If you were a chef you would probably show up to work with your personal knives, so as a bartender don’t over look your tools… unless you aspire to be a cut-rate hack. The good news is you don’t have to leave your chair to purchase these. All the following products can be purchased on this site, just visit our store. Try the Ultimate Bartending Kit to get you started.

If you are a super low budget you can get by with the following:

• Cocktail Shaker
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Bottle Opener
• Wine Key
• Jigger or measuring glass

For a professional home bar experience these additional items are required.

• Bar Spoon
• Blender
• Ice Bucket
• Knife and Cutting Board
• Muddler
• Ice Scoop
• Tongs
• Pitcher
• Bar Mat
• Pour Spouts

Now that you have decided where your bar is going and you have the basic tools, it’s on to the good stuff. Stocking the bar with booze and mixers… I hope you have been saving, because this trip to the liquor store is going to cost you. For a basic bar setup grab the following:

From the Liquor Store 

1 Bottle Vodka

1 Bottle Flavored Vodka

1 Bottle Rum

1 Bottle Gin

1 Bottle Tequila

1 Bottle Triple Sec

1 Bottle of Bourbon/Whiskey

1 Bottle Irish Whiskey

1 Bottle of Irish Cream

1 Bottle of Amaretto

1 Bottle Coffee Liqueur

1 Bottle Single Malt Scotch

1 Bottle Blended Scotch

6 Pack Light Beer

6 Pack of Guinness

Cordials of your choice: i.e. Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Sambuca etc.

From the Grocery Store

Ginger ale

Lemon Lime Soda

Cola

Diet Cola

Tonic Water

Soda Water

Tomato Juice

Orange Juice

Pineapple Juice

Cranberry Juice

Grapefruit Juice

Lime Juice

Grenadine

Limes

Lemons

Oranges

Angostura Bitters

Worcestershire Sauce

Tabasco Sauce

Sugar

Salt and Pepper

The approximate cost to set everything up will be $200.00 and $500.00 USD depending how overboard you go.

Depending on how pro you want to go, you might want to consider purchasing the correct glassware for the job. At the minimum you should have:

Rocks Glasses            5 to 6oz

Tall Glasses                8 to 12oz

Shot Glasses              1 ½ oz.

Wine Glasses              5 to 10oz.

Martini Glasses          5 to 6 oz.

*Ninja Tip – If you are throwing a party at home you can take the catering route by using only white and red wine glasses for all drinks. (Although you might want to have a couple martini glasses handy)

*Ninja Tip – You can rent glasses from your local rent-all store if you are throwing a real rager.

*Ninja Tip – If you are serving hot drinks, make sure you are using the appropriate glassware or that is has handles.

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