How to Build a Bar: A Setup for Every Stage

Photo by Poul Hoang on Unsplash

Okay, you just moved into your first apartment that does not share a wall with your college roommates, nor your little sister.

You've graduated from decorating with the Tito's Handle on the kitchen cabinets and the Coors Light signs. Your neighbor dropped off a bottle of TJ's wine, but there's nowhere to put it.

Welcome to the world of creating your very own bar. Here is what you need:

• Dedicated area

• Bar tools

• Glasses for your favorite drink

• Bitters

We all are at different stages of our lives and our budgets, so figuring out how to make a nice setup work for you is key. Below, I've broken down how to build a bar starting with the foundation to the place where you might need to start charging people at the door for how good your skills have gotten.

I'm just looking for the basics. Give me the foundation.

• Dedicated area

  • This can be a bar cart, utility cart, or really any table that is anywhere from 24" to 36."

  • Opt for one that has at least two shelves; the first shelf will be display and the bottom shelf can hold your backup inventory.

• Bar tools:

  • Cobbler shaker

  • Jigger (or shot glass)

  • Bar spoon

  • Citrus juicer

  • Bottle opener

    • Here is a kit from Awesome Drinks. It has pretty solid reviews. Stray away from the Amazon kits because they are usually cheap and break. Now that you have a place on your own, invest in nice and quality things. Nice doesn't always mean expensive, just like cheap doesn't always mean good.

• A set of short and tall glasses

  • Hack: Place a bulk order from WebstraurantStore with your friends and split them up. If you and two buddies go in, you can each get 4 glasses of each (8 glasses total) for $16 in total. Or go full entrepreneur and sell the rest on FB marketplace.

• Bitters. Start with Orange Bitters. Just promise me.

I'm interested in cocktails as a hobby. Foundation + some fun.

• Dedicated area

  • A bar cart could work, but something that has doors might cover up the tools a little better to make the space clean.

  • The Liquidations Guys are a few options that are nice, but still friendly to your budget so you can play with the tools.

• Bar tools

  • Shaker (Boston or Cobbler)

  • Jigger

  • Hawthorne strainer (if using Boston shaker)

  • Bar spoon

  • Citrus juicer or reamer

  • Muddler

  • Channel knife (for garnishes)

  • Fine mesh strainer (for double straining)

  • Cocktail picks (for olives, cherries, lemon twists)

  • Sphere or cube ice molds

• Glasses for your favorite drink, get two of each that you like

  • If you like Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sours, pick Rocks Glass

  • If you like G&Ts and Rum & Cokes, pick a Highball Glass (sometimes called a Collins)

  • If you like Manhattans and Sidecars, pick a Coupe Class

  • BONUS: Get a decanter set. Here's one that is 60% off right now. Macy's is alive and well, people.

• Bitters

  • Angostura Aromatic Bitters

  • Orange Bitters

I got a bonus at work. Let's go all out.

• Dedicated area

  • I'd recommend a bar cabinet since you have so many tools you are playing with.

• Bar tools:

  • Shaker (Boston or Cobbler)

  • Jigger

  • Hawthorne strainer (if using Boston shaker)

  • Bar spoon

  • Citrus juicer or reamer

  • Muddler

  • Channel knife (for garnishes)

  • Fine mesh strainer (for double straining)

  • Cocktail picks (for olives, cherries, lemon twists)

  • Sphere or cube ice molds

  • Mixing glass

  • Ice bucket

  • Bar mat

• Glasses for your favorite drink

  • A couple rocks, highball, martini, coupe, and Nick and Nora glasses. Don't be afraid of flutes, tiki cups, or copper mugs.

• A bitters library: orange, angostura, chocolate

Now, it's time to sit back, shake up a Whiskey Sour, and enjoy your freedom

Recipe for Whiskey Sour

• 2 oz. your favorite Bourbon

• 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz. simple syrup

• 1/2 oz. egg whites

1. Add the egg white to a shaker for 15 seconds

2. Add the rest of the ingredients, fill the shaker with ice, and shake hard for 20 seconds.

3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

4. Garnish with a lemon wheel.