How to Set Up a Home Bar: The Complete Guide

Why Set Up a Home Bar?

A home bar is more than just a place to store bottles - it's a social hub that transforms how you entertain. Whether you're hosting poker nights, watching the big game, or celebrating special occasions, having a dedicated bar space elevates every gathering.

The benefits of a home bar extend beyond convenience:

• Cost savings: Making drinks at home costs a fraction of bar prices. A craft cocktail that costs £12-15 at a bar can be made for £2-3 at home.
• Personalization: Stock exactly what you and your guests love. No more settling for whatever's on tap.
• Convenience: No waiting for service, no closing times, no expensive taxis home.
• Social atmosphere: Your home bar becomes a natural gathering point, encouraging conversation and connection.
• Learning opportunity: Develop mixology skills and impress guests with craft cocktails.

Choosing the Right Location

The best home bar location depends on your space and how you plan to use it. Here are the most popular options:

Dedicated Bar Room

If you have a spare room, basement, or garage space, a dedicated bar room offers the ultimate setup. You'll have room for a full bar counter, seating, entertainment system, and even a kegerator. This works best for serious entertainers who host frequently.

Living Room Bar Cart

A bar cart is perfect for smaller spaces or renters. It's mobile, stylish, and can hold essentials for mixing drinks. Look for carts with at least two tiers - one for bottles and one for tools and glassware.

Kitchen Bar Area

Many kitchens have unused counter space or a breakfast bar that works perfectly. The advantage here is proximity to ice, water, and refrigeration. The downside is mixing drinks while someone's trying to cook can get crowded.

Outdoor Bar

A patio or deck bar is ideal for summer entertaining. Consider weather-resistant materials and have a plan for storing bottles during rain or extreme temperatures.

Essential Bar Equipment

You don't need to buy everything at once. Start with the basics and expand as you develop your skills.

Must-Have Tools (Starter Kit)

• Cocktail shaker: A Boston shaker (two-piece) or cobbler shaker (three-piece with built-in strainer). Budget: £15-30.
• Jigger: For measuring spirits accurately. Get a double-sided one with 25ml and 50ml measures.
• Bar spoon: Long-handled spoon for stirring and layering drinks.
• Strainer: Hawthorne strainer for shaken drinks. Skip if you have a cobbler shaker.
• Muddler: For crushing herbs, fruit, and sugar in drinks like mojitos and old fashioneds.
• Bottle opener and corkscrew: Essential for beer and wine.
• Cutting board and knife: For garnishes - citrus wheels, twists, and wedges.

Nice-to-Have Upgrades

• Fine mesh strainer: For double-straining drinks to remove ice shards and pulp.
• Citrus juicer: Fresh juice makes a noticeable difference in cocktails.
• Ice bucket and tongs: Keeps ice accessible and hygienic.
• Pour spouts: Attach to bottles for controlled, spill-free pouring.
• Mixing glass: For stirred drinks like martinis and Manhattans.

Advanced Equipment

• Kegerator: For serving draft beer at home. More on this below.
• Ice maker: If you entertain frequently, a dedicated ice maker is worth the investment.
• Blender: For frozen cocktails and blended drinks.
• Soda maker: Create fresh sparkling water for highballs and spritzers.

Glassware Guide

The right glass enhances both the drinking experience and presentation. Here's what you need:

Essential Glasses (Start Here)

Expanding Your Collection

• Coupe glasses: Elegant, stemmed glasses for cocktails like daiquiris and sidecars.
• Martini glasses: The classic V-shaped glass for martinis and cosmos.
• Champagne flutes: For sparkling wine and champagne cocktails.
• Shot glasses: For shooters and measuring.
• Copper mugs: Traditional for Moscow Mules - the copper keeps drinks extra cold.

Stocking Your Bar

A well-stocked bar doesn't mean owning every bottle - it means having versatile spirits that let you make a wide range of drinks.

The Essential 6 Bottles

With these six spirits, you can make dozens of classic cocktails:

1. Vodka: The most versatile spirit. Use in martinis, mules, and as a base for countless mixed drinks.
2. Gin: Essential for G&Ts, martinis, and Negronis. Look for a London Dry style.
3. White rum: For mojitos, daiquiris, and tropical drinks.
4. Bourbon or rye whiskey: For Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and whiskey sours.
5. Tequila (blanco): For margaritas and palomas.
6. Triple sec or Cointreau: Orange liqueur used in margaritas, cosmos, and sidecars.

Expanding Your Selection

Once you have the basics, consider adding:

• Dark rum: For darker cocktails and sipping.
• Scotch: For whisky lovers and Rob Roys.
• Vermouth (sweet and dry): Essential for martinis, Manhattans, and Negronis.
• Campari: For Negronis and Americanos.
• Amaretto: For Amaretto Sours and coffee drinks.
• Irish cream: For coffee cocktails and shooters.

Mixers and Garnishes

Don't forget the supporting cast:

• Tonic water: For G&Ts. Buy small bottles to keep it fresh and fizzy.
• Soda water: For highballs and spritzers.
• Cola and ginger ale: Classic mixers.
• Fresh citrus: Lemons, limes, and oranges for juice and garnishes.
• Simple syrup: Equal parts sugar and water - make your own.
• Angostura bitters: A few dashes transform many cocktails.
• Olives and cocktail onions: For martinis.
• Maraschino cherries: For Manhattans and Old Fashioneds.

