Stocking a ₹5,000 Home Bar: What Bottles to Buy
Your home bar is a versatile space you have the full reins to curate. Depending on your palate and which flavours you like and prefer, there can be a wide range of drinks and bottles to choose from. Given the array available in the market today, you might want a helping hand to guide you through what could be the best selections for your personal home bar.
However, along with the variety of options, considering your budget and any constraints you might have is crucial. But if you’re just starting out and setting up this new space in your house, you can stock your home bar for just under Rs. 5000 while still having top-quality liquor and ingredients.
From versatile liquor and accessorising ingredients for your drinks to branded bottles of different sizes, there is a lot you can achieve in under Rs. 5000. If you love a neat cocktail and would love to personalise your home bar to your distinct palate, read further to understand everything you need to get started.
Start with Some Versatile Liquor
To begin stocking your bar on a budget, first, try looking for a versatile base liquor — something like vodka, gin or whiskey is affordable along with being a universally loved ingredient in many cocktails. Having a quality bottle of any of these drinks will ensure that you can concoct a variety of flavourful cocktails that will appeal to all kinds of guests who flock to your home bar. You will end up catering to everyone’s palate if you invest in a bottle or two of such multifaceted liquor(s).
A regular 750 ml bottle of a Ketel One Vodka is readily available for prices between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3500 in India’s metropolitan cities, making it a suitable option for a liquor you can invest in while still having enough for mixers like tonic water, soda water, and fruit juices. If you wish to save up more on expensive liquor, investing in 750 ml bottles of whisky like Royal Challenge Whisky and Royal Challenge American Pride can be an appropriate decision, with prices fluctuating between Rs. 700 and Rs. 1500.
These whiskies by Royal Challenge are an excellent option if you want to experiment with various highballs owing to their varying flavours — that of vanilla, caramel and even dried fruit. On the other hand, vodka boasts of a slightly clearer and more neutral taste, which makes it an ideal choice if you’re big on cocktails and more flavour experimentation.
Also Read: Why Alcoholic Spirits Bottles Are Shaped The Way They Are
Other Pocket-Friendly Spirits and Cream Liqueurs
If you’re unfamiliar with liquors and this is your first time building your home bar, try buying smaller bottles and build as you go. The whole idea behind a home bar is experimentation and personalisation.
While all base liquors are suitable for your home bars, certain spirits are also lighter on expenses compared to others. As a host, taking note of these spirits will help you make the right decisions for yourself and your space.
Typically, 750 ml bottles of vodka and gin (and even smaller bottles), all fall under Rs. 5000. As mentioned above, one of the few whiskies in this range comes from Royal Challenge, the rest touching Rs. 5000. Following is a more detailed list of the relatively less expensive liquor you can buy and store in your home bar, keeping both quality and versatility in mind.
- 2-3 bottles of a London Dry Gin like Tanqueray’s with their chamomile, vanilla and citrus flavours can go well with tonic and soda water for a classic gin and tonic.
- Vodka is typically the most cost-friendly and readily available liquor hosts can invest in, owing to its neutral flavour profile, making it a popular base for countless cocktails and allowing it to blend seamlessly with various mixers and ingredients
Along with these top-quality spirits, other liqueurs and creams like Baileys Irish Cream also fall under Rs. 5000. Backed with a saccharine flavour profile, suffused with cream and cocoa, this liqueur is well-suited for your guests with a sweet tooth.
To Top It Off: Mixers and Ingredients
After having procured smaller bottles or a large bottle (based on the financial decisions you make), you can also add to your home bar a mini collection of mixers to go with any cocktails you make — some mixers include cola, fruit juices like orange and cranberry (that are typically associated with many cocktails), and ingredients for garnishing like citrus including lemons, berries or even pineapple. With a stock of these add-ons at hand, you make the most of your home bar.
With the glasses, mixers, fruits, spirits and cream liqueurs of your choice, your home bar should ultimately reflect your taste as a connoisseur. The options and combinations are diverse but stocking your home bar for under Rs. 5000 should no longer be a difficult feat.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
