Advice You Need #857

It’s true, I’m known for a few things. Listen up; this one might be the most important.

It’s just poor manners not to have a well-stocked bar! This is pretty much my motto! And everyone should live by it. I think I came up with this motto after about the 100^th grown up adult party where the bar offerings just sucked. If you are going to invite friends over for cocktails, or dinner, or cocktails and dinner – get with the program man! Put your bar in order. Here’s what you need. And this isn’t for the super fancy; this is for regular people – people that you know, for regular occasions. If you want to embellish for a special occasion like Thanksgiving or Christmas or if you’re serving a specialty cocktail that’s fine, but here is what you need for a good solid proper bar:

1. Top shelf booze, not the shitty cheapest stuff you can find. You want your friends to like you, right? Don’t serve them crap that doesn’t taste good. Get a good gin, vodka, rum, scotch, bourbon, tequila. That should cover you for basics. I have faves, but you should pick what you like - but just make sure it’s good stuff. I get Tanqueray, Stoli, a good rum, I let my husband pick out the scotch since he likes it more than I do, we always have Maker’s Mark on hand for bourbon, and then I try to get a decent tequila.
2. Mixers! Club soda, tonic, maybe diet also, ginger ale, coke, maybe diet coke too, simple syrup, Roses lime juice, triple sec, vermouth and maybe bitters. Also, don’t forget that some of your friends don’t drink or don’t drink anymore – make sure you have enough sparkling water, juice or soda to make them a nice non-alcoholic drink too.
3.  Extras! Lemons, limes, olives, maraschino cherries.
4. Proper bar glasses and bar gear – high balls and DOF’s and martini glasses, wine glasses and have a good muddler, martini shaker, bar towel, shot pourers, stirrer and toothpicks or whatever else.
5. Bar book – learn now to make the standards. And make them well; don’t make your guests a messy shitshow of a drink. This is a reflection of your good taste, get it together!

That’s pretty much it for the basic bar. Now you’ll be ready for all people who want a proper drink. You now have at least one drink available that pleases everyone. Again, if you are planning something special, you can add more, like if you want to serve Bloody Mary’s at a brunch, or Aviation’s (see earlier post on Aviation!) or whatever else. You’ll eventually end up with all the additional liqueurs, Kahlua, all that stuff, but you don’t need that to get started.

Ok, I can hear you yelling! How much freaking money do I have to dole out to get this thing up and running? Here’s how to do that. If you are, say 26 years old, and this is your first foray into the large quantity purchase of hard “A” – think about throwing a “BUILD MY BAR” party. Ask guests to bring something bar related to drink and to share. You’ll end up with just about everything you need to make drinks and have semi-full bottles of stuff leftover – unless your friends are total alcoholics and drink the place dry.

Last but not least. Beer and wine. Have some real beer (good stuff – like Manny's) and some light beer like Coors or Bud Heavy or Light – lots of people like crappy beer. And have white and red wine. Maybe a nice sauvignon blanc for summer, and a pinot noir or cabernet or something that the wino’s will like. Now you are covered completely and people will say nice things about you behind your back. And that’s what it’s all about! Happy Boozing!