Essential beverages for your home bar

Whether you are a seasoned bartender or just starting out, there are certain essential beverages that every home bar should have. With these drinks on hand, you will be able to make any drink you could possibly want!

From tropical liqueurs and strong beverages to glassware, let's see what the home bar essentials are.

1. Depending on your preferences, wine-red or white

Wine is an essential beverage for your home bar. It is versatile in that it can be consumed alone or mixed with other beverages to form a cocktail. It also makes an excellent addition to any meal and goes well with both savory and sweet dishes alike!

If you prefer a more robust taste, red wine is the way to go, but if you are looking for something light-bodied with fruitier undertones, white wines are perfect choices as well! Red wine tends towards dryness while whites tend toward sweetness. However, there are many different types of each variety, so take some time exploring before choosing what best suits your palate. We do recommend having at least one bottle of red on hand, though, because it goes great with hearty meals such as meats and pasta dishes.

A white wine, as well as a rose wine if you can find it, is essential for a home bar; they go well with salads, seafood dishes like shrimp scampi or crab cakes, and so much more!

We recommend having a bottle of each variety at least once in your home bar, even if you are not drinking it right away, because they can be kept longer than other wines. Start off small but build up as quickly as possible; there's bound to be something you will enjoy out there. If not, just move on until the next one catches your interest!

1. Beer: a variety of brands and styles to choose from.

Beer is another must-have for any home bar! Beer can be paired with a variety of foods, and there are so many different types of beer available that you are sure to find one (or more) that you love.

Beer is also a very versatile beverage, and there are many different beer styles, from lagers to bitters to sours. It is great to have a few different types of beer on hand to suit any occasion.

Finally, it is important to have a variety of brands available so that you can find the perfect one for you. Whether you are a fan of Budweiser or craft beers, make sure to have a selection available at your home bar.

1. Spirits: vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.

Other types of spirits you should include in your home bar include:

• Vodka is a clear spirit that is perfect for mixing cocktails.

• Whiskey is a classic spirit that comes in many different styles.

• Rum is a sweet and versatile spirit often used in tropical drinks.

• Gin is an essential beverage for cocktails.

1. Liqueurs

There are also many different liqueurs that you should have with you to serve as after-dinner drinks, such as:

• Amaretto is a sweet and nutty liqueur.

• Baileys-a creamy Irish cream liqueur

• Cointreau is an orange-flavored liqueur that is perfect for Margaritas.

• Grand Marnier is a French brandy-based liqueur with a citrus flavor.

1. Mixers: tonic water, soda water, juice, etc.

You should also have a collection of mixers such as tonic water, soda water, fruit juices, and more. This will allow you to create cocktails of all different flavors and styles. Be sure to stock up on your favorite mixers so you always have what you need on hand!

These mixers are needed when you are making cocktails like margaritas or sangria. They make it so the cocktail doesn't taste too strong and can be enjoyed by many different people!

• Gin with tonic water has its distinct flavor, but you don’t need to drink gin with tonic water if you want something lighter. You can also use tonic in cocktails such as rum punches or mojitos for extra sweetness and bubbles that won't take away from other flavors (like lime juice).

• Soda Water: A mixer used to balance out strong drinks like whiskey sours; it's added after shaking up your favorite whiskey sour ingredients, so they will mix better together when poured over ice cubes later.

• Fruit juices: Fruit juices for liqueurs such as strawberry liqueur, raspberry liqueur, or pineapple pina colada are essential mixers for drinks such as the Margarita and the Daiquiri. You can also use cranberry juice in cocktails like the Cape Codder or a vodka tonic for extra tartness.

• Lime Cordial: This is a key ingredient in many cocktails, such as the Mojito and the Hemingway Daiquiri. It's made with sugar, lime juice, and water, so it has a sweet-and-sour flavor that goes well with light spirits like vodka or white rum.

• Bitters: Bitters are used to add a unique flavor profile to cocktails, typically an herbal taste. They are essential in drinks such as old-fashioned and Manhattans.

1. Glassware: wine glasses, beer mugs or glasses, shot glasses

Different beverages need to be served in different glassware in order to retain their flavor and aroma. For example, red wine should be served in a wide glass that allows it to breathe, while beer should be served in a mug or glass with a thick bottom so that it doesn't get too cold. Shot glasses are essential for serving liquor neat or on the rocks.

You will also need Martini glasses, highball glasses, and rock glasses, but they are not essential.

1. Accessories: bottle opener, corkscrew, shaker/mixer set

Additional accessories you will need to include in your home bar are:

• A bottle opener for opening beer bottles

• A corkscrew for uncorking wine bottles. You could also use a waiter's friend, which is an alternative to the more traditional corkscrew design. Waiter's friends are very versatile and can be used to open both champagne and beer bottles as well.

• Cocktail shaker or mixer set for making Martinis, Tom Collins, and Manhattans.

Having a variety of spirits on hand will give you the ability to make any cocktail you can dream up. So, stock your home bar with your favorite spirits and get ready to mix some delicious cocktails!