The Basic Party Bar
Your bar doesn't have to be swank or expansive. It just needs to be well-stocked and efficient enough to keep your guests wet. Whether someone's tending bar or the whole setup is self-serve, you'll need:
- Bottled beer, in coolers
- Sparkling wine, in coolers or champagne buckets
- Red wine
- White wine, in coolers or champagne buckets
- Liquor. Provide a range of options, including vodka, gin, rum, scotch, bourbon, tequila and dry vermouth.
- Mixers. Tonic, club soda, plain seltzer spring water, cranberry juice and orange juice should do it.
- Sodas. Cola, diet cola, lemon/lime soda, and flavored seltzers are all useful.
- Fruit. Stock up on lemons, limes, lemon twists, and green olives (without pimientos if you're making martinis)
- Equipment. Corkscrews, bottle openers, knife, cutting board, stirrer (or a long spoon), and a cocktail shaker with strainer are the minimum requirements.
- Glassware. If you feel comfortable using real glass, then feel free to do so. If you want to avoid potential breakage and keep clean up to a minimum, go for plastic in two sizes: 8 oz cups for beer and soda and 6 oz cups for wine and cocktails. Figure about 3 cups per guest.
- Cocktail napkins. You can never have enough. Consider having napkin stations throughout the area for easy access.
- Ice bucket and tongs. Your friends may love you, but it doesn't mean they want your hands on their ice.
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Set your bar up where it won't create a bottleneck. Keep it away from doorways, especially the entrance. Whatever you do, don't put it in the kitchen, as this will cause crowding in an already crowded area.
