We all want something in our home that is the epitome of taste and elegance. Some have family heirlooms, others have expensive china from their wedding, but for you? A bar cart teeming with alcohol, pristine glassware, and the best barware comes to mind. Don’t bring the guests over just yet because first, we need to go over the necessities you need to stock up on.
Bar Cart Essentials
A Bar Cart To Match Your Tastes
First and foremost you’ll need a cart that suits your individual needs. Do you like to have something on the extravagant side or do you prefer something a little more lowkey? There’s also no shame in wanting a less expensive cart to fill with more lavish decor (or a minimalist cart in general).
Some carts out there will only set you back about $100, while others can soar to prices of $800. Some are also rolling bar carts while others stay put in a place of your choosing. It really all comes down to what you’d prefer and which drink cart best suits your home.
An important thing to take into account is that bar carts also come in a variety of different finishes. If you’re not particularly fond of the typical wood finish, look into getting something copper or rose gold. There are lots of different drink carts out there that not only cater to your price point, but also to your aesthetic.
Alcohol To Get The Party Started
Now that you have the cart you want, it’s time to look into the kind of booze you want. There’s really no need to get crazy with your choices. Typical choices like whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, and rum are all excellent additions to your bar cart and can be applied to a slew of cocktail recipes. If you prefer a certain kind of alcohol over others then, by all means, include it. If, on the other hand, you’re wondering where you should begin then you needn’t go any further than your basics.
Barware To Satisfy Everyone’s Needs
Alright, so you have the bar cart and you have the drinks to get you started. What do you need next? Essential tools that will turn you into a bar master. This is another step that all boils down to your personal tastes and what you’d most like to see make an appearance on your drink cart. But, some of the typical selections are:
- An ice bucket. Having an ice bucket around is a classy addition that guarantees your guests won’t be served something warm on a hot day. The only thing you need to worry about with this tool is how much room it takes up on the cart.
- A shaker. When you’re making cocktails for you or your friends, the one thing you can’t go wrong with having is a good quality shaker. Not only do they make you look super professional behind the bar cart, but you’d be lost without a paddle trying to make certain drinks with no shaker.
- A strainer. Having a good strainer in your bar cart helps keep the ice from falling into the glass. It also helps ensure that no herbs or citrus slip in either, leaving you with nothing but the refreshing taste.
- A jigger. Unless you’re somehow confident enough to eyeball the amount of liquor you’re pouring into glasses, you’ll want a trustworthy jigger by your side. Professionals use this tool to accurately measure the amount of alcohol, simple syrup, and other ingredients into drinks.
- Cocktail spoons. These guys will help make sure that everything is properly stirred and you’re not left with uneven levels of alcohol and additional ingredients.
- Bottle opener. It should go without saying that having a bottle opener at any time has saved us more than once. Keeping one nestled in the confines of your bar cart will ensure you’re never without an unopened drink again.
- A corkscrew. Just like with the bottle opener, having a corkscrew on standby is a lifesaver. There are ways to open a bottle of wine without one, but why rummage for other tools when you can have everything you need in one convenient cart?
Glassware To Separate You From The Rest
We all have glasses in our home that will do the job of… well, holding a drink, but having some fancier glassware on your drink cart really spruces things up. If you’re not looking to spend a ton of money on new glasses then you should certainly opt for saving your pennies, but if you’re looking to go all out then indulge in some new glasses. These can range from old-fashioned kinds for a more traditional look or the modern sets to keep things up to date. It’s all about how you want your bar cart to look.
The kinds of glasses you want really all boils down to the types of drinks you think you would be making the most. Would you prefer to opt for snifters over martini glasses? Do you think having shot glasses is the best bet for you and your personal tastes? It’s entirely up to you. If you’re a bit stumped than a few of the glasses to get you started are:
- Snifters
- Collins glasses
- Martini glasses
- Margarita glasses
- Wine glasses
Bear in mind that there are also copper glassware sets available if you’re looking to jazz up your cart or you can even get your glasses monogrammed to really make you stand out.
You can also look into grabbing a beautiful decanter for yourself. A decanter is definitely one of those extras you don’t really need but still makes your bar cart look particularly fancy. Decanters are also something you can customize, thereby making it special to you and serving as a focal point on the cart.
The Extras That Make Things Pop
- Coasters. Coasters not only protect your precious furniture from stains but they also add a little something to your drink cart. You have the option to choose whichever ones fit your tastes or you can customize them too.
- A pair of tongs. Sometimes these come with the ice bucket, but in case they don’t you should look into purchasing a pair. They add elegance to the art of crafting drinks and there’s nothing classier than sticking an ice cube into a drink with a pair of tongs.
- Cutting board. This might seem like a bit of a weird essential but stick with us here. When you’re slicing garnishes or preparing ingredients for a drink, a cutting board is your best friend. It also helps to keep grime off your bar cart by giving you a different surface to cut on.
How To Make It Your Own
Looking up bar decor ideas are fun, even if they belong to someone else. So, once you’ve selected the tools you want to bring to your bar cart how do you make something your own? Well, it’s really up to you.
- Flowers/plants. You can include flowers or a plant of some kind that adds a splash of your personality. Having a plant atop your drink cart will give it that little bit of added life and make it more aesthetically pleasing.
- Bursts of color. You can also sprinkle in some pops of color with various cocktail napkins or even a tea towel.
- Monogrammed items. As we mentioned before, you can also use monogrammed glassware to separate you from others. Tea towels and even the ice bucket can be monogrammed as well so the party doesn’t need to stop with your dishes.
Putting together a bar cart can honestly be great fun. You’ll have a new conversation piece in the dining or living room and you’ll be able to entertain guests all from this nifty little item. Plus, a drink cart is one of those awesome home items that you can make entirely your own. Head out to the store and purchase all the things you think will make your cart unique to you and don’t forget to add some pops of personality in there as well. At the end of the day, you and your visitors won’t get enough.
