This is for every man and woman out there who isn't a bartender, but likes to play one when at home entertaining guests. I have bartended for a few years (too many, but I don't feel like aging myself). I built my own bar at home, in my kitchen. It has hanging glass racks and room for all of my supplies. First you need to set up your bar. This is going to be set up how you like it and visually what you want, but above your bar there should be hanging glass racks where the glasses slide in by the bottom. Go to any bar and look at how they have theirs hung and that will give you an idea of how to build yours. Mine are made of wood and I built them in a wall recess, shelf area. Each rack is made of one L shaped rack and one reverse L rack to make one rack.

Glassware: 6 of each

Margarita glasses

Martini glasses

Wine glasses

Shot glasses

Rocks glasses

Tumblers

Chimneys

Wet bar supplies

S&S (Sweet and Sour)

Triple Sec

Rose's Lime and grenadine

Tomato Juice

OJ

Cranberry juice

Bottle of Coke

Bottle of 7 up

1/2 and 1/2

grapefruit juice

Well Liquors (generic or choice)

Vodka

Gin

Tequila

Rum

Whiskey

Scotch

Khalua

Garnishes

Sliced Limes

Sliced Lemons

Olives

Cherries



Other miscellaneous Supplies

Crushed ice

Bar towel

Shaker with strainer

Margarita salt spinner

Toothpicks

Worcestershire

S&P

Tabasco

Celery Salt

Bartender's Bible (recipe book)

various sized straws

blender

You are basically ready to open up your home bar. Here's a couple of recipes to get you started:

Screwdriver

1 1/2 oz Vodka

Fill with OJ

Greyhound

1 1/2 oz vodka

fill grapefruit juice

(for salty dog simply salt rim)

Tequila sunrise

1 1/2 oz tequila

roses lime

triple sec

fill with OJ

splash roses grenadine and cherry for garnish

Now you are ready with a few basics, only buy juices and fresh fruit for as much as you need that night (obviously they will spoil). You can get as fancy as you want, that's what being a mixologist is all about. You can show off a little with your garnishes by making lime and lemon twists. Making fancy garnishes isn't all that hard, just use your imagination. Think about color and presentation. If you have a friend who bartends have them give you a couple of lessons before striking out on your own. Any questions feel free to e-mail me.