As those of you who've been hanging out in the IRC channel lately know, I'm in the process of building a bar in my apartment. Sure, it seems like a lot of effort to go through for a place that I don't even own, but I really want to have a bar...so bear with me.
So, I was wondering if any custo users out there have any recommendations; from places to purchase equipment, to personal favorite liquor / wine selections.
After I hear what everyone has to say, I'll post my tentative shopping list. :)
--- ds Customize.org Admin
03:32 pm, Monday, September 09, 2002 (7 years ago)
heh- Wherever you put it, put it in an open location. You want traffic to be able to flow by quickly, allowing the bartender to work comfortably. (im guessing it'll be you?) my favorite? Err...don't drink. So, I don't have one. It's all about the ice cold coke. Might I recommend marble countertops. Simply beautiful.
HEY! dude- there wasn't a reason to delete my homer j simpson post. that was cool. You people need to learn about the word 'random'. I like dogs. That was a random statement. It didn't fit in what I was talking about. Geez.
If you're going to have a bar, you need... let me repeat NEED some 50/50 to go with your vodka... There is nothing better than a good vodka sour at 2:30 in the morning. That is a must have.
well you got absolut and smirnoff, they're practically the same thing. I would go with a higher quality vodka along with the absolut, like grey goose or ketel one. I also see that you don't have vermouth on your list, how are you going to make martini's and manhattan's? I'd also stock worchestire sauce, salt and pepper, tabasco, and tomato juice so you can make bloody mary's. I'd recommend going to a place like crate and barrel and buying a quality bar tool set. Additionally, you'll need garnishes like cherries and olives, but you knew that already didn't you?
Oh and I almost forgot, you'll need the proper glasses for their respective drinks. You're not gonna put a martini in a highball...
And if you're gonna be having chicks over (which I hope you are) you'll probobly be making alot of cosmo's, and seabreeze's, so you'll need all the appropriate juices on hand (cranberry and grapefruit).
Lastly, for reference, you should have a book on hand. I own Mr. Bostons official bartender's and party guide, and it's very thorough. It actually has a section on stocking supplies for the basic bar, which I've essentially graced over.
-Barenjager (honey liqueur) -Jagermeister -Curacao (atleast 2 colors, reccomend Extase X.O. ornage and Bols Blue) -Everclear (95% pure fuck-you-up) -Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey (for that "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!?" effect) -99 Bananas -99 Blackberries -Goldschlager -A good top-shelf vodka (reccomend Grey Goose) -The cheapest bottom-shelf vodka you can get :) -Reccomend replacing your Smirnoff/Absolut and Absolut Citron with Skyy and Skyy Cirtus accordingly (your taste buds will thank you for this!) -Keep a couple good champagnes and wines on hand (no reccomendations here, not my style) -Bacardi O (orange rum) -Bacardi Limon (lemon rum)
Absinthe - if you can even get it (Wormwood liqueur, psychoactive and hallucinogenic)
Thanks everyone for the good comments. Remember, as I said, this is a tentative list and includes ONLY liquor. I have separate lists for equipment, beer, wine, and mixers and garnishes and, of course, glassware.
Having said that, Vermouth is *technically* a wine, thus, I have a sweet and dry vermouth on my wine list.
As far as Smirnoff and Absolut being nearly the same thing, I personally can tell significant difference, but I think you're right, I need to shoot for an Absolut / Ketel One combination (I'd really like to get my hands on a bottle of Rasputin from russia, but it's difficult. But it blows anything else away).
Skyy Vodka is very popular, and it's a good brand. I really don't have anything against it, but it (again) is in about the same quality field as Absolut (though I'd rank Skyy a bit lower myself) and we've established that I need to look beyond that range. Personal preference lends me to the Absolut line, though Skyy has become so trendy (I think it's that blue bottle that everyone loves...lol) and certainly holds its own in the vodka category. As far as my tastebuds thanking me, I think that 99/100 people wouldn't know the difference...and since I'm the 1 that would, and I prefer the Absolut...lol..you see where I'm going with this. :)
As far as Bacardi O and Bacardi Limon go, I have considered adding them to my list. However, I think they're gonna be something that comes a little further down the line. However, they are definitely quality drinks.
Let's see, the Jagermeister....LOL
I fucking HATE jager...but I suppose there are times when it is called for. I've already added it to the list since I posted it online. I'm not happy about it, but it's good to have some on hand.
As far as Goldschlager and Aftershock (the cinnamon beverages) go...I think I'll add a bottle of goldschlager to the list. I know a lot of people who've had bad experiences with cinnamon drinks, but I suppose it can't hurt to have them around. :)
Thank you for reminding about curacao...I can't BELIEVE I left those off the list. :)
Hrmm....a bottom shelf vodka.....I don't know..I just don't think I can subject people to Mr. Boston's.
and lastly, absinthe....a great recommendation....almost impossible to get ahold of here in Atlanta.
I was wondering if you have a rough description of the bar you are building and also possibly a description of the materials (type, sizes, estimated prices) you are using. I'm moving in a couple of weeks and my first project for the new place is a bar. Thanks.
_______________ "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ---Theodore Roosevelt
Or at any bookstore for under $15. It has an entire section devoted to setting up your own home bar, as well as overviews and histories of all the major types of liquors, and a drink encyclopedia with 1000's of recipes. My mom's been a bartender/bar manager for 20 years and that's the book she uses.
