All editors and authors of our portal are consistent supporters of a healthy lifestyle. However, we also know that sometimes the soul asks for reckless fun, which helps to forget about all current problems for a while. And if you plan to get away with your friends at a home party - we will tell you how to do it right.
In general, parties are now in fashion: a pajama party, gangster or Hawaiian, undoubtedly, all these events will attract many guests to your home. You can arrange a themed holiday in different ways, but none of them is complete without cocktails. You can think carefully about the script, choose the costumes and brightly decorate the apartment, but it is not always appropriate to treat friends with mineral water or tea - some simply will not understand.
Home bar is an integral part of any home party. Only he is different from a professional bar in pubs. What specific differences exist and how to choose all the accessories for a home bar - today we are discussing this topic.
Tip number 1: choose only the necessary bar accessories
If you have enough finances and you want to show off the breadth of the range for the bar in front of friends, then, of course, you can buy absolutely everything that comes handy and has anything to do with the preparation of cocktails. However, the question is this: will you, as a beginner bartender, need each of the purchased devices? Most likely no. Because professionally grounded masters of bartender art have been studying for more than one year, and their talent does not depend on the number of ingredients or entourage.
For a home party there will be a rather modest set of accessories, which consists of:
1. From the jigger,
2. Shaker
3. Bar spoon
4. Strainer
5. Madler,
6. Citrus Press
7. Bar knife.
8. Ice tongs.
The titles for many are fantastic. In fact, everything is much simpler: you probably met many of the things in this list in clubs, watching the bartender preparing a cocktail for you. Let's talk about each subject in more detail.
Jigger - This is a small metal cup, consisting of two parts. One of them is slightly larger, and the other is slightly smaller. Standard jiggers usually come in sizes of 20/40 ml and 25/50 ml. A jigger is a measuring cup, with the help of which a barman measures the amount of an alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktail drink. Sometimes this thing can be single or even triple, tapered or with straight walls. Often, many jiggers have a measuring scale.
Shaker - a subject for mixing ingredients. It is of three types:
- Cobbler - a three-part device with a strainer and a stainless steel lid,
- Boston Shaker - shaker in two parts, one of which is glass and the other metal.
- French Shaker - it looks like a cobbler, but there is no strainer in it.
The most suitable option for the house is a classic cobbler.
Bar spoon differs from the tea or coffee length and shape of its handle. Most often, the length is 15 cm and is made in the form of a spiral. A bar spoon is needed to make puff cocktails when the bartender pours the ingredient along the handle, and this item is also necessary for mixing the cocktail pieces in a tall glass.
Strainer It is an intricate sieve, which is necessary for screening out large chunks of ice, as well as fruit. Through the strainer, the drink is usually poured into a glass, after shaking in a shaker. Some shakers have a built-in strainer, which is extremely convenient for home use.
Madler many are baffled by their scientific name, but in reality everything is much simpler. This is an ordinary tolkushka, which is used for squeezing juice and pulp or chafing fruit for smoothies. Madler is made from wood, metal or plastic. At one end of it can be located smooth tolkushka, and at the other - toothed. Madler is an indispensable thing during cooking "Mojito".
Bar knives needed to remove the peel from the fruit, as well as for aesthetic cutting of the pulp. Sometimes bartenders use in their work sets of knives, each of which performs its function. It makes no sense to acquire such a set for a home party, but a bar folding knife, in which there is also a corkscrew and opener, will have to be very useful.
Citrus Press needed for squeezing juice from citrus fruits. There are complex and expensive electrical or simple and cheap - mechanical. In most cases, mechanical enough for the eyes.
Ice tongs - do not need special explanations. Without them, taking slippery and cold ice cubes for cocktails is quite problematic.
Tip number 2: dishes for the bar does not happen much
If the restrictions in the bar accessories should be observed, due to the fact that many items you simply do not need, then the dishes are always needed. But to approach her choice should also be wisely.
