It’s time to think outside the box when it comes to holiday drinks. Whether you’re looking for a new latte to replace that pumpkin spice standby or something better (and slightly less boozy) than Christmas punch, these simple crowd-pleasers offer the perfect simple solution.

1. Mulled Apple Cider with Ginger Kombucha

Suja’s cold-pressed mulled apple cider is the perfect base for holiday drinks. The blend is made with an organic, non-GMO blend of apple, orange, pineapple, and carrot juices with honey, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Combine it with bourbon and a few extra spices for an easy-to-make cocktail, or follow the advice of Suja’s Chief Innovation Officer, Bryan Riblett, and swap out the booze with Suja’s ginger kombucha for a virgin mocktail with a spicy kick.

2. Organic Pink and Matcha Lattes

The bright holiday colors are only one reason we love these lattes; they also add a festive flavor to your morning coffee. The pink latte, made with rich and malty Numi pu-erh tea (blended with cacao and vanilla) gets its bright color and earthy sweetness from beet juice. The green latte, made with matcha and Moroccan mint, is sweetened with just a hint of honey.

While the pink latte recipe is naturally plant-based, it’s easy enough to swap out the dairy milk in the green latte for your favorite plant-based milk, too.

3. Organic Eggnong

Eggnog is a perennial holiday favorite, and we love this version from GMO-free milk pioneer Clover Sonoma. Clover’s new organic eggnog is devoid of controversial carrageenan, relying on organic gums and eggs to thicken the base of organic milk and holiday spices.

You can certainly add the traditional bourbon, brandy, or rum to this eggnog, but it’s also delicious all on its own.

4. Gingerbread Latte

The pumpkin spice latte has had its day in the sun; PSLs are out, and gingerbread lattes, with their rich touch of molasses, are in. Use Simply Beyond’s organic gingerbread spray in place of the individual ground spices to make this latte even easier to make, and serve it with an organic gingerbread cookie for an especially festive flair.

5. Apple Pie Smoothie

For a seasonal breakfast or snack, this apple pie smoothie is the perfect choice. It’s a cinch to make: just combine fresh apples, Greek yogurt, apple pie spices, and ice in the blender, and in under five minutes, you’ve got a healthy, filling drink to enjoy. There’s no added sweetener in this recipe, so be sure to choose an organic apple that’s on the sweeter side for true apple pie flavor.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Celebrate in style this season with some of these tasty, yet lesser known liqueurs.

Whether you are looking to expand your own fancy liquor palette or are looking for some liqueurs to gift this holiday season, we have got you covered. 

5 Delicious Liqueurs 

1. Suze

Suze is a French aperitif that you never knew you needed but now won’t want to live without it. Suze has an appealingly subtle citrus, yet slightly bitter and earthy taste. It’s made from the root of the gentian plant, which is an herb that grows in the Alps. It can be enjoyed straight as an after-dinner aperitif or used in cocktails. Mix it with soda and orange rind for a super simple and refreshing drink.

2. Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur

Maraschino cherry liqueur is another unknown powerhouse for the home bar. While you may think it’s made with those dyed red maraschino cherries, it is actually made from sour Marasca cherries. The taste is a mix between sweet and sour and is not necessarily ideal to drink on its own. Instead, this liqueur is the perfect addition to cocktails like the Manhattan. It can also be used to make homemade maraschino cherries with fresh cherries if you have any of this liqueur by the time summer comes around.

3. St. Germaine

St. Germaine is a liqueur made from elderberry flowers. It has a delicate floral taste that is lovely on its own or an ingredient in cocktails. Its delicate taste mixes well with Champagne and other sparkling wines. The showy bottle makes for a super impressive gift and the gentle floral taste is a decadent addition to any home bar that can make one feel the warmth of summer even in the cold of winter.

4.Licor 43

Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur featuring a complicated flavor profile that includes layers of citrus, vanilla, and spice. This warm and sweet liqueur is a versatile addition to any liqueur collection. One of our favorite cocktails using Licor 43 is the Ginger 43 which is made with ginger ale, Licor 43, and lime. Licor 43 also makes a great addition to red or white wine sangria.

