Your own cocktail bar

Our city is home to many extravagant bars and lounges, which you can find information for right in the pages of our magazine, but for when you want to host, creating your own cocktail bar can be a whole lot of fun.

Here are some ideas:
1. Come up with a theme such as a Tiki bar, kitted out with coconut cups, bamboo structuring, and a decorative pineapple. If you’re looking for something a little posher you could opt for a Great Gatsby theme, velour seats, essential up-market glasses, and everything classy. Your imagination is the only limit.

2. After you’ve done a bit of dreaming, let’s talk about the basics. Barware.
A hot tip to make sure your bar is as good as the ones on The Strip is to source your barware from where the professionals buy it. When you’ve found your ideal source, here are the things you are going to want to add to your cart:

Shakers
Jiggers
Mixing glass and bar spoon
Strainers
Muddler
Favourite tipples and mixers
An ice bucket
Garnishes
A range of martini, highball and old-fashioned glasses.

3. Stock up on spirits for your collection so you can make all the classics:
Margarita – Tequila and Triple Sec
Cosmopolitan – Vodka and Cointreau
Daiquiri – Rum
Gimlet – Gin
Manhattan – Whiskey and Sweet Vermouth
Negroni – Gin and Vermouth
Old Fashioned – Bourbon Whiskey
Espresso Martini – Vodka
Mimosa – Champagne
Martini – Dry Gin and Dry Vermouth

4. Last, but arguably the most important thing before you start entertaining, is practise. A cocktail bar is nothing without carefully crafted cocktails. You can purchase beautiful cocktails recipe books from your local bookstore, or make cocktail cards from recipes you find online. Wherever you source a recipe, pick drinks you’ll enjoy and invite friends over to put some healthy pressure on you to perform.