Creating the Ultimate At-Home Liquor Cabinet

As the weather starts to cool down and sitting outside at restaurants seems slightly less appealing, it’s time to start thinking about developing your own “bar program” at home. Sure, we all have the bottle of nice tequila that a friend brought over to a party two years ago, or a beautiful bottle of red that we’ve been saving for a special occasion, but how can we spruce up the everyday cocktail? 

With a couple of inexpensive tools and some interesting spirits, you’ll be well equipped for cold weather cocktails at home.

The Tools: Cocktail Shaker, Measuring Jigger & Mixing Spoon

First step to a great cocktail at home? Bartending tools! While you can definitely get away with stirring your cocktail in a glass with a teaspoon, there’s something about the ritual of making a cocktail in a shaker that will make your drink much more special -- and delicious. This beginners kit on Amazon is a great jumping off point, and it comes with a cocktail recipe book if you want to get extra fancy. 

Selecting your Basics

When considering which basics to keep on hand, it’s important to think about a few different elements. Do you prefer spirit-forward cocktails or something less strong? Fizzy, rocks, neat? Sweet, savory? Let’s take vodka for example -- if you’re someone who enjoys vodka sodas/cranberries and tonics, choosing a vodka that has a clean finish with slightly sweet notes is best for you. Tito’s Vodka is a popular (and affordable) choice that works in multiple applications. If you are someone who goes for martinis and gimlets at the bar, go for something that has some character that will stand out like Amass Copenhagen Vodka. Another fun addition to the bar for gin drinkers is Empress 1908 Gin, which is infused with vibrantly-tinted butterfly pea blossom delivering a beautiful purple/indigo hue to your drinks.

The Mixers

Have you ever gone to make a gin and tonic only to discover that the bottle of tonic you have in the fridge is completely flat? A way to avoid this issue is stocking up on single serving bottles of tonic that not only make for a more effervescent drink, but also are a pretty way to serve cocktails to guests where they can choose how strong they’d like their beverages. Fever Tree makes delicious tonic in small glass bottles with beautiful packaging to boot.

Amaro

Amaro is a category of herbaceous bittersweet liquors typically served as after dinner drinks. While most people stick to the classics in this category (i.e. Campari and Aperol), there is a whole world of amaro made with unique blends of herbs, spices and fruits. This is also a fun opportunity to support local businesses, as you can often find nearby distilleries that are making their own small batches of amaro (Forthave Spirits based in Brooklyn, New York is definitely worth checking out!).

If you’re local to Bergen County, we love Haworth Wine & Spirits and Jersey Wine & Spirits -- they have incredibly helpful teams who are always happy to give you recommendations on the latest and greatest for your bar. 

Any other questions on perfecting your bar game? Send us an email at hello@peppercornevents.com