{The Necessities: Cocktail Shaker, Martini Glasses, Jigger, Muddler, Key-Shaped Bottle Opener, Cocktail Book, Vintage Decanter, Slate Cheese Tray, Bar Tray.}

While I’ve never been able to fully get on board with the taste of hard liquor {it just tastes awful to me and needs all the simple syrup to make a drink drinkable}, nothing feels more grown up than having a fancy cocktail or having a glass of {non-alcoholic} wine after a long day. Plus, there’s something so sophisticated about having a home bar where you can make a signature cocktail while entertaining friends or simply whip up your favorite drink after a long day. While in college, there was nothing like grabbing happy hour with friends on a weeknight, but now, by the time the clock strikes five, I have zero energy to even consider going out. My bar is far from complete, but it has everything I need to make a cocktail {or mocktail} and serve hors d’oeuvre’s {such as a cheese plate or mini appetizers}. Typically, I make my drinks without booze for myself, but I still love having a designated space where I can keep all my tools and accessories for this ritual. Whether you have a full bar at home, a bar cart, or simply a small area in your home for your cocktail accessories, I’ve shared some of my requirements {the alcohol, mixers and garnishes, tools, and pretty extras I like the most} for an at-home bar that can rival any cocktail lounge. I hope this inspires your post-work cocktail ritual as much as it has inspired mine! x

Alcohol: Good alcohol can feel like a bit of an investment, so I like holding onto just a few bottles of hard liquor at a time. It’s enough of a mixture to make a drink that pleases everyone, but it’s not too much that you can feel overwhelmed. My favorites are vodka, tequila, whiskey, gin, and rum. Flavored vodkas are also fun to mix into your collection, as are liqueurs.

I also believe in holding onto beer/ cider, wine, and a good bottle of champagne for those evenings when you want something simpler, or for when you’re craving something a bit fancier like a champagne cocktail. I also like to hold onto non-alcoholic spirits, wine, and champagne, so that I can make a virgin cocktail for myself or any of our guests.

Tools: Listed above are pretty much the tools I require the most. I enjoy having a simple slate cheese tray where I can place various cheese or hors d’oeuvre’s I serve. A jigger helps me measure out the booze, while a muddler is a necessity for my bar since my drink of choice is a mint or passionfruit mojito. A classic cocktail book is a good way to learn more recipes for those of us who aren’t bartenders at heart. A cocktail shaker is also a requirement {and if you purchase a recipe shaker like the one I own, you won’t even require an additional book of recipes.} A decanter can be a pretty way to store extra alcohol, and a cute bottle opener is a necessity for those hard-to-open bottles. One other tool you may enjoy is a classic whiskey stone to keep your drink chilled, but personally, I don’t mind using ice. Bonus points if you make ice cubes that will elevate your drink as it melts such as coffee ice cubes for an Irish coffee cocktail.

Extras: To spice up my bar, I enjoy adding some extras such as a vase with flowers {or in this case foliage for a slightly less feminine aspect} or a pretty candle. These little accessories keep my home bar feeling fun and fresh.

x Paris