Building the Ultimate Home Mixer Station: Essentials for Every Host
If you’ve just begun expanding your hobby of perfect cocktail crafting, you might want to consider what building your own home bar can do for you as a host. The ultimate home mixer station is one that is specifically tailored to your taste, right from the equipment you use to the mixers you store (and how you store them). Many invest equal amounts of creativity and effort while considering budgetary limitations and practicality when it comes to setting up their bar stations at home. As a cocktail enthusiast, doing the same can elevate your mixing and hosting skills too.
From acquiring the best shakers and measuring tools like jiggers that work for your home mixer station to selecting the right garnishes and mixers, creating your home bar from scratch is simpler than you think. You won’t need to overstock your station with too many tools and ingredients, but here are just a few essential ones to help you as a host.
Searching for Storage and Suitable Tools
Before you spend money on various garnishes, mixers and ice varieties for your home bar, spend some time looking for where you want to build your space in the first place. You must try choosing a space that’s well-lit, accessible but also doesn’t disrupt yours and others’ work flow at home. Choosing a space with optimum lighting will help you clearly mix your drinks in your home bar and also appeals more to your guests, guaranteeing an interactive experience for friends, family or colleagues. A corner near the kitchen or your dining area should be ideal for your mixer station.
Depending on the amount of space you’re able to delegate to the home bar, you can decide how much equipment you need and can fit in this space. First off, you’ll require a shaker which can help you blend your cocktails just the way you want it. Other measuring tools such as a jigger create an optimal balance in your drinks so that no flavour overpowers or outshines the other. For your guests, you can also invest in mixing tools like bottle openers and a stock of spoons, straws and stirrers. A bar spoon for stirring and a strainer to filter ice and other chunks from your glass will contribute to a seamless sipping and tasting experience. Appearance matters too, and this is where glasses come in. Start with highball, lowball, and wine glasses. If you can still invest more in equipment for your home bar, try searching for budget-friendly coolers or refrigerators in which you can keep all your ingredients chilled. However, you might not have to spend a lot on coolers and other tools like cutting boards and blenders if you already have and use them in your kitchen.
Also Read: DIY Mint Syrup For Cocktails & Mocktails: A Versatile Summer Mixer
An Inventory of Ingredients
A stockful of ingredients like garnishes, mixers and ice will form the bulk of your home bar. When you’re just getting started with setting up your home bar, try sticking to the basics. When it also comes to spirits, try getting a 750 ml bottle or two of a spirit that has a neutral profile and goes well with most cocktails like vodka, gin or tequila (especially for a flavourful margarita).
Once acquired, think about what mixers you’d like in your personalised mixer area. If you want to keep it simple, you can go for a cola, tonic water, a Black Dog soda or any other soda water of your choice, or even Black & White Ginger Ale. These mixers tend to go well with most drinks and are well-loved by many guests, making you a smart host. Garnishes like lemon and oranges are a go-to if you’re starting out simple. They also add notes of sweetness to your cocktail while making them citrussy. Additionally, they are versatile and can be used in many tequila-based and screwdriver cocktails.
To bring out the complex flavours of a good whisky, the best option is a splash of water to open up the aromas. While you could always use regular drinking water, options like Johnnie Walker Luxe Blended Water and other blended waters offer a smoother mouthfeel for your drinking experience.
Other non-alcoholic mixers to store in your collection are a Smirnoff Lemon Pop or other non-alcoholic mixers of your liking. You can also add more fruit juices like cranberry and apple juice which are staple ingredients in cocktails like a vodka cranberry.
Don’t Forget Ice!
Your alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixers cannot go without ice varieties. A quintessential home bar houses an ice bucket or two to keep mixed drinks chilled while also adding elegance to presentation when the drinks are being served. Ensure to make use of ice that is bereft of any added flavours and odours since those may hamper the flavour profile of your cocktail.
Ice buckets are a convenient solution when it comes to chilling and serving various drinks simultaneously. An ice bucket is also more friendly to home bars than adding ice cubes oneself, since guests can help themselves when in need of ice, promising a smoother gathering.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
