Best Bars on the B&B

[LinuxMintyFresh]

It's been a dream of mine for a long time to have a full in-home bar, but being exceptionally poor for the time being and the foreseeable future is really putting a damper on that and my spirits. Just as a fun exercise, let's see your in-home bars!

Liquor cabinets, wine cellars, and anything else you wanna show off are also quite welcome additions. If you, like I, have no bar, with what kinds of things would you stock your dream bar?

 

[Edcculus]

My liquor cabient is sadly lacking, but I pretty much have 2 beers or cider on tap at all times. Fresh beer on tap pretty much trumps anything!

 

[Taz94]

Here is my simple setup...

 

[rm71]

I'm looking forward to seeing these well stocked bars but also see my wallet hurting already

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Here is my simple setup...

Simple, but neat and effective

 

[stobes21]

It's been a dream of mine for a long time to have a full in-home bar, but being exceptionally poor for the time being and the foreseeable future is really putting a damper on that and my spirits. Just as a fun exercise, let's see your in-home bars!

Liquor cabinets, wine cellars, and anything else you wanna show off are also quite welcome additions. If you, like I, have no bar, with what kinds of things would you stock your dream bar?

A well stocked bar will vary depending on what types of drinks you like to serve. For making mixed drinks and having something available for almost everyone I would go with a list of basic liquors, liqueurs, wines, and beers. A good list would be:

White rum
Dark rum
Spiced rum
Tequila blanco
Tequila reposado
Scotch
Bourbon
Rye whiskey
Irish whiskey
Vodka
Gin
Grenadine
Bitters
Coffee liqueur
Orange liqueur/triple sec
Apple brandy or schnapps
Irish cream
Brandy and or cognac
Various white and red wines
Various beers (probably some domestic light beers like bud or miller and some imported or micro brewed darker beers)

And then have on hand various mixers and garnishes. Something like:
Cola
Sprite/7up
Tonic water
Club soda
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Sour mix (make at home)
Simple syrup
Kosher salt
Sugar
Limes
Lemons
Olives
Cocktail onions
Maraschino cherries
Cream or half and half

 

[stobes21]

Now, obviously the above list would be expensive to put together, and wouldn't be personalized to you at all. So I suggest starting by asking yourself what kinds of drinks you and any guests you expect to serve like to drink. If most of the people you like to drink with like martinis of various types then focus more on a variety of gins and (sadly) vodkas, along with liqueurs and mixers tailored to that type of drink. If the group mostly does whiskeys of various types, then focus on those.

In terms of building on a budget try to prioritize your list and then every so often (every time you go grocery shopping, every paycheck, once a month, whatever) get one or two bottles. Then when you want a drink look at what you have on hand and consult a cocktail books or website to find drinks you can make with what you have. It's an easy and fun way to both build your bar and learn new drinks that you might not have otherwise known about or known how to make. And if you are only spending $20-$50 per paycheck or per month it isn't a huge investment, but you'll still build your bar pretty quickly. And finally: when purchasing a spirit ask what you'll be using it for. Buy higher quality for liquors that will be served neat or on the rocks then on ones that will be mixed.

 

[Sal]

Nothing fancy, just the basics

 

[-dave-]

Love my bar! it's not much but i like it.. small fridge stocked of course with several beers and mixers, and a good collection of my prefered spirits. Next step is a nice draught set up somehow. I need more space!

 

[nff]

Love my bar! it's not much but i like it.. small fridge stocked of course with several beers and mixers, and a good collection of my prefered spirits. Next step is a nice draught set up somehow. I need more space!

for some reason this makes me dizzy

but on topic. my bar sofar has a bunch of minitures and a bottle of tequila with 3 bottles of sake and a micky of forty creek canadian whisky.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Good looking stuff, guys. Keep em comin'!

 

[singlemalts]

-dave- I fixed your pictures. Just edit your post and use these tags (you need to add back the [ before IMG].

IMG]http://imgur.com/vlm3Q.jpg[/IMG]

IMG]http://imgur.com/1b5Br.jpg[/IMG]

 

[singlemalts]

No bar.....just a liquor cabinet. My next house I hope to build a bar. Maybe in a 1-2 years I'll dig this thread up and post what I built.

