Bar basics - mixers

There are a number of liquid ingredients needed for cocktails beside the alcohol.

Tomato juice
Clamato juice
Orange juice
Coconut milk
Grenadine
Tabasco sauce
Worchestershire sauce
Angostura bitters
Club soda
Simply syrup*
Ice

* - to make simple syrup, bring 1 cup of water to the boil and add 2 cups of sugar. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool and refrigerate.

Bar basics - potables

The first thing needed for cocktails are the alcoholic bases.

Vodka
Rum
Whisky
Tequila
Brandy
Cognac
Gin
Bourbon
Triple Sec
Cointreau
Dry Vermouth
Sweet Vermouth

Bar basics - essential garnishes

Here is a list of the basic garnishes.

Olives
Maraschino cherries
Mint
Limes
Lemons
Cocktail onions

Bar basics - equipment

There are a few essential pieces of equipment required of the the well set bar.

Cocktail shaker		Corkscrew		Ice bucket & Tongs		Strainer
Peeler		Cocktail picks		Swizzle sticks		Muddler
Measure - 1 oz and ¾ oz shots, or a graduated measure

The modern/deco style above is available from MixologyAndCraft (and Amazon).

The Cocktail Cabinet

I first saw a cocktail cabinet in the posh Manhattan apartment of Nick and Nora Charles in the famous Thin Man movies. I knew I had to have one one day and finally found it in a second hand store.

It was in fairly good condition but the woodwork needed refinishing. I had it done by a local furniture restorer and the result were perfect!

I prefer the Art Deco period but mine is more Art Moderne, probably from the 1940s. On the shelf are an ice bucket, a cocktail shaker, and an assortment of cocktail glasses.

On the lid are the skewers for cocktail garnishes. The two door cabinet below holds the bottles of liquor. (I do not know what the two brackets in the centre of the lid are for. I've seen cabinets that have three brackets that hold a citrus squeezer but there was never a third bracket on mine — no screw holes.)