How to Stock a Bar Cart: Tips for Creating the Ultimate Home Bar [Plus Free Checklist]

Bar Cart Checklist included below!

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Home bars have long provided sophistication for home entertainers. Ever since their rise to popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, many homeowners have wanted to have their very own home bar. But custom bars come with a heavy price tag - prompting homeowners and renters alike to think outside the box when it comes to bringing a bar setup into their space. Enter the bar cart. Bar carts offer a stylish and affordable alternative to an expensive home bar, and their mobile design makes them even more versatile.

The cost to build an in-home bar can range anywhere from $500 to $22,500, with the average cost coming in at a pricey $8,000. Bar carts are a much more affordable alternative, hence many homeowners and renters turning to smaller mobile bars for their space.

If you have a bar cart or you're thinking of getting one, you might want to know the best way to stock it. Keep reading as we fill you in on the best way to stock your bar and how you can turn it into an aesthetic statement at the same time.

The Best Way to Stock a Bar Cart

Stocking a bar cart isn't tricky, but if you want to make a variety of well-rounded cocktails, there are a few tips you’ll want to consider. The best way to stock your bar is to determine the type of drinks you like, how often you entertain, and the reason you want to introduce a bar cart into your space in the first place.

With your bar cart, basic supplies will make an aesthetically pleasing statement fit for any space. But for bonafide entertainers and aspiring mixologists that crave the full experience, consider investing in a wider selection of tools and liquors.

Whether your cart will be a starter bar or a mobile enhancement to an existing home bar, it pays off to first evaluate what your unique needs are. This will help guide how best to proceed with purchasing supplies and ensure that all necessary items for stocking a meaningful home bar have been considered while keeping unnecessary expenses to a minimum. Want the confidence to be able to craft any cocktail of your choice with ease? A checklist is a great way to ensure all details have been accounted for and will give that added special touch when mixing drinks at home.

Liquor and Liqueurs

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The Six Base Liquors

There are six base spirits: vodka, whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, and tequila. Having at least three of them will allow you to make a variety of drinks and execute multiple pairings. They are essentially the foundation of any liquor collection. This also makes them the focal point of any bar because it represents what drinks you'll be able to make. So choose which liquors to stock based on your unique preferences.

If you want to take your bar to the next level, you’ll want to have all 6 base spirits, a selection of their variants, and liqueurs.

Variants

Most spirits have a variety of types to choose from, and having more types of certain spirits will open even more possibilities when it comes to creating drinks. For example: you might expand your tequila selection with a blanco and a reposado, or expand the number of rum drinks you can concoct with both a light rum and a dark or spiced rum.

Liqueurs

Liqueurs are alcoholic beverages that are typically made from distilled spirits and flavored with a variety of fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, nuts, or cream. They usually have a lower alcohol content than other spirits (typically around 15-30% ABV) and are often sweetened to make them more palatable. Cocktail recipes can call for a variety of liqueurs to balance out the flavors in the drink, so it’s important to have at least a few on hand. Common examples of liqueurs include: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Campari, Amaretto, Triple Sec, Cointreau, Kahlua, and Vermouth.

Mixers and Garnishes

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Mixers and garnishes are essential components of any bar. In simplest terms, mixers are drinks that don’t contain alcohol, such as juices and syrups, while garnishes add flavor, visual appeal, and aromatics. If you're looking to perfect your bar cart setup, mixers and garnishes are two elements that should not be overlooked.

Mixers

Mixers are bar staples that are essential for creating a well-stocked bar cart. They are non-alcoholic ingredients used to enhance taste and create flavor combinations in mixed drinks and cocktails. Most mixers fall into two categories - acid mixers such as citrus juices and acidic sodas; and sweet mixers - like simple syrup and grenadine. Without a good selection of mixers, you will be unable to create a menu of varied and well-balanced drinks. Mixers make your bar more versatile and will allow you to make a wider selection of drinks. Any great bar should have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options so every guest can find something to enjoy!

Essential mixers you might consider having on hand include:

• Simple syrup: a mixture of equal parts sugar and water, used to sweeten cocktails

• Sour mix: a mixture of lemon and lime juice, used in a variety of drinks

• Orange juice: a common ingredient in many cocktails

• Cranberry juice: commonly used in vodka-based drinks

• Tonic water: an important mixer for gin-based drinks

• Club soda: used to add carbonation and dilute cocktails

• Bitters: a concentrated flavoring used to add complexity to cocktails

• Grenadine: a sweet, red syrup used to add color and flavor to cocktails.

