Stock A Home Bar

To get your bar fully stocked and ready for entertaining, you'll most likely need about $250 for domestic and local brands of liquors. Tack on another 20% or so to upgrade to premium labels.

A home bar should be stocked with 750 ML bottles of the following:

• An apéritif such as Campari
• Champagne or sparkling wine
• Several bottles of white wine
• Several bottles of red wine
• Dry and sweet vermouth
• Vodka
• Gin
• Rum
• Scotch
• Bourbon
• Whiskey
• Brandy or cognac
• Tequila
• Beer, a nice mix of domestic and imported varieties
• Cordials such as triple sec, Grand Marnier, amaretto, Kahlua, etc.

As you grow your selection, you might want to add:

• Flavored premium vodkas
• V.S.O.P. cognac
• Assorted microbrews
• Flavored rums
• Assorted red and white wines from France, California, Germany, Australia, etc.

You'll also need mixers if you're going to serve your guests, so add the following to your shopping list:

• Club soda
• Fruit juices (orange, lemon, grapefruit, tomato, pineapple, lime, etc.)
• Grenadine
• Angostura bitters
• Tabasco sauce

Lastly, don't forget your garnishes, such as lemon and lime slices, olives, citrus twists, maraschino cherries, rimming salts/sugars and swizzle sticks.

Written by Erika Pitera

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