In the home bar is not important a variety of dishes, and its quantity. After all, you cannot say with precision how many people will come to visit you and how actively they will behave. Sometimes the degree of fun at a party just rolls over and in these moments you can not avoid the battle of dishes.
For filling your personal bar counter will be useful:
1. Highballs - tall glasses for low alcohol and soft drinks. They are designed for the so-called "long drink", when people chatting slowly sip a cocktail from a glass with ice.
2. Shots - small piles for "shot-drink". As a rule, from such mini-cups alcohol is drunk in one gulp in undiluted form. But there are cocktails like "B-52", which are served in such dishes.
3. Cocktail glasses, representing a classic martini glass on a high cone-shaped stem.
4. Glasses "Old fashion" with smooth walls and high bottom. They are needed for whiskey with ice, brandy and some cocktails.
5. Tall glasses "Irish coffee" for mulled wine, tea, Irish coffee or punch.
6. Glasses "Flute" for sparkling wines.
7. Wine glasses.
8. Beer mugs.
As a rule, this set is enough for a house party. But if among your friends there are special connoisseurs of cocktails or refined natures, you can safely add to our list various positions.
Tip number 3: do not save on drinks
Alcohol is very harmful! But even more harmful - low-quality alcohol. Therefore, if you are going to have a great party and have a good rest, taking care of good drinks is a responsible and important matter. Few people like a terrible hangover in the morning or poisoning with poor-quality swill. Sometimes, sorting through vodka-based cocktails, some go straight to the hospital. Worthy event - it is nice people, good cocktails and attentive owner.
Filling a bar is a long and expensive process. It may include some amount of alcoholic ingredients. But for a novice bartender it will be enough to have a few standard positions, which we will discuss below.
Rum - strong alcoholic drink. There are several types: dark, white and aged about 7 years. Rum is used to make cocktails, for example, Long Island, Cuba Libre, or Brass Monkey.
Gin - drink, without which it is impossible to imagine a cocktail "Long Island". In its pure form, gin is usually not consumed, but the spices that make up this alcohol reveal their flavors in incredible ways in various drinks based on it. Gin is part of the "White Lady", "Vesper" and "Gin and Tonic".
Vodka It is the basis of a large number of alcoholic cocktails, and is also taken in its pure form, chilled. It depends on the quality of this ingredient what the state of the person will be in the morning after the party. You should not save on vodka, because a poor-quality drink can hopelessly spoil any cocktail. With vodka prepare "Cosmopolitan", "Long Island", "Screwdriver", "Vesper", "White Russian" and "Bloody Mary".
Cocktails based on liqueurs often multi-layered. They look very presentable, even the process of preparation is very interesting to watch. Of course, working with liquor and other ingredients will require some skills, but later you can cook: "Margarita", "Cosmopolitan", "White Lady", "Long Island" and the well-known "B-52".
You can also add tequila, tincture, red vermouth and much more to your piggy bank of your home bar, as your heart and wallet wish.
Advice №4: do not forget about other ingredients, except alcohol
Lemons, limes, oranges, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, cola, sprites or cream - without all these goodies, the home bar is meaningless. The unique “Mulled Wine” cannot be prepared without cloves, cinnamon and honey, and the classic of the genre - “Mojito” requires the presence of mint and lime.
Cocktails are made with the mind and always require compliance with the recipe. Very often in the list of ingredients appear in addition to fruit, and even spices. These can be: cinnamon, vanilla, mint or lemon balm, cardamom, linden, clove and other aromatic herbs.
Orange or lemon zest side dishes are also found in many alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The wonderful aroma of these fruits accompanies punches and lemonades.
In addition to the listed goodies, in some drinks there is even an egg, tomato juice, grapefruit and ginger.
You can experiment endlessly with cocktails and fill your home bar. Remember: all invested funds will be more than repaid by the scale of the party, after which you will probably be called her queen.
And you can borrow cocktail recipes in our article: 30 best recipes of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails for a home party