5.Green Chartreuse

There are two different types of Chartreuse–Green and Yellow. Distilled using over 130 herbs, Green Chartreuse is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color. Traditionally enjoyed as an after-dinner drink, Chartreuse makes for a delicious addition to cocktails. One popular way to enjoy Chartreuse is as a substitute for gin in a gin and tonic. The complex herbal flavors of Chartreuse rival those of the most herbaceous gin.

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This rosemary-ginger margarita recipe is a tonic that (almost) cleanses while it intoxicates.

There’s no need to feel guilty about throwing a few (too many) alcoholic beverages back every now and then, especially when the cocktail in question is made with fresh ingredients and devoid of added white sugar or syrup.

These days, I am becoming increasingly obsessed with homemade cocktails that have a bespoke, authentic flavor profile and appearance. That way, I get to explore unique flavors, savor each and every sip, and get buzzed while I’m at it. This margarita recipe is unlike any you’ve ever had. It’s infused with a punch of ginger and a hint of fragrant and earthy rosemary.

Rosemary is an evergreen herb heralding from the Mediterranean. It is a rich source of antioxidants and boasts anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary is also chock-full of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6, and is known to boost the immune system, improve circulation, treat indigestion, enhance memory and concentration, protect the brain, and may even help to prevent cancer.

Ginger is equally, if not more, beneficial to health. It contains gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin and salicylate, which are powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Ginger is associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality. It treats digestive issues, nausea, muscle pain, and inflammation.

Instead of regular simple syrup, this margarita recipe uses lower-glycemic coconut palm nectar. The nectar is boiled with rosemary and ginger to take on unique herbal and fresh accents. If you don’t have coconut nectar on hand, feel free to use honey or maple syrup in its place. Enjoy!

Rosemary Ginger Margarita Recipe

Serves two

Ingredients

For the rosemary and ginger coconut syrup

• ½ cup coconut palm nectar
• ½ cup water
• 1-inch nob ginger, skinned and sliced
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

For the margarita

• 3 ounces tequila
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• ¼ cup rosemary and ginger coconut syrup (above)
• Ice
• Carbonated water
• Kosher salt for rimming
• Fresh rosemary for garnishing

Directions

To prepare the coconut syrup, bring a small saucepan to medium-high heat. Add the coconut palm nectar, water, ginger, and fresh rosemary. Stir while bringing to a boil. Once the mixture begins to boil, remove the saucepan from the heat and set it aside to cool. Once cool, strain the mixture and reserve the syrup for later use in the margaritas.

Use a wedge of lime to moisten the rim of two glasses. Dip the glass rims into salt. Set aside.

To prepare the margaritas, add tequila, lime juice, ¼ cup of the rosemary and ginger coconut syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake until the margarita mixture is chilled. Strain it into two glasses. Finish each glass off with carbonated water and a garnish of fresh rosemary.

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As the sun inches its way out from behind the clouds and to the vast, open sky, it’s time to start sipping (alcoholic beverages) in anticipation of warm weather. There is something very light and friendly about the spring season, and the following three cocktail recipes play on that vibe. They’re as pretty as they are delicious and will entertain a crowd’s, or just your own, palate. Enjoy!

3 Spring-Inspired Cocktail Recipes

1. Matcha Mint Julep

Serves two

As if matcha wasn’t already everywhere, this Mint Julep sticks to the green theme with a dose of caffeine.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• ¾ cup water
• Handful fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons cane sugar
• Juice of two limes
• ½ cup bourbon whiskey
• Ice
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions

Place the matcha in a small bowl and slowly whisk in the water until the matcha becomes a smooth paste. Stir in the remaining water.

In a pitcher or jar, muddle the mint leaves into the sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the mint leaves are bruised. Stir in the lime juice, whiskey, and matcha water. Pour the matcha mint julep through a sieve and serve in two glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

2. Blood Orange Margarita

Serves one

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup freshly-squeezed blood orange juice
• Juice of one lime
• 1 ounce triple sec
• 2 ounces silver tequila
• Kosher salt
• 1 blood orange wedge
• Ice

Directions

Mix the blood orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, and tequila together in jar and set in the refrigerator to cool. Meanwhile, moisten the outer rim of a martini glass with the blood orange wedge and dip the rim into the salt to lightly coat it. Add the ice to the jar and then strain the margarita into the glass.

