Hey Mommas! Happy Friday to ya! I hope all of you have had a wonderful week. It was a super cold week to start around here, but it's finally warmed up a bit now. I was getting a little desperate for some thawing out. There's just something so miserable about getting out to take the kids to school and the gauge in my car reads that it's 6 degrees outside. Yuck--no thank you.
January is always such a busy month for me. There's lots of birthdays in my family in January. Plus, January is a big planning and organizing month for me. This month has been especially that way. I'm determined to be more prepared and organized this year more than ever. Speaking of being prepared and organized, January is also a great month to prepare and organize your home bar for the warmer months that will certainly be here before you know it. Of course with those warmer months comes plenty of delicious, cold cocktails.
If you're a newbie to cocktail making and keeping a stocked bar at home, start out slow and easy. There's no need to rush out and buy all of these items at once. Add a few here and there and before you know it, you'll have everything you need. The great thing is almost all of these items have a very long shelf life, so there's no worrying about them expiring (save for the items in the fresh ingredient list of course). If you've been making cocktails for a while now, then all you'll need is a general restocking of your staples and add in some fresh new fun accessories and you'll be good to go! I suggest adding some metallic paper straws, festive swizzle sticks from Dollar Tree, and some cocktail umbrellas! :)
Keeping a stocked bar is easy, and doesn't have to break the bank. Adjust it to your tastes and your friends' and families' tastes that you have over to your house often. If you hate tequila and can't think of a person that cares for it, then don't bother stocking it. It's all up to you. In my house, Mr. Mojito and I like rum quite a bit. Therefore at any given point in time in my house, you will probably find 5-8 different bottles of rum!! Hey, I told you we like rum! ;)
So here it is girls. My guide to the ultimate Stocked Bar. Hope you find it useful as your comprehensive list of supplies to make all of your favorite cocktails. Cheers mommas! Here's to those warmer months ahead!
xo, Momma Mojito
MOMMA MOJITO'S STOCKED BAR GUIDE
Liquors/Liqueurs/Spirits:
- Rum (I always, always, ALWAYS keep Bacardi Superior (Silver) on hand at all times; I also always keep a spiced rum on hand such as Bacardi Oakheart, Kraken, or Captain Morgan; then I also keep a dark rum on hand as well)
- Vodka (my go-to is Tito's....I also like Grey Goose and Skyy)
- Tequila (I recommend keeping a silver and a gold in your bar but it's up to your preferences...I like Patron, 1800, and Tres Generaciones)
- Whiskey (I'm not a big whiskey drinker but I always keep it on hand for the occasional recipe and for guests...Crown Royal, Maker's Mark, TX Whiskey)
- Gin
- Brandy/Cognac
- Orange Liqueur such as Triple Sec, Gran Gala, Grand Marnier
- Vermouth
Additions:
- Orange Bitters
- Aromatic Bitters
- Simple Syrup
- Grenadine
- Hot Sauce such as Tabasco
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Horse Radish
- Sour Mix (homemade or store-bought)
- Sugar
- Sugar Cubes
- Kosher Salt
Mixers:
- Olive Juice
- Pickle Juice
- Tomato Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Lime Juice (sweetened and regular)
- Orange Juice
- Pineapple Juice
- Other Assorted Juices such as Cranberry Cocktail Juice, Pomegranate Juice, or Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
- Club Soda
- Tonic
- Sparkling Water
- Coca-Cola
- Sprite
- Ginger Ale
- Ginger Beer (alcoholic or nonalcoholic -- whichever you prefer)
Fresh Ingredients/Garnishes:
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Assorted Berries
- Herbs such as Mint (of course for making mojitos!), Thyme, Sage, and Rosemary -- availability will depend on the season
- Olives
- Maraschino Cherries (with Stems)
- Cocktail Onions
- Celery
- Spices from your Kitchen such as Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Cayenne Pepper
- Swizzle Sticks
- Cocktail Straws
- Cocktail Spears
- Cocktail Umbrellas
- Assorted Paper Straws
- Assorted Koozies
Tools:
- Blender
- Handheld Juicer
- Muddler
- Corkscrew
- Bottle Opener
- Knife
- Small Cutting Board
- Jigger Measure
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Cocktail Stirrer
- Small Tongs
Now of course this list is just a starting point and you have to adjust it to your preferences. There's lots of things you can add as you go like Blue Curacao, Bailey's, Cream of Coconut, and so many more yummy bar additions. Nevertheless, it's a great compilation of all the essentials I keep on hand regularly in my bar in order to make any standard cocktail that I or a guest in my house might be craving. Of course, I also recommend keeping a selection of beer and red and white wines available too. Sometimes, you just want to keep it simple with a glass of wine on your porch swing. I hear ya momma, me too. Have a specific question about one of these items or need help trying to locate one of them? Drop your question in the comments section, and I'll see if I can help! :) Happy Cocktail Making!
My home bar at the time of this post. I like to rotate things out regularly. You can find my light-up BAR sign at Target (it even has a timer!!). I keep the essential bottles out and handy. In the drawers I keep bar tools, cocktail straws, koozies, and other accessories. In the inside of the chest, I keep a selection of cocktail glasses and my other liquors and spirits that I don't use quite as often. If you have young kids at home, then I suggest purchasing a larger cabinet and keeping everything inside with a lock on the outside. Never hurts to be careful with little ones!
Fun Fact: That super old Budweiser can you see there? That was my Granddaddy's from a million years ago. He turned it into a mug! Now, it holds my collection of bottle caps. I have yet to figure out what I'm going to do with all of the bottle caps I'm collecting. Any clever ideas for me??
But that BAR sign though.... seriously run to Target and getcha one! It lights up for me every day by timer in the evening signaling that it's officially time for a cocktail! Now, that's my kind of decor! ;)