Essentials for a Home Bar Cart

Bar carts can be great. In fact, a fully loaded and glamourous bar cart is next on my list of big projects for my home. They can, however, be quite the project. A cart alone can be super pricey and then you have to worry about stocking it up.

While I don’t have my dream bar cart yet, I do have a strong desire to create great cocktail experiences at home. Because I love making new cocktails, having friends over for a night in, and curling up with a whiskey, I have a list of basic bar necessities that I keep on hand to make sure that I can make happy hour, any hour at home.

Start with Glassware

If you are still pouring your wine into plastic cups, tisk, tisk. Wine glasses, good ones, can be found anywhere you look for an incredibly low price. The same can be said for champagne flutes, beer mugs, and other types of glasses. Not only does pouring your alcohol into the right glass make the alcohol meant for said glass taste better, it instantly makes you look like a grown-up. And looks, my friends, go a long way in making yourself feel like you have the grown-up thing down pact.

Buy Good Booze

The most important thing you need to have a great home-tail collection is the alcohol itself. Take a step out of your Bud Light comfort-zone and try some new things. I recommend finding the kind of alcohol you love the most and keeping it on hand at all times. In our house, we love dark liquor. Whiskey, Bourbon, Rum, you name it, if it’s dark, it’s probably got a permanent home on our shelves.

An easy way to push yourself outside of your comfort zone is to pay attention to what you drink when you go out. Start reading bar menus to get inspired. Order something that looks great that you may not have thought to make on your own. If you love it, ask your bartender, “What’s in it?” Talk to the alcohol pros about what is out there in the world, and before you know it, your knowledge and love for new types of alcohol will increase like crazy.

Don’t Forget to Garnish

Stock your kitchen with fresh ingredients like fruits, spices, herbs, and olives to make your drinks look extra tempting. This step is important because it can dress up any boring cocktail recipe and turn it into something really delicious.

Take a Bloody Mary, this very basic drink usually includes tomato juice, vodka, horseradish and you’re there. In our house, we jazz them up to a level that practically turns this cocktail into a meal. By adding things like pickles, celery stalks, cheese cubes, hot sauces and different kinds of herbs, the drink is instantly elevated.

With your new dream bar cart, go explore. Buy random bottles of liquor and try something new. Invite friends over or just celebrate every day. Make sure you say, "Cheers to you, home bartenders!"

Passionate about making homes more beautiful, Hannah Sampson is a design consultant based in Dallas, TX. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or email.