Start Your Own Home Bar: Cocktail Essentials & Alcoholic Drink Ideas

July 30, 2025

First things first – home bar essentials

We get you – where do you even begin when planning your home bar setup? You want the place to be crafted in your style, but it should also be welcoming to your nearest and dearest when they come round.

So, here are some home bar essentials to think about, before we even talk about the booze:

Vibe: What vibe are you going for? A classic old English pub with wood panelling, or a tropical tiki bar with bamboo finishings? Or, you might model your bar based on classic 50s America. The choice is yours but start with your theme in mind.
Décor: A home bar needs character and pizzaz; your chosen décor is the way to achieve this. Cover the walls with your old 90s posters, signed football shirts, or prints of your favourite rockstars, depending on your theme. Make sure your décor matches the vibe and you’re onto a winner.
Furnishings: Are you going for a classic long bar with stools or comfy sofa seating to chill and drink the night away? Again, the choice is yours, but plan your furnishings according to comfort and space.
Glassware & equipment: You will also need to stock up on glassware. Think carefully about the drinks you want to serve. Cocktails, shorts, shots, mixers, beers, and wines all need unique glasses. If you plan to make cocktails, you’ll also need an ice bucket and various mixing tools.

You don’t need to hire an architect to plan your space but scribble some ideas down and plan as many details as possible. You need to create the space in your style; it’s your dream bar after all!

What alcohol to have in a home bar?

Okay, with the layout and vibe covered, it’s time to get down to business – the best alcohol for a home bar. Here, we tick off must-have spirits for home cocktail concoctions and some faff free cocktail mixes to save you time and effort.

Must-have spirits

Naturally, you should tailor your home bar menu to your tastes. But if you’re looking for some inspo, let’s begin with top-shelf spirits that don’t cost the earth:

Vodka: No home bar is complete without premium vodka, the basis for many tipples. We recommend Blackwoods Botanical Vodka, a five-times distilled product of Scotland that delivers hints of sweet citrus. Majestic.
Tequila: Did you know that tequila is the world’s favourite shot? Take’s Tequila Blanco is the perfect spirit for your home bar, made from 100% Blue Weber Agave from Jalisco, Mexico, delivering a crisp & sharp taste.
Rum: Crank things up a notch with Captain Jack-inspired Caribbean spiced rum from the connoisseurs over at Red Leg. Red Leg’s Banana Rum is a home bar game changer, stunningly flavoursome on its own and delicious when paired with cola and other mixers.
Gin: Crafting the perfect G&T at your very own bar sounds like a dream come true, so you need a premium-tasting spirit to make it happen. The East India Company’s London Dry Gin has rave reviews – it’s spicy with an infusion of amchur and pepper, yet smooth enough to enjoy neat or over ice with a slice. Also, take a look at Hooch Spirits Raspberry & Lemon Gin for a sweet and tangy twist on gin.
Liqueur: A key ingredient of an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan, a top-shelf whiskey is also a must-have. If whiskey isn’t usually your thing, consider Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey Liqueur, the perfect basis for Irish coffee and the best espresso martini you will ever taste! Check out Teichenné for a range of delicious, flavoured liqueurs, including coconut, vanilla, elderflower, butterscotch, peach and more.

These spirits are ideal for anyone looking for a spirit + mixer in their home bar after a long day at work, but they’re also the perfect foundation for some signature cocktails you can prepare for your guests.

Home-Crafted Cocktails - Home bar drinks ideas to WOW your guests

Hands down, the best drinks for a home bar are cocktails. There’s no better way to WOW your guests than with a home-prepped espresso martini or mojito.

With your spirits in order, here are some cocktail ideas for your home bar, with the basics on what you need to make them:

Ginger Old Fashioned

The grandad of the cocktail world with soul and sophistication.

Ingredients: 60ml Bourbon, 22ml Ginger Reàl, dash of bitters, orange slice

Espresso Martini

An Italian love story in a glass.

Ingredients: 44ml Vanilla Vodka, 44ml coffee liqueur, 60ml espresso, squirt of Whipshots Vanilla or Mocha – your choice.

Margarita

Salty and tangy with summer vibes.

Ingredients: 30ml Take Tequila Blanco, 15ml triple sec, 45ml single-pressed lime juice, Margarita Salt for the rim.

Top Tip: This big margarita bucket is infused with flavour and is a super time saver for all amateur mixologists. Add the tequila of your choice and away you go.

The Best Cocktail Mixers for a Home Har

Want to save time mixing your favourite cocktails at home? Check out Finest Call’s mixers. If it’s a mojito, pina colada, or porrnstar martini, these pre-mixed cocktails (minus the spirit) will save you heaps of time, mess, and money.

Consider grabbing yourself some cocktail essentials by Master Of Mixes, from Grenadine and Triple-Sec to Single Pressed Lemon and Lime Juice. All are in an easy to use squeezy 375ml bottle with mess-free spout.

What about the purees? Reàl Infused Exotics offer premium fruit syrups combining real fruit and natural ingredients. World-class mixologists and chefs have come to rely on their first syrup, Coco Reàl, which is a delicious Cream of Coconut. Reàl has since created an entire line of infused fruit puree syrups due to its superior flavour, extended shelf life, and squeeze bottle.

Beers, Alcohol-Free & Soft Drinks

Let’s not forget the beers. If you’re not a big beer drinker, keep things simple with a twelve or 24-pack of bottles that you can chill in your fridge. We’d recommend Amigos Tequila Flavoured Beer. But if you’re well into beers and ales, consider a draught setup to take your home bar to the next level.

Non-alcoholic bevs and mixers are also home bar essentials. Franklin & Sons Tonics & Mixers are the perfect option for G&T, while other premium soft drinks like lemonades, soda water, and energy drinks can all help you mix delicious drinks at home.