectly stocked bar, When I say they came through with the suggestions, people came through! I recently purchased this bar cart, and wanted to make sure it was fully stocked with all essentials.

I thought it would be nice to share here since some of you all may be interested in these suggestions as well on how you too can create a perfectly stocked bar for beginners.

Bar (Cart) Basics- Accessories:

Cute Cocktail Napkins: While plain napkins will do, adding something cute or fancy always elevates a moment, and I love an elevated moment.

Small Decorative Bowl for Fruit: Small fruit bowls add color, texture, and the fruit can easily be accessed and sliced when needed for drinks. I love keeping fruit on my bar, specifically limes and add them to my cocktails that I may make during the week.

Ice Mold: The purpose of an ice mold is to not only keep your drink cold, but it won’t melt in your cocktail like traditional ice, therefore it won’t water your drink down. Plus they just look really sleek in any drink if I’m being honest. Definitely worth getting!

Muddler:This is great for muddling fresh herbs, or fruits to extract their flavors into your drink. I am new to muddling, but love it!

Bar Tool Kit: Kits typically comes with a bar spoon, jigger, strainer and an opener. The bar spoon is used to stir mixed drinks, jigger helps to pour proper parts of alcohol, the opener is to open capped drinks, and the strainer is used to remove ice, or any muddling ingredients before pouring mixed drinks into a glass.

Shaker: This is the what is used to shake mixed drinks. Make sure you stick with stainless steel. When filled with ice, they make the drink extra cold! This is the one that I have, and absolutely love. They usually come with a strainer on top.

Cocktail Picks: Cocktail picks are ideal for spearing fruits on drinks, giving them a professional presentation. Pretty cocktails look more appetizing, lol.

Glassware:

Moscow Mule Mugs: There are so many options, and Moscow Mules are my favorite cocktail. These mugs keep your drink perfect cold and are pretty to be used as shelf styling.

Wine Glasses: You can never have enough wine glasses. Ok, you can, but the prettier the better of course:)

Champagne Glasses: Champagne glasses always come in handy for a special occasion, so its fitting to have a few of these on hand.

Margarita/Cocktail Glasses: Having a variety of glasses for margaritas and other cocktails is a necessity. It always elevates the look of any cocktail and in my opinion makes any cocktail taste better.

Now to the fun part, the liquor and mixers!

Based on the suggestions from you guys, these are the MUST HAVES liquor options…a nice top shelf Vodka, Rum (light), Bourbon/Whiskey, Tequila, Cognac, Prosecco, Red and White Wines, Peach Schnapps, and bitters. I’ve also being seeing some really cool Gin recipes that have me like hmmm, time to add Gin to my bar! Although my fav forever will be a Moscow Mule!

So now that you have all of the essential tools to get started, go forth and be great! Hopefully you found the Beginners Guide to Creating a Perfectly Stocked Bar helpful. Let me know what your fav drink is below! I am always looking for new drink recipes to try!