Cocktail Basics Every Host Should Know

Master these five classic cocktails and you'll be able to impress any guest:

1. Old Fashioned

The original cocktail - simple, elegant, and timeless.

• 50ml bourbon or rye
• 1 sugar cube or 10ml simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel garnish

Method: Muddle sugar and bitters, add whiskey and ice, stir until cold, garnish with orange peel.

2. Margarita

The perfect balance of sweet, sour, and strong.

• 50ml tequila blanco
• 25ml triple sec
• 25ml fresh lime juice
• Salt rim (optional)

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into salt-rimmed glass, garnish with lime.

3. Negroni

A bitter, sophisticated aperitif.

• 25ml gin
• 25ml Campari
• 25ml sweet vermouth
• Orange peel garnish

Method: Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into rocks glass with ice, garnish with orange peel.

4. Mojito

Refreshing and perfect for summer.

• 50ml white rum
• 25ml fresh lime juice
• 20ml simple syrup
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Soda water to top

Method: Gently muddle mint with lime and syrup, add rum and ice, top with soda, stir gently.

5. Whiskey Sour

A perfect balance of sweet and sour.

• 50ml bourbon
• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 20ml simple syrup
• Egg white (optional)

Method: Dry shake with egg white (if using), add ice and shake again, strain into glass, garnish with cherry.

Setting Up a Kegerator

A kegerator takes your home bar to the next level. Serving fresh draft beer at home is a game-changer for parties and regular entertaining.

What is a Kegerator?

A kegerator is a refrigerator designed to store and dispense kegs of beer. It keeps beer at the perfect temperature (3-4°C) and uses CO2 pressure to push beer through the tap, maintaining carbonation.

Types of Kegerators

• Full-size: Holds a standard 50L keg. Best for frequent entertainers with space.
• Mini kegerator: Holds 5L party kegs. Good for occasional use or limited space.
• DIY conversion: Convert an old fridge into a kegerator with a conversion kit.
• Outdoor kegerator: Weather-resistant for patio bars.

Essential Kegerator Components

• CO2 tank: Provides pressure to dispense beer. 2.5kg tanks last several kegs.
• Regulator: Controls CO2 pressure. Different beers need different pressures.
• Beer line: Tubing that carries beer from keg to tap.
• Tap handle and faucet: Where the beer comes out. Quality faucets reduce foam.
• Drip tray: Catches spills and drips.

Keg Tracking

One challenge with kegs is knowing how much is left. There's nothing worse than running dry mid-party. A standard 50L keg yields about 88 pints (568ml) or 100 half-pints.

How DrinkCountr helps: When guests log their drinks through the kiosk, DrinkCountr automatically tracks keg levels based on pours. You'll get warnings when kegs are running low, so you can plan refills before running out.

Hosting Parties at Your Home Bar

A great home bar setup is only half the equation - hosting well is the other half.

Before the Party

• Stock up: Estimate 2-3 drinks per guest per hour, plus 20% buffer.
• Prep garnishes: Pre-cut citrus and have garnishes ready in containers.
• Make ice: You'll need more than you think - at least 500g per guest.
• Batch cocktails: For large parties, pre-mix popular cocktails without ice.
• Set up a self-serve station: Let guests help themselves to beer and simple drinks.
• Create a signature cocktail: One special drink with a story is memorable.

During the Party

• Be a host first: Don't spend all night behind the bar. Prep batches so you can mingle.
• Watch the ice: Refill ice buckets before they run out.
• Offer non-alcoholic options: Always have interesting non-alcoholic drinks available.
• Keep it clean: Periodically clear empty glasses and bottles.

The Awkward Money Conversation

Here's the uncomfortable truth about hosting: buying drinks for everyone adds up fast. A single party can easily cost £200-500 in alcohol. Asking friends to "chip in" after the fact often leads to awkwardness or resentment.

Some hosts just absorb the cost. Others try to split evenly, which feels unfair to light drinkers. Neither solution is great.

The Fair Way to Split Costs

This is exactly why we built DrinkCountr. Instead of splitting costs evenly (unfair) or eating the whole bill (unsustainable), everyone pays for what they actually drink.

How It Works

1. Set up your bar: Add your drinks with their prices (cost per serving from the keg, bottle, etc.)
2. Place a tablet at the bar: In kiosk mode, guests tap their name and what they're drinking.
3. Enjoy the party: The scoreboard adds fun competition, showing who's "winning" the night.
4. Settle up: At the end, everyone sees their itemized tab. Three IPAs, two whiskeys = £8.50. No arguments.

What About Good Hosts Who Don't Want to Charge?

Even if you don't charge friends, tracking is valuable:

• Know exactly how much to buy for next time
• Track keg levels so you never run dry
• See which drinks are popular (and which gather dust)
• Have fun with the competitive scoreboard

Maintenance and Organization

Keep your home bar in top shape with these habits:

Weekly Tasks

• Wipe down bar surface and equipment
• Check citrus and dispose of anything past its prime
• Clean shaker and tools thoroughly
• Restock ice trays

Monthly Tasks

• Deep clean glassware (hand wash, not dishwasher for quality glasses)
• Inventory spirits and restock as needed
• Clean beer lines if you have a kegerator (use line cleaner)
• Check vermouth and fortified wines - refrigerate after opening

Organization Tips

• Arrange bottles with most-used at the front
• Group spirits by category (whiskey together, gin together, etc.)
• Store backup stock separately from the active bar
• Label homemade syrups with date made
• Keep a shopping list for items running low