Building your own Home Bar!

Posted by Keith Saunders

Posted: April 18, 2008 - 4:22 pm

How many times have you sat back and said,"Boy, it would be great to have my own bar." Well let's look into what it would take to impress your friends and family. How much money will I have to invest you ask?

First make sure you have the space to put it in. Second have the proper equipment. Let's say your starting from scratch. Here is what you need for a basic home bar;

Equipment

A Jigger for measuring-$2.50 Measuring Spoons-$1.77
Strainer-$3.34 Small Knife-$1.94
Long Handled Spoon-$2.25 Corkscrew-$2.76
Bottle Opener-$3.50 Whisk-$1.77
Cocktail Shaker-$7.77 Cutting Board-$2.44
Stir Rod-$2.77 Ice Scoop-$3.44

Total Price-$36.05

Glassware

Try and start out small, maybe sets of four. These are five different types of glassware to have for your new bar.

4-7oz. martini glasses $8.88
4-12oz. wine glasses
4-10.5 oz. old-fashioned glasses
4-12oz. tall glasses
4-16oz. pint glasses

Aside from the martini glasses the rest of the glassware can be purchased for $14.53 in a set of 16.

Glassware cost-$23.41

I shopped all the above prices at Wal-Mart. You can get the fanciest and prettiest items but in the end they all serve the same purpose. Your cost will depend on your taste.

Now the most important part, your Alcohol and mixer selections.

To make life a whole lot easier, start with the basics.

Spirits

Smirnoff Vodka 750 ml-$13.99
Gilbey's Gin 750ml-$11.49
Bacardi light 750ml-$15.99
Jim Beam Bourbon 750ml-$15.99
Sweet Vermouth 750ml-$9.99
Dry Vermouth 750ml-$9.99
Triple Sec 750ml-$9.99

Total spirit price-$87.43

Once again this is based on the prices at the Brown Jug Warehouse. They fluctuate depending on what is on special and the cost is based on your personal taste.

These are your base for a good time. It's important to remember how much you will get out of these bottles. You'll get 16.5-1 1/2oz shots out of a 750 ml bottle and 22-1 1/2 oz. shots out of a 1 litre bottle. Measuring accurately is important to becoming a successful bartender and serving your guests responsibly.

Next your mixers.

Mixers

7-up-$1.49 Lemon-$1.29
Tonic-$1.49 Lime-$.99
Coke-$1.49 Salt/Pepper (in your kitchen)
Soda$1.49 Sugar (Kitchen again)
Bitters-$4.69 Sweet and Sour-$3.49
Roses Lime-$3.69 Roses Lime-$3.89
Grenadine-$3.29 Cranberry Juice-$4.69
Orange Juice-$2.59

Total mixer price-$37.48

Now your ready to be a drink master. How am I going to be a mixologist now that I have all of these ingredients to figure out?

Don't fret, there is a place you can go to and make all your cocktail dreams come true while you amaze everyone.

If you go to www.webtender.com an go to the in my bar link as I did and select all of the above spirits and mixers you will get 97 different cocktails recipes that you can create for everyone.

As you expand your bar you'll put yourself in a popular place as you expand your mixology skills.

Who wouldn't want that. All safely within your own home!

Your'e toal cost for your bar would be $193.25.

Throw in some some Bogle Chardonnay and Sagelands Merlot at $9.99 each and a six-pack of Beck's at $7.49 to round out your watering hole and it puts you at $220.72

This may sound a little pricey but don't forget your starting out from scratch.

You're cost will come down dramatically if your able to double your regular kitchen glassware with your bar and adapt your kitchen tools to work for you. Everyone has can openers floating around in their kitchen as well as other supplies that will save you money.

Total cost after modifications should run between $135.-$150. With gas, food and living costs sky-rocketing this seems pretty reasonable for several nights of entertainment.

I almost forgot, don't forget the ice, $1.49 a bag at Carrs.

Not a bad start for your first in-home bar. Let me know where the party is and I'll be by!

Salut!

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