3. Rose Water Cointreau Fizz

Serves one

This fizz has the ethereal delicateness reminiscent of the façade of a porcelain doll. It has a touch of rose and strawberry, with a citrus twist.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Cointreau
• 1 teaspoon rose water
• 2 teaspoons strawberry juice
• Juice of half of a lime
• Soda water
• Ice

Directions

Fill a glass with ice and add the Cointreau, rose water, strawberry juice and lime juice. Mix with a spoon and then top the drink off with soda water.

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This is the prime time to try new cocktail recipes with seasonal flavors and alcohols. 

1. Orchard Toddy

Apple cider and cinnamon are the perfect warming combo for winter. This toddy combines cinnamon cider and whiskey with a peppery (and immune-boosting!) honey and ginger syrup.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple
• 5 oz Scotch or Irish Whiskey
• 25 oz lemon juice
• 3 oz honey ginger syrup**
• 3 oz water

Directions

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and set at low heat. Allow to heat up and then serve and garnish with a lemon wheel studded with cloves.

If using a stovetop, add all ingredients to a small saucepan and simmer over low heat. Be careful not to allow the mixture to get too hot, because the alcohol will boil off.

**Honey Ginger Syrup:

Ingredients

• 2 cups honey
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped peeled ginger

Directions

Peel the ginger and then finely chop. Add all ingredients to a pot and cover. Simmer over medium to low heat for 20 minutes. Strain, allow to cool, and store in the refrigerator.

2. Hot & Angry

This drink boasts a Mexican flair with tequila and Cholula hot sauce. A slightly sweet base of cinnamon apple cider and pineapple juice makes this drink a party favorite.

Ingredients

• 4 oz Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple
• 1 oz Blanco Tequila
• 5 oz lime juice
• 5 oz pineapple juice
• 75 oz simple syrup
• 5 tsp Cholula hot sauce

Directions

Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and cinnamon stick.

3. Angry by the Fire

If you like a bit of spice with your cocktail, Angry by the Fire will definitely be up your alley. Fireball whisky is toned down with just enough heavy cream for a rich, warming cocktail recipe you’re sure to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 4 oz Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
• 5 oz Fireball
• 2 oz orange juice
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 5 oz vanilla syrup (simple syrup with vanilla extract)
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Directions

Shake and strain into a collins glass with no ice. Top with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon powder sprinkled on top.

4. The Florist

This cocktail hails from the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort’s brand-new wellness cocktail menu. The Florist is a refreshing floral cocktail blended with Botanist Gin, which is crafted from eight botanicals and 22 foraged flowers from Islay. It goes perfectly with Boiron Calamansi – a unique floral citrus juice from the Philippines that supports detoxing the colon.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Botanist Gin
• ½ oz Grand Poppy Liqueur
• ¾  Boiron Kalamansi
• ½ Orange Blossom Honey
• 3 Drops Lavender Bitters
• Soda
• Dehydrated lime peel, for garnish

Directions

Combine ingredients in a shaker minus soda, shake with ice, strain into highball glass with ice. Top with soda and garnish with a dehydrated lime peel.

5. Pumpkin Power

The Pumpkin Power is yet another one of the Carillon Resort’s delicious cocktail recipes, combining the certified organic Crop Pumpkin vodka and spicy, citrussy Fruit Lab Hops Liqueur. Blood orange adds vitamin C and antioxidants — much needed in the winter.

Ingredients

• 1  oz Crop Organic Pumpkin
• 1 oz  Fruit Lab Hops Liqueur
• 1 oz  Boiron Blood Orange
• blood orange, for garnish

Directions

Combine ingredients into shaker and shake well with ice. Strain into rocks glass with ice cubes. Garnish with blood orange.

6. Pinky Groove

The Pinky Groove cocktail hails from the Le Guanahani resort on St. Barth — it brings the flair of the Caribbean to any party, no matter how cold the temperatures, with watermelon juice, lemongrass, and rose syrup. While in the summer it’s lovely to garnish with fresh watermelon, in the winter, ginger makes a great garnish too.

