INDULGENCES house and home by ari clare
THE ULTIMATE HOME BAR
For those who love to entertain, the home bar is an integral part of the house. Be it a pre-cocktail before heading
out on the town or a dinner party at home, the right bar set-up and supplies will make you are a pro at the entertaining game. The bar itself is an important component for purposes of style and function. For those who do not have the space to dedicate to a bar, we will chat about ways to take a small spot and make it work well when guests arrive.
BAR STYLES
ALCOHOL
Here is the alcohol suggested to have
available. First, a couple of good bottles of Vodka that can be used for mixed drinks or stand-alone. I’ve utilized SVEDKA who sponsor my House.Boi events. They de- serve a recommendation. A good bottle of gin, prime tequila…not the kind that brings back bad college-day drunken party memories. Pick one that you would enjoy for tequila tasting at an upscale event. Have a few nice varieties of white and red wines. For the whites, a chardon-
nay and a Sauvignon Blanc and for the reds, a merlot and a cabernet sauvignon. A variety of upscale beers is always good to have on hand. Now for the all-important mixers. The classic mixers are soda water, tonic and cran- berry and of course, that darn Red Bull, 7-up and maybe even a bottle of grapefruit juice. This selection should make most partygoers pleased and ready to imbibe!
SHAKER
There are various types of bars that can be purchased from something as simple and cost effective as a console table
to an actual bar that holds bottles, glassware and other essentials. Bars themselves can be tailored to any design style from ultra-contemporary to classic traditional and everything in between. The key element when finding a spot to position your bar is to make sure it is located where you enjoy entertaining. Bars can be in any design or any material, but typically are wood or iron with granite or travertine top. If your space is limited, invest in a nice size tray. A portion of your kitchen island or patio table can be used to create a temporary bar area.
For the essentials of the ultimate home bar let’s chat
GLASSWARE
The glassware can make or break the whole deal. Make sure you are prepared. First and foremost be prepared
before your guests arrive by wiping down the glasses. There is nothing worse than someone trying to make you a drink in some dusty glass that looks like it hasn’t been used in a year. Now that we have established this, there are a few different types of glasses to have available such as low balls, high balls, wine glasses, beer mugs, martini glasses and champagne flutes. If your space or budget do not allow for all these, then go with the low balls and a few wine and martini glasses and cut out the rest. When entertaining at home I like to have it all covered. If I am doing an Appletini, a slice of green apple makes for a great garnish. Sometimes you can do something fun like a blackberry or peppermint that makes the drink much more unique. Of course you would be shunned if you forgot those olives. There are just olives and then there are OLIVES. You can find feta and garlic and blue cheese-stuffed olives to turn any cocktail into liquid lunch. Classic drinks call for lemon slices, lime wedges and lemon peels. If you are not sure who drinks what… be prepared to have all the essentials covered, so you do not get caught off guard.
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RAGE monthly | MAY 2010
about a few. The shaker is probably number one. This is a must-have for many cocktails, but most importantly the martini. A shot glass is key for measuring alcohol, a stir for making sure it gets a good mix and a nice ice bucket and set of ice tongs show you have it together! A good wine bottle opener is also necessary. Not one of those $2 plastic ones where the sides pop up as you twist. If you want to get really prepared, some stylish olive picks for dirty martinis and cocktail napkins in the color of your choice would be perfect.
While all these tips will get the party started, remem-
ber to be a good host and watch your guest’s drinks. Make sure you are there to freshen their cocktails when needed. For larger parties, I love to use bartenders. Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy yourself and know the cocktails are flowing smoothly with the hired help.
Ari Clare is Owner of Hillcrest-based boutique HOUSE.BOI located at 1435 University Ave.—specializing in contemporary furniture, home accents, gifts, interior design and men’s fashion.
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