Stocking your home bar can be a intimidating labor . for certain , you could just cobble together a selection of hand - me - down bottles from your parent ’ liquor cabinet and house party remnant . But we really do n’t recommend it — that ’s how you end up mixingManhattanswithvermouthso sometime it could have graduate college and perplex a PhD in taste terrible . Nor do we recommend pretermit a mere $ 50 on a slew of plastic feeding bottle with built - in handgrip for well-fixed over - pouring . alternatively , prefer for one of our curated shopping lists ( over with bottle recommendations ) , project for three dissimilar budgets .
The Beginner Bartender: $150
For the first - time base legal community constructor , it ’s essential to lead off with the basics : the five primary spirits , two type of bitter and two refinement of vermouth . It ’s that dim-witted to get started — just one warm liquor memory board run . If $ 150 seems unconscionable , just consider how much you spend over the course of instruction of a couple night at the bar , and the cost of imbibing at home will seem like couch change in equivalence . This setup is the bartending tantamount of learning the E , A and D chords on a guitar : it equip you with everything you need to master 80 percent of the classic . Pick up some new fruit and whip up some simple syrup and your horizons get even big .
Primary Spirits
bitter
Vermouth
The Seasoned Drinker: $400
This is n’t your first rodeo . You ’ve master your definitive cocktails and started cultivating a rep among your friends as the go - to bartender . It ’s time to upgrade the basics and thrive your bar . Here we ’ll add mezcal , and a broad excerpt of amaro and bitters . This setup opens the door to drinks like Negronis , Mojitos and Margaritas .
Bonus Bottles
qualifier ( choose two )
The Maestro Mixologist: $850
Congratulations , you ’re officially cocktail - haunted . We hold you wholeheartedly . It ’s time to fill out the top ledge . Upgrade to premium bottle and diversify even more with spirits like rhum agricole , cachaça and in high spirits ending whiskey . We went ahead and make in some sherry and a few more cordial for good measure . Stocking your barroom this path intend a substantial chunk of change , but if you really love cocktailing it ’s money well spent .
modifier ( take three )
Liqueurs
