[Hendrix]

So, I'm trying to improve my home bar. Except the obvious (vodka, gin, tequila etc..), what would you guys recommend?

Also, what drinks are known to be loved by chicks?

P.S. Pics of your own booze display will be appreciated. Will upload mine later.

[Drazen]

good glassware is probably the important. I use Schott Zwieisel.

[Kickb]

I don't have much but I like to keep a bottle of Sky vodka, mixers(small cans of sprite, orange juice, and grape Mio) and a couple bottles of red and white wine. Right now i have New Age and Cashmere wine.




Both cost between $9 and $15.

[Drazen]

girls like cranberry vodkas. and beer. Always have some wines, I've had champagne but no one ever wants that for some reason.

I don't stock anything I wouldn't drink myself (i.e. fruity, sweet liquors, etc). I'll have some fruit juice in small cans, etc.

[Shamrock]

ahh, finally something I can contribute too. My first gig in NYC was as a barback (really ball busting work) and then as bartender in an upscale classic cocktail lounge. Here's my basic setup (missing a few things and still shopping around for an antique bar)... actually I can't figure out how to insert photos.

Anyway, you should have the following as a basic stock if you want a rockin bar...

1) two mixing glasses (tall pint glasses)
2) martini strainer
3) jiggers (1 ounce / 2 ounce and 1/2 ounce / 3/4 ounce)
4) 2 strainers
5) 2 stainless steel shakers
6) two long stirring spoons (for martinis, manhattans, etc). James Bond was full of shit.
7) Angostura bitters (for Manhattans, old fashioneds, etc)
8) pairing knife
9) fresh oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit (next level shit)
10) bottle of plymouth gin
11) vodka (all tastes the same...use tuth's trick. Smirnoff is best value but have it in a GGoose bottle)
12) Rittenhouse Rye (manhattan's)
13) dry vermouth (martini rossi)
14) Campari (for negroni and americano high balls)
15) buy/make as necessary...club, tonic, cranberry, olive brine, simple syrup)
16) cointreau (I despise cosmos but they get me laid)
17) sweet vermouth (cinzano)
18) 4-5 scotches
19) I'm always heavy on the brown stuff too...maker's mark, gosling's, buffalo trace, ron zacapa
20) rose's lime or squeeze your own (I do)
21) martini glasses in the freezer or wine cooler chillin,

This turned from basic to a baller bar setup. If anyone is interested I could break it down into more of a beginner's kit. This plus Tuth's SNL game has directly/indirectly led to 4 lays in the last 3 weeks. I cannot stress how next level it is to have a kick ass bar in your apartment/house. If I figure out how to post pictures you'll see my basic setup

[cycliss]

Yes I'd be very interested in reading a guide in the fundamentals you need for a basic setup with most emphasis being on the best "bang for buck" value products.

[Veloce]

For anyone getting into bartendending I suggest learning the classics first. These include Tom Collins, Gin sling, Daquiri, Sazerac (probably too masculine for most girls), Margarita, Sidecar, Manhattan, and Martini.

A lot of fancier cocktails are just variations of the above. About 30 minutes of reading online will tell you most of what you need to know about shaking, stirring, scaling, muddling, straining, etc.

Shamrock's list might seem excessive to a noob, but he pretty much nailed the necessities.

Agree that vodka tastes the same once you start mixing it, but for a decent margarita go with something decent. For mixing I like Cazadores, Jimador, or Herradura. If you've got a real boozehound on your hands it's good to have a sipping tequila like Partida around, anything more high end than that would be wasted on a broad.

For Bourbon I like Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Maker's, and Knob Creek.

Gin I like Hendrick's (take into consideration it's cucumber flavored) Aviation, Junipero, Beefeater, and Plymouth.

Have a bottle of $100 cognac around. For you, not her. Cognac is the shit.

Applejack or Calvados is great to have around for some cocktails, but not necessary.

A lot of chicks will claim that rum gets the sick or they "can't do rum". Make them a daiquiri with Rhum Barbancourt or Mount Gay and that'll change their mind.