Ingredients

• 4 cl Absolut Elyx
• 1 cl watermelon juice
• 5 cl apple juice
• 2 cl lemongrass infusion
• 1.5 cl rose syrup

Directions

Shake ingredients with ice in a shaker and serve in a highball glass.

7. The Black and White Cocktail

Chief bartender William Oliveri serves this warming cocktail at Bar 228 at the Meurice hotel in Paris, but you can just as easily make it at home. At the hotel, Alain Ducasse hot chocolate is used, but your favorite hot chocolate recipe will do in a pinch.

Ingredients

• 1.35 oz rum
• 0.3 oz Grand Marnier
• 2.7 oz hot chocolate, prepared
• whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

In a grog glass, pour the ingredients one by one: the rum, followed by the Grand Marnier, and finally the hot chocolate. Stir, then top with whipped cream.

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The following 4 cocktail recipes are perfect for warm weather and will excite your senses and those of your guests all season long.

Your summer cocktail concoctions should reflect the season’s light, refreshing ways. But instead of attaining flavor rushes by overdoing the sugar, artificial ingredients, and other not-so-body-friendly additives, opt for cocktail ingredients that showcase the inherent deliciousness and bounty of summer’s true flavors.

4 Summer Cocktail Recipes

1. Orange Peach Mimosa Slush

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 orange
• 1 cup frozen peach slices
• 2 cups ice cubes
• ¼ freshly squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup Champagne
• Orange slices for garnish

Directions

Slice the orange in half, remove the seeds, and cut off the peel. Add the orange flesh, frozen peach slices, ice cubes, orange juice, and Champagne to a high-speed blender and mix until slushy and smooth.

Pour the mixture into four wine glasses and garnish with orange slices.

2. Honeydew Basil Margarita

Serves 4

Ingredients

• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
• 4 cups chopped honeydew melon, frozen
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons blanco tequila
• 1 cup fresh lime juice

Directions

In a high-speed blender, add all the ingredients together and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with basil leaves.

3. Summer Punch

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup bourbon
• 1 cup white vermouth
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 ½ cups chilled ginger beer

Directions

Combine all ingredients into a punch bowl. Serve over ice.

4. Lemon Drop

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup vodka
• 2 ounces triple sec
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup lemon juice

Directions

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cool and then filter into glasses.

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Anyone can open a bottle of bubbly, but you can show off this New Year’s Eve with these easy, yet super impressive, sparkling wine cocktails.

The key to a great New Year’s Eve bash is the sparkling wine. While we colloquially refer to all bubbly as champagne, the truth of the matter is most of us are not drinking true champagne.

A few definitions

• Champagne – refers to sparkling wine grown, fermented, and bottled in Champagne, France. If you are drinking anything else, it’s best to call it a sparkling wine to be technically correct.
• Prosecco – Prosecco used to be called the poor man’s Champagne; it’s actually a sparkling wine from Italy.
• Cava – Cava is delicious sparkling wine from Spain.

While you will find other sparkling wines in any good liquor store, these are the three main region specific sparkling wines. Everything else in the package store will be called sparkling wine. Just as if you were drinking it on its own, it does matter what kind of sparkling wine you use for cocktails. The best bet is to go to a good wine store and tell the staff what your plans are. They will be able to tell you what will taste best in your price range.

Now that you understand the basics, here are the cocktails.

7 Sparkling Wine Cocktails

1. French 75 – Made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Brut Champagne, this cocktail can be served in either a Collins glass or a Champagne flute/coupe. It has a little bit of a kick.
2. Black Velvet – This dramatic looking cocktail is made with stout (usually Guinness) and sparkling wine. Fill a glass halfway with wine and top off with the stout.
3. Kir Royale – A deliciously sweet concoction made with sparkling wine topped with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur).
4. St. Germaine Spritzer – St. Germaine is a subtle elderflower liqueur. It pairs well with sparkling wine, club soda, and a lemon twist in this recipe for a lighter cocktail.
5. Prosecco Sangria – We love the idea of making a New Year’s Eve Sangria for guests. This recipe calls for the addition of stone fruits and peach brandy, but you could vary the fruits and brandy depending on your tastes. Champagne Cocktail
6. Chambord and Champagne – For a twist on the Kir Royale, try adding Chambord instead. Chambord is a sweet black raspberry liqueur.
7. Sparkling Margarita – Mix up a pitcher of these sparkling wine margaritas from chef Rick Bayless for a real party on New Year’s.

