Bar Set-up (for House Parties): Glasswares, Equipments & Mixers (+ Garnishes)

To offer cocktails for your house parties, first you will need to ensure that you are sufficiently equipped in bar. The basic set-up of the bar consists of 3 primary components: Glasswares, Bar Equipments as well as Mixers & Garnishes. Before you get started with identifying the neccessary items, it will be ideal to define the cocktails you would like to offer during your party (the bar set-up will very much be dependent on your Cocktail Menu). Here are some of the tips which may be useful in your set-up

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(1) Glasswares

• Beer Mug - The traditional beer container (Typical Size: 16 oz)
• Brandy Snifter - The shape of this glass concentrates the alcoholic odors to the top of the glass as your hands warm the brandy (Typical Size: 17.5 oz)
• Champagne flute - This tulip shaped glass is designed to show off the waltzing bubbles of the wine as they brush against the side of the glass and spread out into a sparkling mousse (Typical Size: 6 oz)
• Cocktail glass - This glass has a triangle-bowl design with a long stem, and is used for a wide range of straight-up (without ice) cocktails, including martinis, manhattans, metropolitans, and gimlets. Also known as a martini glass (Typical Size: 4-12 oz)
• Collins glass - Shaped similarly to a highball glass, only taller, the collins glass was originally used for the line of collins gin drinks, and is now also commonly used for soft drinks, alcoholic juice, and tropical/exotic juices such as Mai Tai's (Typical Size: 14 oz)
• Cordial glass - Small and stemmed glasses used for serving small portions of your favourite liquors at times such as after a meal (Typical Size: 2 oz)
• Highball glass - A straight-sided glass, often an elegant way to serve many types of mixed drinks, like those served on the rocks, shots, and mixer combined liquor drinks (ie. gin and tonic) (Typical Size: 8-12 oz)
• Hurricane glass - A tall, elegantly cut glass named after it's hurricane-lamp-like shape, used for exotic/tropical drinks (Typical Size: 15 oz)
• Margarita/coupette glass - This slightly larger and rounded approach to a cocktail glass has a broad-rim for holding salt, ideal for margarita's. It is also used in daiquiris and other fruit drinks (Typical Size: 12 oz)
• Mason jar - These large square containers are effective in keeping their contents sealed in an air tight environment. They're designed for home canning, being used for preserves and jam amongst other things (Typical Size: 16 oz)
• Old-fashioned glass - A short, round so called "rocks" glass, suitable for cocktails or liquor served on the rocks, or "with a splash" (Typical Size: 8-10 oz)
• Parfait glass - This glass has a similar inwards curve to that of a hurricane glass, with a steeper outwards rim and larger, rounded bowl. Often used for drinks containing fruit or ice cream (Typical Size: 12 oz)
• Pousse-cafe glass - A narrow glass essentially used for pousse cafes and other layered dessert drinks. It's shape increases the ease of layering ingredients (Typical Size: 6 oz)
• Punch bowl - A large demispherical bowl suitable for punches or large mixes (Typical Size: 1-5 gal)
• Red wine glass - A clear, thin, stemmed glass with a round bowl tapering inward at the rim (Typical Size: 8 oz)
  Sherry glassThe preferred glass for aperitifs, ports, and sherry. The copita, with it's aroma enhancing narrow taper, is a type of sherry glass (Typical Size: 2 oz)
• Shot glass - A small glass suitable for vodka, whiskey and other liquors. Many "shot" mixed drinks also call for shot glasses (Typical Size: 1.5 oz)
• Whiskey sour glass - Also known as a delmonico glass, this is a stemmed, wide opening glass, alike to a small version of a champagne flute (Typical Size: 5 oz)
• White wine glass - A clear, thin, stemmed glass with an elongated oval bowl tapering inward at the rim (Typical Size: 12.5 oz)

(2) Bar Equipments

• Can Opener - Useful for opening cans of fruit and syrup.
• Corkscrew - For opening wine and champagne bottles.
• Cloths - For wiping surfaces and equipment. These should be damp and not wet.
• Cutting Board - For slicing fruit and other garnishes. This should be heavy and laminated.
• Bar Towels - These are 100% cotton and have sewn edges for durability. Use these along with cloths to keep things clean. Make good use of times where you have no guests to clean bottles and wipe surfaces.
• Bottle Opener - For opening screw top bottles.
• Bottle Sealers - For keeping liquors and other bottle contents fresh.
• Cocktail Shaker - Essential for blending ingredients in cocktails and mixed drinks. Use a short, sharp and snappy shaking technique unless otherwise stated. There are many cocktail shakers availablemostly all get the job done. Choose one that's right for you. Always pour the least expensive ingredient into the cocktail shaker first, then if you find you've made a mistake, you've not wasted the expensive liquors.
• Electric Blender - Many cocktails require a blender to blend the ingredients smoothly together. Useful for drinks with fruit pieces or ice cream etc.
• Grater - To grate spices like nutmeg and others.
• Ice Bucket - A metal or insulated ice bucket keeps your ice cold and clean.
• Ice Tongs and Scoops - Use these to add ice to drinks. Never handle ice with your hands, it's not only unhygienic, but the heat from your hand will begin to melt the ice. Don't use glassware as a scoopit'll break or chip at best, then you'll have blood and glass in your ice.
• Jigger - A measurement tool.
• Juice Squeezer/Extractor - Needed for getting the most juice out of your fruits. It helps to soak citrus fruit in hot water before squeezing.
• Bar Spoon - A bar spoon with a long handle and a muddler end will allow you to mix and measure ingredients as well as crush garnishes.
• Measuring Cups - Normally glass or chrome with incremented measurements imprinted up the side. These are needed for accurate measurements. They usually come with a set of measuring spoons which are needed for the smaller quantities.
• Mixing Glass - Useful for long drinks where it is required to mix the ingredients without shaking.
• Sharp Knife - For cutting fruit and garnishes.
• Strainer - Removes the ice and fruit pulp from juices. This may come with a cocktail shaker.

(3) Mixers & Garnishes

Mixers

• Carbonated water (also called soda water, seltzer water, or sparkling water) - Basic
• Cola - Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. - Basic
• Ginger ale - Basic
• Lemon Sour
• Lemon-lime soda - 7-UP, Sprite, etc. - Basic
• Tonic water - Basic
• Apple cider
• Coconut milk
• Cranberry juice - Basic
• Grape juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Lemon juice - Basic
• Lemonade
• Limeade
• Olive juice
• Orange juice - Basic
• Pineapple juice
• Tomato juice - plain or flavored (V-8, Clamato, etc.)
• Wheatgrass juice
• Cream
• Half and half
• Ice cream
• Milk
• Honey
• Hot sauce - Tabasco sauce, etc.
• Worcestershire sauce
• Grenadine - Basic

Garnishes

• Lemon slice, twist, or wedge - Basic
• Lime slice, twist, or wedge - Basic
• Salt, coarse (applied to the rim of glasses) - Basic
• Sugar, granulated or powdered - Basic
• Carrot sticks
• Celery stalks (usually with leaves attached)
• Cherries
• Cinnamon, grated
• Cocktail olives (often stuffed with pimentos)
• Cocktail onions
• Mint sprigs or leaves
• Nutmeg, grated
• Orange slice, twist, or wedge
• Pineapple slice or wedge
• Pepper
• Shrimp
• Strawberries
• Watermelon wedge

With reference to DrinksMixer.com