A variety of 2-3 different kinds of bitters. Campari for sure. Definitely squeeze your own citrus juice and make your own simple syrup. Avoid cocktail recipes that say "sweet and sour mix". To make your own Grenadine, go to a middle eastern grocery store and buy a bottle of pomegranate syrup for $1.99. Mix it in equal parts with simple syrup and voila, homemade grenadine.

In general i'd say avoid the typical well liquors most bars carry. Jack Daniels, Jose Cuervo, Bacardi, etc. They're all marketing and for the most part taste like shit. Ironically, a lot of the brands I mentioned above are not more expensive than the big commercial brands.

[Tengen]

ICE

A trick i learned from being a chronic drinker is to have some good ice. Crappy ice melts way too quickly and will dilute the cocktail.

For my Old Fashions, my place uses ice spheres - they fill up a balloon with water and freeze it. When they need it they just cut open the balloon, rinse off any residue, and let it sit and a layer of frost will develop on the surface. Then it's ready for use in cocktails.

Also, it's just fucking cool to have a giant ice ball in your drink.

[Walnuts]

I disagree that all vodka tastes the same. It really doesn't.

Grey goose tastes really smooth and doesn't have the sting that cheap vodka has.

I can guarantee you that I could tell GG apart from a cheap vodka from the taste and feel.
But if you're going to mix it, then nobody will be able to tell unless they're really paying attention.

[Cincinnatus]

If you're mixing cocktails, be sure to have quality ingredients on-hand. For instance, if you're having a gin and tonic, take the time to squeeze fresh limes, and for God's sake, use a decent tonic water like Fever Tree, not Schweppes or Canada Dry.

[Hendrix]

Thanks for all the great tips, very solid info.

Shamrock, out of curiosity, how much does an average bartender makes in NYC?

[Screwston]

Vodka and Crystal Light - this hides the vodka taste A LOT. You kind of have to be careful if you're giving it to girls because it knocked me on my ass when I was experimenting. Mechanico gave us the idea last year so thank him.

[rudebwoy]

You better have some Drambuie for when I come over, my drink is the Rusty Nail.

White wine or Rose wine for the ladies.

Agreed, Cognac is the shit.

[HiFlo]

(05-07-2012 02:37 AM)houston Wrote:  

Vodka and Crystal Light - this hides the vodka taste A LOT. You kind of have to be careful if you're giving it to girls because it knocked me on my ass when I was experimenting. Mechanico gave us the idea last year so thank him.

hahahahaha thats so ghetto man. just my style

u water it down too?

whats its name? Not vodka + crystal light! Cant be!

[Pusscrook]

I'll contribute to this post by adding the right lighting and fixtures for ambience.. I have a home bar and after getting a whore a little tipsy , the bitch cant seem to stop talking about that.

[Sourcecode]

Kickboxer..you gotta scale that picture down...stretching my screen

Anyway..this is my broke college student home bar


From left to right including bottles behind
Smirnoff caipiroska- 2 Bottles of Guinness
Captain Morgan's Spice Rum- White wine Italian
Argentine Red Wine (Everyone should have a couple bottle off wine for a lady that might come over.
South African Red Win
2 Bottles Dry Vermouth
off brand Irish Cream
Bols, Banana,Apricot Brandy,Blue curacao,Triple sec,Grenadine
3 Bottles Cheap vodka
Malibu rum - Ramazotti
Cheap scotch - gasoline himbeer geist

In the cabinet below I have
Apple,Orange,Mango,Pineapple,Grapefruit Juice.
Little of cheap energy drink
Cola
extra spouts for bottles
Shot glass collection from all the cities and countries I hit up
Grappa
Normally I also have a bottle of Jaeger
And I recently stop drinking gin..fucks me up beyond reason and normally no one to drink it with

The current set up probably is probably about 100usd
When things are mixed, cheaper bottles taste the same. no one in my age bracket (25 under) knows the difference.
They just wanna drink.
..I only spring for a good scotch ect when I wanna feel like a gentlemen
And I only buy Baileys when its on sale..aka I should,its down to 13usd a bottle sale near my place.

The occasional person will criticize that I bought a cheaper brand..but never has someone turned down a drink.
*One party had a bunch of girls in the military..So I had them do blowjob shots while in push up position.

