Building The Ultimate Home Bar
With many of us spending more time at home than ever before over the past 18 months, it’s no surprise that home bars are surging in popularity. Not sure where to start? From essential equipment to stand-out spirits, here’s our guide to creating the ultimate home bar, with some industry insider tips along the way.
Elevated Bar Essentials
The perfect home bar calls for the perfect tools of the trade. The right barware will transform your simple evening cocktail into an event, and with chic designs by leading designers, it couldn’t be easier to create a sophisticated experience with every pour.
If you don’t have a dedicated drinks cabinet at home, then a stylish bar trolley is an excellent solution, enabling you to make a feature of your most intriguing bottles. Designed by Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto in 1936, Artek’s Tea Trolley 901 has stood the test of time. Inspired by British tea culture and Japanese woodwork, this versatile, maneuverable trolley is both understated and eye-catching, pairing minimalist lines with arresting aesthetics.
Renowned as a pioneer of architectural functionalism, Danish designer Arne Jacobsen prioritized simplicity in his work, as showcased in his chic Cylinda-line of products. Featuring his iconic sleek shapes finished in brushed stainless steel, the collection includes an Ice Bucket, Serving Tray, and Cocktail Shaker — all certain to bring pleasure to design-savvy drinks aficionados for many sundowners to come.
What’s a bar without a bottle opener? This most simple of bar tools is arguably one of the most invaluable — so why not make it into a feature? Futagami’s Waku Brass Bottle Opener has a striking graphic shape with a hairline-finished outer surface, effortlessly balancing form and function.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to take your cocktails to the next level, consider a carbonator. Aarke’s slimline, sustainable Carbonator 3 is available in a range of finishes to complement any décor and uses standard CO2 cylinders to create memorable drinks at the pull of a lever.
Brilliant Bottles
Once you have the right equipment, it’s time to fill your home bar with the very finest tipples to delight your guests. Of course, the exact combination is up to you; however, it’s important to have all bases broadly covered, enabling you to relax in the knowledge that you can easily cater to any taste.
What better way to greet your guests than with a perfectly chilled glass of champagne? Didier Mariotti, Cellar Master at Veuve Clicquot, suggests impressing with the House’s La Grande Dame 1990 Jeroboam, noting, “It’s a hidden treasure that has spent decades aging in our crayères, and this sumptuous champagne has now reached its peak.”
From a sparkling aperitif to an indulgent digestif, a well-thought-out bar with a few star bottles will complement every stage of your evening. “The Macallan Red Collection presents an incredible array of some of our most exceptional whiskies,” says Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan. “If I had to select just one, it would be the 60 Years Old due to its incredible complexity.”
For brandy lovers, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, Hennessey’s Master Blender, suggests an aesthetic treat as well as a gourmetand one. “For those who collect beautiful bottles, I’d recommend Hennessy’s recent limited-edition designed by Frank Gehry. He’s an amazing man, and created this absolutely beautiful decanter for Hennessy X.O.”
Nevertheless, researching specific labels is only half the story. As Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, Estate Manager of three Rothschild Bordeaux properties, explains, “The bottles in your cellar should have a particular personal meaning — a symbol of an important moment in your life. For example, people often like buying wines from the year of their marriage or the birth of their children.”
As wine expert Karla Wang puts it, “When you have a special connection, that’s what makes it special” — and it’s that personal touch that really elevates your home bar to unique status.
Hosts With The Most
Of course, there’s more to being a great host than simply selecting the right bottles or equipment; elements like theming and pairings could be the magic ingredients that turn your occasion from mediocre to memorable.
The Dalmore’s Master Distiller, Richard Paterson OBE, recommends always keeping your guests at the center of your plans, saying, “You must start with the company, the guests, who the occasion is for, and who you are celebrating with.” Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy agrees, “Aim to put yourself in their place to understand their expectations, what it is that they enjoy, and what they would like to discover. You need an element of surprise and of course, it has to be fun!”
A great theme can also help spark excitement and tie everything together. “Set a unique theme and create cocktails that pair well with the food served; focus on matching certain flavors in each dish with the accompanying drinks,” explain Andrew Ho and Marcia Xiao, co-founders of F&B consultancy Spirits Architects, “The storytelling is as important as the food and drinks themselves — people want to see showmanship.”
A sense of spontaneity is equally important; as Renaud Fillioux de Gironde says, “I steer clear of telling people what they should do or feel, and instead focus on creating the right conditions to let them have fun and truly enjoy the experience.”
Ultimately though, the best occasions are the ones that are executed with genuine passion. Didier Mariotti perhaps epitomizes it best: “Find what you love and take pleasure in sharing it with friends and loved ones as part of a special moment.” Now that’s something we can all raise a glass to.
