Bar Cart Essentials

Published by

Kressie Kornis

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Please note, these are my recommendations for people who drink alcohol. If you do not drink, then you do not need an alcohol-filled bar cart.

If you find yourself frequently hosting, you might be wondering what type of beverages you should keep on hand. Here is a list to help you get started. Some items I recommend always having–others you can grow as you go.

For tools and glassware, try thrift stores or estate sales to save money. My Moscow mule mugs and martini glasses were thrifted, and my crystal set is from an estate sale!

Tools

  • Needed: Cork screw, bottle opener, jigger, wine bottle stoppers
  • Grow as you go: Cocktail shaker, strainer, muddler, decanter

Mixers

I recommend having at least one mixer at all times. I like to keep a few different flavors of La Croix in my fridge. Here are a few options:

  • Cans of sparkling water (like La Croix, Topo Chico)
  • Soda (like Sprite, Ginger Ale, Coke)
  • Juice (like cranberry, orange, grapefruit)
  • Tonic water

Small alcohol stock

If you are limited on space, I recommend starting with keeping the three alcohols below on hand.

  • 1 light liquor (vodka, gin, white rum)
  • 1 dark liquor (whisky, dark rum)
  • 1 bottle of wine

Full alcohol stock

This is a solid full stock of alcohol that you can grow as you go. Liquor is expensive, so don’t feel like you need to get this all in one trip.

  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Whiskey/Bourbon
  • Rum
  • Red wine
  • White wine (keep in fridge)
  • Classic beer (keep in fridge)

Extras that are nice to have, but not needed

  • Fresh lemon and limes
  • Rosé (keep in fridge)
  • Bubbly (in case a special occasion arrises!) (keep in fridge)
  • Craft beer (obviously, keep in fridge)

Don’t bother unless you have a reason or recipe

  • Specialty beer if you don’t like beer
  • Flavored liqueurs
  • Vermouth (it goes bad quickly if you’re not a martini drinker!)

Glasses to keep on hand

Like the full stock, you should go slowly and accumulate these pieces. Here’s what I recommend starting with:

  • 2 stemmed wine glasses
  • 2 stemless wine glasses
  • 2 martini glasses

Once you get a solid set of the above, you can work on growing your collection with whisky glasses, champagne coupes, stouts, and pints.

Additional things you should know

  • Beer expires, so keep an eye on your expiration dates. They tend to start separating (yuck) at around 100 days.
  • Opened bottle of wines stay good about 5 days.
  • Opened bottles of liquor with an ABV of over 30% last indefinitely .
  • ABV means Alcohol by Volume. The higher to ABV, the stronger effects of alcohol you’ll feel. For example, a light beer is around 4%, wine around 12-15%, and straight vodka around 40%.
  • Prior to 1978, it was legal for glass to be leaded. While at home tests are easily available, they are often not accurate. I do not recommend buying glassware or crystal from pre-1978 for this reason.

If you or a loved one struggles with alcohol addiction, please reach out to SAMHSA for help today.

DEFINE

What’s Uncouth?

Uncouth is an adjective that can be defined as awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior; lacking in polish and grace; strange or clumsy in shape or appearance.

To put it simply, it’s having bad manners.

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HELLO,

I’m Kressie

I am a writer and stand-up comedian living in Atlanta. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that y’all don’t know how to act. Since it’s been over 60 years since the queen of etiquette Emily Post has passed, I fear it is time for my snarky Zoomer self to step in and tell you how to act at drinks with coworkers, what to bring to a housewarming, and when to write a thank you note, like, in the mail. Remember mail?