If you love to entertain in your home, you need a place to store all of your alcohol and essential drink tools. A bar cart is a stylish and functional place to keep all of these items together so that you can whip up a great drink whenever the mood strikes. The right mix of drinks, tools, and accessories will ensure that your cart is always ready for the party. Here are five must-have items to include in your bar cart.
Basic Spirits
The focal point of any bar cart is the alcohol selection. You will want to equip your cart with the basic spirits needed to make a variety of drinks. This includes a bottle each of vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, and tequila. You can go as high-end as your budget and tastes allow. The goal is to make sure that you include all five of these basic spirits in your stocked bar cart.
You can expect each bottle to remain fresh for about two years once opened. Keep the opened bottles near the front of your cart so that guests know to use those first.
Mixers, Aperitifs, and Garnishes
In order to whip up the best drinks, you are going to want a wide variety of mixers, aperitifs, and garnishes on hand. These ingredients largely depend on your personal tastes and what types of drinks you prefer to enjoy. Good ideas include sweet vermouth and bitters if you enjoy Manhattan's, a specialty agave margarita mixer, or dry vermouth if you like to kick back with a classic martini.
It is also a good idea to keep tonic water and club soda on hand. Canned soda is another invaluable addition to your bar cart. While most garnishes are not shelf-stable enough to keep on hand for the long-term, you will want to stock up on items such as lime slices, maraschino cherries, and fresh mint if you are hosting a party.
Tools
Now that you have all of the necessary ingredients on hand, it is time to start gathering the essential tools that you will need to mix up the perfect drink. Standard items to keep within reach include a bottle opener, a jigger, a muddler, a cocktail shaker, and various stirring spoons.
A few wine stoppers will come in handy for those bottles that do not get finished. Other fun items to put on your bar cart include an ice bucket and tongs and any type of specialty drink-mixing tools.
Glassware
You can make your bar cart stand out by choosing a variety of cool glassware items for serving. In addition to the traditional wine glasses, champagne flutes, and old-fashioned barware, you may want to add some unique items for specialty drinks. For example, copper cups are an ideal receptacle for Moscow mules.
If you do not have the space to house a variety of types of glassware, you would be wise to choose more versatile pieces such as glass tumblers or double old-fashioned glasses. Nobody will care about the type of glassware that you serve the drinks in as long as they taste delicious. Lastly, be sure to keep a stylish dishtowel near the glasses to wipe up any spills when you are mixing up the fun.
Fun Décor and Personalized Touches
Elevate your bar cart from the ordinary to something extraordinary by personalizing it with your own special touches. This is where you can let your personality shine. Choose a favorite piece of artwork to frame or welcome your guests with a printed message on a letter board.
Add a splash of color to your bar cart with a potted plant or a vase of flowers. You can also consider switching out your décor with the season. Of course, a fun book of cocktail recipes is both practical and trendy. This is where you can get creative with your décor and make your bar cart a reflection of your personal décor tastes.
Your bar cart will be the centerpiece of your home entertainment if you equip it with the right essentials. Use this list as your guide and you will be mixing up great cocktails in no time at all.
Author Bio: McKenzie Jones
McKenzie is your typical Midwestern gal. When she is not writing or reading, she can be found training for her next half-marathon, baking something sweet, playing her guitar, or cuddled up with her golden retriever, Cooper. She loves watching football, fall weather, and long road trips
