The home bar scene, which picked up momentum during the Covid-19-induced pandemic, continues to flourish as home bartenders are now looking to create that perfect cocktail like the one served to them at their favourite bar.
They are now being the “perfect hosts” not just in the food side of things but also ensuring that the beverage quotient is high at house parties. Are you a bar enthusiast looking to get your home bar in order?
It starts with the most basic tools and equipment that will gear you to shake a Bond Martini or uncork a plush Amarone. Here is the bare minimum list to get you started:
Kit & bucket
Like a kitchen needs a pan to cook and a flame for the heat, a bar needs a complete bar kit to concoct a cocktail – and ice is at the heart of it. A bar kit comprises a shaker, bar spoon, Hawthorne strainer, double strainer, crown opener, a muddler, a jigger (peg measure) and a good mixing glass.
Plentiful ice is a mandate in the bar, and a big ice bucket is recommended, even better if it is insulated to avoid the rapid melting in our tropical weather. Pro tip: a cocktail needs around 250 gm of ice, so ensure you have an ice vendor handy for those long evenings.
Drink ware
An all-purpose wine glass serves best for a red, white, rose and sparkling wines. But one could always indulge in specific glasses for a great wine experience like the Bordeaux or Chardonnay glasses from Luigi Bormioli at thinKitchen.in.
A coupe is a multipurpose and elegant glass. It can hold a Martini or a Margarita with aplomb, and so too the Sidecar.
A glass of icy Mojito? Or a whiskey-soda, or a plain glass of water? They all need the classic High Ball. You can go for the trending nude glasses or the classic cut crystal ones, like the ones from Royal Brierley by thinKitchen.in.
The Old Fashioned glass is for that 18-YO malt with a cube of ice, or that perfectly stirred Roby Roy.
Even though I’m not a fan of shots personally, to be that perfect host, you need to be equipped for that celebratory shot request.
Beer glasses? One can drink out of the bottle, you might say. But the real aromas and experiences of a craft beer are enjoyed in a glass. The Birrateque selection by Luigi Bormioli at thinKitchen.in has a worthy range.
Stoppers & openers
For wine enthusiasts looking to get serious about wines, a tropical country like ours demands a wine fridge to maintain a storage temperature of 12-14 degrees Centigrade.
Bottles broken, carpets-stained red, all because of failed hacks to open a wine bottle in the absence of a wine opener? Get a wine opener, an angel’s wing or a waiter’s friend and save yourself the trouble.
An open bottle of wine starts to oxidise as soon as it is uncorked. Ideally, it should be finished the same day. However, unfinished bottles are a common phenomenon and they just deteriorate.
The solution? Get yourself a wine stopper with a vacuum pump by BarCraft, also available on thinKitchen.in. It helps pull the oxygen out to keep the wine sane for a couple of days more.
Setting up a home bar may seem intimidating at first, but with these tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming the life of the party. So go ahead and impress your friends and family with your bartending skills – Cheers!