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The home bar glassware must-haves.

Sure, you could totally serve everyone out of red SOLO cups or mismatched glasses from the thrift store, like back in college, but you are a grown up now, and grownups use real bar glassware.

Bar glassware should is a lifelong investment, just like flatware and china. If well taken care of,  you and your guest can enjoy your home bar glassware at every get together you throw. Does everyone need to own a set of sherry, Pousse-cafe, or cordial glasses? Definitely not.

So, what are the essentials? While it does depend on personal taste, there are some tried and true basics to make your bar complete.

Bar Glassware Basics

1. Pint Glass

Image: Pint Glass via Shutterstock

A pint glass is essential for serving beer. While there are other special glasses for beer, like the Weizen, Pilsner, and goblet, a pint glass will do in a pinch for all but the most particular beer drinkers. Choose between the Conical American-style, which will hold 16 ounces, or the Nonic British-style (pictured above), which holds 20 ounces. The Conical glass is nothing more than the ubiquitous standard tumbler glass. It is a good multi-purpose glass as you can serve both beer and other non-alcoholic beverages in it.

2. Wine Glasses

Image: Red and White Wine Glasses via Shutterstock

If you are really into wine you may need more glasses, but most homes have a need for only two types of wine glasses (oh and champagne glasses, but more on that later). Whether choosing stemmed or stemless, most red wines can be served in a glass with a rounded bulb, while most whites will work in a more slender glass. Of course, there’s more to it than that, but most people are not going to invest in special Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Bordeaux glasses.

3. Rocks Glass

Image: Rocks Glass via Shutterstock

Also know as an old-fashioned, or low-ball glass, the rocks glass is a short glass that is good for serving whiskey over ice. It can also be used for some cocktails, like an old-fashioned, Sazerac, or mint julep. It comes in two sizes: 6–8 ounces or 12–14 ounces.

4. Cocktail Glass

Image: Cocktail Glass via Shutterstock

Sometimes referred to as a martini glass, the cocktail glass is a stemmed glass used for serving cocktails. These glasses are used most commonly for shaken or stirred cocktails served without ice. The glass is to be held by the stem, therefore keeping the drink from getting warm.

5. Champagne Flute

Image: Champagne Flute via Shutterstock

Champagne and sparkling wines do not need to be served in champagne flutes (or the more retro coupe glass), but it adds a bit of elegance to the occasion. If you choose not to invest in Champagne flutes, don’t worry, it is perfectly acceptable to serve sparkling wines in white wine glasses.

6. Highball Glass (or a Collins Glass)

Image: Highball Glass via Shutterstock

You can choose between a Highball glass (smaller at 8-12 ounces) or a Collins glass (larger at 12-16 ounces) for serving mixed drinks that are served over ice and often with a straw like the gin and tonic, gimlet, and most drinks you mix with soda.  There are exceptions to every bar glassware rule, but choosing either the Highball or Collins glass is a good investment.

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What are the necessary components of a well-stocked home bar?

I blame cheap beer commercials, wine coolers, and “Sex in the City.” Somewhere along the way, Americans got away from the home bar and mixing complex and grown-up cocktails and started drinking fruity, watered-down, syrupy sweet concoctions and light beer. I believe it was a slow process that began with the rise of “lite” beer, the invention and propagation of wine coolers, and the Cosmo swilling that took place on “Sex and the City.”

Whatever the cause of the downfall of classic cocktail making, that’s all in the past. There is a new era of mixology and craft cocktails afoot as more people are eschewing the ubiquitous Cosmos, Margaritas, and anything made with Red Bull.

While you could go out to any number of trendy mixology-minded bars and spend upwards of $15 for a carefully crafted cocktail, you can also learn to make them at home.  The key is to pick a few basic cocktails and keep the ingredients needed for those on hand. Don’t feel like you need to have components for every possible cocktail. Instead, you can add liquors and mixers as you want to try something new. You can work your way up to a well-stocked home bar.

