Bar Cabinet Styling
How to avoid an overcrowded bar cabinet? Plan ahead.
For any gathering, a signature cocktail is your best friend. And your best best friend is a pre-batched cocktail that you can pour into a beautiful decanter as a focal point, ready to shake or pour over ice. There you have it, your first bar cabinet item!
But what else to support your signature cocktail? The golden ratio of cocktail mixing is 2:1:1. 2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, 1 part sour. Decide on your base spirit in advance depending on a) your guests preference or b) event theme or food pairing.
Note* our favorite non-alcoholic spirit that can be swapped for the spirit in any recipe: Seedlip.
Versatile bar cabinet staples in the sweet category are simple syrup and Cointreau. Sour? Lemon and lime juice. Our personal favorite that meets both categories is a shrub; a vinegar and fruit based syrup that is equal parts sweet and sour. And our favorite shrub recipe book is Shrubs by Michael Dietsch.
Lastly, think about what tools you need to create your planned cocktails. Garnishes? A muddler, juicer, strainer, cocktail spoon, wine/bottle opener? As you style, start with the tools you will actually use.
Once you have your staples situated, style it up. Pour your necessities into decanters or carafes if you have them on hand, and display your garnishes on a decorative plate, tray, or board. Fill in the gaps with fresh cut flowers, candles, or other decorative objects. Have fun with it and, most importantly, make it functional for your gathering!
