BAR ESSENTIALS

The Basic Apparatus
1. Paring Knife for slicing pieces of citrus garnish.
2. Peeler for the peel.
3. Use a professional one without the hands.
4. Bottle-opener
5. Stainless steel will do.
6. Swizzle sticks.
7. Muddler for crushing your herbs and spices to release their flavour.
8. Strainer
9. Jigger or what we call a peg measure.
10. Cocktail spoon, so that half your finger isn’t in the high ball.

Garnishing
If you do not have garnish worthy stuff in your fridge, you are missing out on something. There is no excuse for not having some lime, mint and salt, of course. For the rest, be creative, you can use chillies, cucumber, oranges, apple slices, grapefruit, olives, cherries, basil, rosemary, even litchis. There should be something you can find in your fridge to add that twist/punch/look.

There is no excuse for not having some lime, mint and salt around

Other basics/Mixers
1. Soda
2. Tonic Water
3. Lime juice cordial, works for lime and sugar quick fix.
4. Bitters
5. Worcestershire and Tobasco for an afternoon Bloody Mary
6. Coke and Sprite
7. Cranberry juice, orange and tomato, if possible

Essential glassware
1. Whiskey
2. High Ball
3. Stem glasses for martinis and margaritas
4. Pitcher
5. Wine
6. Wine and scotch decanter, especially if you are serving good stuff

Here’s a list of the essential alcohol for a basic bar.

Now, if you have the typical complaints of staff and dust and so on, keep all this locked up, but make sure it’s all there, and make sure you have a designated place to lay it out at the snap of a finger. Have a look at the inspirational images below so you can get it together.