 

[-dave-]

-dave- I fixed your pictures. Just edit your post and use these tags (you need to add back the [ before IMG].

thank you sir
champion effort there

 

[-dave-]

No bar.....just a liquor cabinet. My next house I hope to build a bar. Maybe in a 1-2 years I'll dig this thread up and post what I built.

love that cabinet!

 

[Crisp]

Nevermind the cabinet. Love the fact that you have Russels Reserve RYE!

Good taste my man!

-Crisp

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I just like the fact that one can definitely tell where he draws the line beween the good stuff and the party booze.

I can hear it now...

Friend: Let's have a drink
SingleMalts: Sure, what'll ya have?
F: Ooo, boy, I'd love to try some of that Russel's Reserve.
SM: *reluctant inhale* Oh, ya know... I was thinking more along the line of... anything on the bottom shelf... Wanna shot of Cuervo?

 

[singlemalts]

I just like the fact that one can definitely tell where he draws the line beween the good stuff and the party booze.

I can hear it now...

Friend: Let's have a drink
SingleMalts: Sure, what'll ya have?
F: Ooo, boy, I'd love to try some of that Russel's Reserve.
SM: *reluctant inhale* Oh, ya know... I was thinking more along the line of... anything on the bottom shelf... Wanna shot of Cuervo?

Good point. I need to move some items up. My ports and the black bottle of anejo tequila should be on the upper level. Guess I can share the grappa.

 

[singlemalts]

So I have been putting together my bar adding items here and there and wanted you guys to take a look and give some input. I’m have started invite people over on a regular basis and want to be able to make most classic cocktails.

I noticed I need Dry Vermouth, what else am I missing?

Scotch

Single Malt​

Glenmorang Nectar
Macallan Cask Strength
Macallan 10 yr Fine Oak
Macallan 12 yr
Battle Hill Macallan 16yr
The Glenlivet 18 yr
Ardbeg 10yr
Bunnahabhain 12yr
Gragganmore 12 yr

Blended​

Chivas Regal 12 yr
Famous Grouse
Bourbon
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select
Jim Beam
Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniels
Irish Whiskey
Bushmills
Rye Whiskey
Russell’s Reserve 6yr
Vodka
Northern Peak
Gray Goose Lemon
Cognac
Francet VS
Tequila
Fina Estampa Anejo
Solorzano Anejo
Jose Cuervo Black
Campo Azul Silver
Gusano Rojo Mezcal
Rum
Bacardi Silver
Captian Morgan Spiced
Myers’s Dark Rum
Gin
Tanqueray
Other
Amaretto di Amore
Pitu Brazilian Cachaca
Grand Marquette Triple Orange
Bolivar Coffee
Johann Strauss Mocca coffee
Lorenzo Inga Grappa (Prosecco)
Cream de Menta (the geen stuff)
Chateau Monet Liqueur Framboise (black raspberry)
Sheridan’s
Irish Cream
Sweet Vermouth

Warre’s Otima Tawny Port 10yr
Sake
Beer
Wine (few reds and a few whites)

Mixers and stuff
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Homemade Maraschino Cherries
Homemade Bourbon Cherries
Maraschino Cherry Juice
Olive Juice
Olives
Sour Cocktail onions
Grenadine
Sugar cubes
Club Soda
Tonic Water
Ginger-ale
Ginger Beer
Cranberry Juice
Tomato Juice
Orange juice
Grapefruit Juice
Pineapple Juice
Lemon Sparkling water
Lime Sparkling Water
Coke
Diet Coke
Lemon-Lime Soda
Lime Juice
Lemon Juice
Key Lime Juice
Ginger Paste
Hot Sauce
I always have fresh Limes and Lemons in my fridge.
I freeze different juice concentrate into Ice cubes. That way all I have to do is melt it with a little water and I have Juice with out opening a 10oz bottle if the drink is just for my Wife or myself.

I can't wait to custom build a bar, next house.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Single Malts,
I only noticed some minor things missing from your list. Fot the most part you have just about everything a bar should have. The only things I'd really add are some better/different gins, flavored liquers and/or Southern Comfort, and some simple syrup, which is better than granulated or superfine sugar any day. Also, good call on the fresh fruit as it is great to have for multiple reasons; firstly I think juices taste much better when fresh, and it is also nice to have the fruit handy for preparing lemon or lime zest and/or garnish. Oh, and I almost forgot mint leaves for those wonderous creations known as Mint Juleps!

Way to go with the collection.