It's funny..because I never drink on my own unless Im experimenting..and even in the party setting I don't drink much.
All that will sit until a party kicks of in the kitchen..or I bring a girl over





one day..I wish I could have/work a bar like this

[Hendrix]

(05-08-2012 07:47 PM)Sourcecode Wrote:  

Kickboxer..you gotta scale that picture down...stretching my screen

Anyway..this is my broke college student home bar


From left to right including bottles behind
Smirnoff caipiroska- 2 Bottles of Guinness
Captain Morgan's Spice Rum- White wine Italian
Argentine Red Wine (Everyone should have a couple bottle off wine for a lady that might come over.
South African Red Win
2 Bottles Dry Vermouth
off brand Irish Cream
Bols, Banana,Apricot Brandy,Blue curacao,Triple sec,Grenadine
3 Bottles Cheap vodka
Malibu rum - Ramazotti
Cheap scotch - gasoline himbeer geist

In the cabinet below I have
Apple,Orange,Mango,Pineapple,Grapefruit Juice.
Little of cheap energy drink
Cola
extra spouts for bottles
Shot glass collection from all the cities and countries I hit up
Grappa
Normally I also have a bottle of Jaeger
And I recently stop drinking gin..fucks me up beyond reason and normally no one to drink it with

The current set up probably is probably about 100usd
When things are mixed, cheaper bottles taste the same. no one in my age bracket (25 under) knows the difference.
They just wanna drink.
..I only spring for a good scotch ect when I wanna feel like a gentlemen
And I only buy Baileys when its on sale..aka I should,its down to 13usd a bottle sale near my place.

The occasional person will criticize that I bought a cheaper brand..but never has someone turned down a drink.
*One party had a bunch of girls in the military..So I had them do blowjob shots while in push up position.

It's funny..because I never drink on my own unless Im experimenting..and even in the party setting I don't drink much.
All that will sit until a party kicks of in the kitchen..or I bring a girl over





one day..I wish I could have/work a bar like this

Nice set, man.
Whats Smirnoff caipiroska, btw?

[Sourcecode]

Caipirinha is the national cocktail of brasil. thats kinda like a mojito only it isnt white rum..its "brazilian rum and it has no mint.
Its I don't know if smirnoff sells this in america..but in german the Caipi is a pretty popular drink.
Not everyone can get their hands on brazilian rum so vodka is used as a substitute.

Its also a pretty good drink to get girls drunk..a strong vodka or rum with all the sugar.
woman don't realize that they arent drinking a mixed drink.

The premade version is pretty weak..just add more vodka and crush some sugar with it.
I like to mix it with the lemon vodka.
it strays from the original recipe..but it you double the alcohol content

[Catch 22]

Is there one drink that's bound to get them excited? Not sexually, but as bait. This girl last night was excited to hit my Blue Label, but that's not gonna fly. Anything cheaper? Champagne? Chocolate martini?

[Cincinnatus]

(05-28-2012 07:15 PM)Catch 22 Wrote:  

Is there one drink that's bound to get them excited? Not sexually, but as bait. This girl last night was excited to hit my Blue Label, but that's not gonna fly. Anything cheaper? Champagne? Chocolate martini?

Champagne can be a good one; if you don't feel like shelling out for a decent champagne, pick up a bottle of Italian prosecco. 99% of chicks wouldn't know the difference.

[Veloce]

Gonna bump this one for a recipe one of my boys came up with. He's pretty famous in L.A. and known nationally, wins competitions and shit. Just drank this tonight and got him to spill the beans on the recipe. Next time I mix drinks for a girl, I'm gonna bust out two of these and watch her panties drop. Enjoy:

You'll need honey syrup. It's 2 parts honey to 1 part hot water, stir to combine and chill.

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz honey syrup
1 oz fresh pineapple juice
2 oz Diplomatico rum (you can try other dark rum but it doesn't come out nearly the same)
Shake well with ice, strain over cubed ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a halo of angostura bitters (meaning a generous circumference of bitters all around the rim of the glass.)

[Screwston]

Delete

[Sourcecode]

Resurrecting an old thread. Im planning on stocking up another bar now that im back stateside. roosh googled home bar..and found this.

Anyone still into bar tending around here?
Whats your bar stock like?
Where do you buy your shit? *best prices? ect

interesting,cheap,effective drinks