This guide is for you if you already have a decent home bar setup – all the essential tools and bottles needed for classic cocktail recipes – and are seeking to add a few new items to your arsenal. Take your home bar to the next level and unlock new recipes you can make and serve by expanding your selection of bottles and tools. As you begin to add new items, keep the same approach that got you started: ask yourself, “what am I interested in trying next?”, “what additions will give me the most new opportunities?”
Spirits That Go Beyond Basics: When you are ready to expand your home bar further, you can consider investing in the following:
– Aged rums and other styles like Rhum Agricole, which offers a depth of complexity and sophistication to your drinks. A good starting point would be Flor de Cana’s anejo rum, while Rhum JM’s agricoles are more of a high-end option.
– Amari/Amaro, the bittersweet Italian liqueurs, would add personality and structure to your drinks. New amari users may start with Montenegro and then progress to other variants like Cynar’s artichoke notes, Fernet’s mentholated airs, or Cardamaro’s sherry-like lightness.
– A range of good bitters can enhance any home bar and open up a whole new world of flavors. Consider trying Peychaud’s or creole bitters, grapefruit, chocolate or mole bitters, or nut bitters.
– Italian vermouths like Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, Punt e Mes, or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino offer more robust flavors compared to your standard sweet red vermouths.
Next Level Cocktail Equipment: Get more professional with your cocktail making with tools like a garnish peeler for beautiful twists and ribbons of fruit, a cone strainer for double straining cocktails, citrus juicers for fresh fruit juice, Lewis bags for the perfect crushed ice, Nick & Nora glasses for stylish serving, and rimming dishes for an easy application of salt or sugar on the rim of your glasses.
Design Your Own Drinks with the Golden Ratio: As you familiarize yourself with different recipes, you will notice similar structures and proportions. One of the most used, and a great starting point for your own creations, is the golden ratio: 1 1/2 ounce of base spirit, 3/4 to 1 ounce of vermouth-like ingredient, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of a liqueur or something sweet and 1 or 2 dashes of bitters. Understanding these proportions can help you begin to customize cocktail recipes to suit your tastes.
The Bar Basics Series: Follow our Bar Basics Series to get more insights and tips on improving your home bar setup.