The Mixologist’s Home Bar Mixer Must Haves

1. Vermouth – Sweet and Dry

Vermouth is a fortified wine, but not one that you would want to drink alone. It works as a partner with other flavors. Dry vermouth is essential in a gin martini, and sweet vermouth is used in a Manhattan.

2. Cointreau

Cointreau is an orange liqueur. There are other types of orange liqueurs, but Cointreau is the best if you are serious about crafted cocktails. It’s used in a plethora of cocktails, but some of the classics include the Sidecar, Singapore Sling, and the Kamikaze. It’s also the key ingredient in Cosmo and Margaritas.

3. Maraschino Liqueur

Luxardo’s Maraschino Cherry Liqueur is a delightful mixer. One ingenious use for Luxardo is to make homemade drunken Maraschino cherries using fresh cherries. That’s a real crowd-pleaser, let me tell you. It can also be to concoct the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Aviation cocktail.

4. Bitters

Bitters are not used to make cocktails bitter but are a way to impart a lot of flavor in a little punch. There are many kinds of bitters out there, but there are two must-haves for your home bar. The first is Angostura Bitters, which are necessary for making the Manhattan, Old-Fashioned, Rob Roy, and the Pisco Sour. The second is Peychaud’s Bitters, which is a key component to the Sazerac and the Mint Julep. You will find Angostura bitters to be more herbaceous in flavor while Peychaud’s bitters are more floral.

5. Campari

Campari is an apéritif, a liqueur served before a meal, which also serves as a cocktail mixer. Made from fruits and herbs infused in alcohol, it imparts a sweet, spicy and somewhat bitter flavor. It is an essential ingredient in the Negroni and the Americano cocktails.

6. St. Germain

St Germain is a French liqueur that takes its flavor from elderflowers. While relatively new on the scene, it is a wonderful specialty liqueur. It has a delicate flavor that lends itself to lighter cocktails. Mix it with Champagne (or other sparkling wine) for a lovely bubbly cocktail.

7. Galliano

Galliano has flavors of anise, vanilla, juniper, citrus, and herbs. It has a complicated flavor profile, and that makes it the perfect mixer. It is a necessary ingredient in the Harvey Wallbanger and can even be served as a digestif, or a liqueur that is served after a meal.

What are your favorite home bar ingredients?

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What are the 5 must-have home bar tools?

Among the perks of being a grownup is drinking sophisticated cocktails you have carefully crafted for your guests at your very own home bar–at least that is what I tell myself while watching “Mad Men” alone while drinking wine from a box.

But seriously folks, we aren’t in college anymore, so let’s drink like grownups and not college kids. That means being prepared, because that is how as “adults” you plan ahead. But what if you aren’t sure how to make fancy cocktails, just what accessories you need, or how to stock a home bar? Well, you better figure it out fast because you probably aren’t getting any younger.

And whether you have a built-in bar (lucky), a bar cart, use a tray on the kitchen counter, or need some home bar ideas, we can help you figure out what tools and accessories you need to stock your space.

5 Must-Have Home Bar Tools Every Grown Up House Should Have

1. Shaker – A shaker is simply a must have to make certain cocktails, like martinis. A metal shaker, not only mixes the ingredients just right, but when ice is added a most delightful chill is achieved as well. We like this stylish gold version, but honestly any shaker will do!

2. Cocktail Spoon – A cocktail spoon is used for mixed drinks that don’t require shaking, but a gentle mixing instead. Manhattans don’t need to be shaken, but only require the swish of a cocktail spoon. And no, it is not okay to mix cocktails with your finger!

3. Muddler – Every home mixologist really does “need” a muddler. A muddler is used to crush herbs and other ingredients in drinks like the Mint Julep. A gentle crushing releases the oils or flavors in a much more satisfying way than chopping does.

4. Strainer – And if you are going to be making cocktails like the Mint Julep, you will need a strainer to strain out the bits before serving. There are two different types of strainers. One that you hold over a glass to pour over, and one that fits over the mixing cup or shaker and you pour through. Buy both if you can, for versatility.

5. Jigger – A jigger is a necessary tool to make sure you are not making your cocktails too strong, but keeping the correct ratio. Using a jigger, as opposed to just eyeballing it, is ideal to make sure your drinks taste great and your guests don’t get hammered.
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Image: Bar Accessories via Shutterstock

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