Garnishes

Garnishes are both for aesthetic and flavor purposes. They can be anything from colorful fruits to sprigs of herbs, and more. Not only do they add flair to your bar setup and make drinks more aesthetically pleasing, they can also bring amazing flavors and aromas to cocktails that you wouldn’t get from just pouring a spirit directly into the glass.

A few essential garnishes for your bar can include:

• Lemons and limes: used to garnish and add flavor to a variety of drinks

• Olives and cherries: used to garnish martinis and Manhattans

• Citrus twists: used to garnish and add flavor to cocktails

• Mint and basil leaves: used to garnish and add flavor to cocktails

• Salt and sugar: used to rim glasses for certain drinks

• Cocktail onions and pickles: used to garnish Bloody Marys and other savory drinks.

Bar Tools

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Proper bar tools are a must for any bar cart. If you’re just getting started or have a limited budget, spend your money on quality versions of the most important tools including:

• Jigger: for measuring and pouring precise amounts of a spirit

• Shaker: for mixing cocktails

• Strainer: for straining ice and other ingredients from both shaken and stirred cocktails

• Bar Spoon: for stirring and layering ingredients

• Bottle Opener: for opening bottles of beer and wine

As always, having more variety will expand the drink menus that you can curate at home. For aspiring mixologists, you might consider the addition of the following tools to your home bar:

• Mixing Glass: for stirring cocktails

• Muddler: for muddling fruits, herbs, and spices

• Peeler: for creating citrus twists

• Zester: to zest citrus fruits

• Ice Scoop or Tongs: for handling ice

• Pourers: for controlled pouring of liquids

• Cutting Board and Knife: for preparing garnishes and fruits

Any bar kit will contain most of the basic tools your bar cart would benefit from, but it is always best to opt for quality over quantity when you can. Consider the types of drinks you enjoy making or want to make. This will help you find what equipment you need to complement your preferences

Don’t Forget Glassware

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Bar carts are a great way to make a stylish statement in your home. But for an authentic look and feel, don’t stop with bar tools and spirits - glassware is equally important. With the right selection of glasses, from stemware to tumblers, you can take your bar cart from drab to fab in no time. Different styles of glass can not only set the tone of your bar cart (such as formal, casual, or speakeasy) but can also help tie it into your home’s interior style - it all comes down to your taste!

Having the right glassware for your bar cart is not just about looks; using the right glassware can have a huge impact on your beverage experience. Some glasses are designed to maintain ideal temperatures for certain drinks, and certain glasses will help bring out the aroma and flavor in specific spirits. For instance, picking a tulip-shaped glass when enjoying a beer helps direct its aromatics toward the nose. Or if you want to enjoy whiskey neat, an old-fashioned glass with short sides allows for proper cooling of your drink without it becoming watered down by being too exposed to room temperature air. Therefore, having the right glasses for each drink not only ensures an authentic look but also guarantees you always get the best drinking experience from your favorite beverages.

Serving Options and Style

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Your bar shouldn’t stop at drinks- bar carts are about bringing a sophisticated and layered experience into your home or entertaining space. If you like to serve food with your drinks, consider displaying a serving tray to match the style of your cart or your home. Shot glasses, small utensils, and other decorative items can also provide some flair beyond essentials like napkins, straws, or any other elements that enrich the drinking experience when hosting a cocktail party or having a drink for one.

The Bar Cart Checklist

This free Bar Cart Checklist makes it easy to ensure you have everything you need to create a fully-stocked home bar that’s ready to entertain.

Take Your Bar Cart Beyond Your Home

Bar A La Cart Basic Cart

A mobile bar cart is the perfect way to bring a bar into your space. Unlike custom home bars, bar carts don't come with high building costs or mobility limitations. A bar cart isn’t limited to being an interior design feature, it can offer a robust platform for an in-home bar that rivals any expensive custom build-out.

Your bar cart doesn’t have to stop with your home either, it can also be a versatile portable bar that can be used to launch a profitable business. Bar A La Cart specializes in helping entrepreneurs build unique profit-turning mobile bar businesses, so get in touch with our team to learn how to get started. Our new Narrow Cart fits through any standard 36” door, offering the perfect solution for aspiring mixologists to create craft beverages from a stylish home bar while starting their very own mobile bar business.