Getting Started

We have a few recipes in this book that are designed to be made with things you have around your house (or apartment/condo/dorm). However, there are quite a few that require materials you may not have. We put together our list of bar basics that will help you get started. Once you start mixing, you’ll want to start playing around and customizing. You may even create something delicious that we couldn’t even dream of. In our opinion, everyone over 21 should have these items at the bar so they can make a few drinks.

Ice Trays. There are so many fancy silicone trays out there. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on an ice tray, but if you want to class it up a bit, you can buy one of the sphere trays. Spheres melt slower than the traditional cubes. One pound of ice per person is the general rule when making drinks. Some recipes taste better with crushed ice, so we noted that in the recipe.

Cocktail Shaker. We like the Boston-style cocktail shaker best. This means the shaking metal tin and the mixing glass are separate. A high-quality tin (28 ounce) with a glass (or acrylic, 16 ounce) will look good on your bar even when the juices have spilled everywhere. You can also use a mixing tin (18 ounce) to fit into the shaking metal tin (28 ounce). Both of these options allow you to put a separate strainer right on top. Using a glass or acrylic glass for mixing and muddling is preferred because you can see the ingredients. We do a lot of muddling and shaking, so acrylic is also the most durable. If you’re looking to save money, you can usually find a great, Boston-style cocktail shaker bar kit at a discount store. Typically, those don’t come with the mixing glass, but they will work for beginners and often have the strainer built in. Generally, when we say to “shake” the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, you should shake to a count of ten. More will dilute the drink, and less won’t properly mix the ingredients.

Strainer. Nothing too flimsy. Hawthorne-style if you’re going with the Boston-style shaker.

Bar Spoon. 30 cm is standard for stirring.

Muddler. We muddle a lot. When you’re working with things like herbs or fruits, the muddler will allow you to open up the flavors in the ingredients, so your drink tastes good. Get a muddler with plastic teeth; never metal because it breaks glass.

Jigger. This two-sided measuring cup will make following the recipes much easier. The more drinks you make, the more comfortable you’ll be eyeballing measurements. Standard size is 1½ ounces on one side, and 1 ounce on the other. We like to have three different-sized jiggers, each a different color so we are sure to grab the right size when mixing. We have the standard jigger mentioned above, the ¾ ounce, ½ ounce, 1¼ ounce, and 2 ounce.

Garnishes. Lemon and lime are the most commonly used garnishes. Having these handy is great because you can use the juice for mixing, and the leftovers for garnishes. Big olives are also a good idea to have because they have a long shelf life and go great with a variety of cocktails. You’ll notice we have a wide array of garnishes on our cocktails. You can throw every f*cking edible thing in your refrigerator on something like a bloody mary, but we want you to have the basics. If all else fails, squeeze a bunch of citrus on some booze and call it a day.

Modifiers. There are countless mixers and drink modifiers, but the three most important and common are tonic, soda water, and simple syrup. Simple syrup is 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. You can easily make your own simple syrup; use a sugar alternative if you prefer. After you have those, look for Cointreau, vermouth, and bitters. Bitters is used sparingly, and the shelf life is long, so just pick up a small bottle and know it will last you a while. And remember, the components of a balanced cocktail are alcohol, sweet, bitter, and sour.

ALCOHOL! Booze is what this book is all about. If you’re on a budget, start with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of tequila. They are the most versatile. From there, stock your bar with white rum, gin, and whiskey.

Glassware. There are so many different types of glassware, you will be overwhelmed if you try to buy every different option you see in the recipes. Start with the three basics: a tall glass, a short glass (also known as a rocks glass), and a stemmed glass. You can drink our cocktails out of a f*cking shoe if you’re desperate, so don’t feel like it is necessary to pick up any new glassware. However, if you’re having a dinner party and want your cocktails to look their best, you’ll have to invest in some. You’ll also want to pick up some shot glasses. Most people get shot glasses as a souvenir, so you may have a Britney one handy from her Vegas residency, or a Grand Canyon one from a family trip. We recommend buying some unbranded shot glasses for special guests, and you can set aside that Britney one for a very special guest. For wine, there are different glasses for different varietals, but if you have limited space or money, stick to one style of wine glass that is in between so you can serve whatever you uncork/unscrew in them. Moscow mule mugs look great on your bar, but you may not use them often.

All of these are suggestions. You can pick up some cheap disposable (recyclable) cups at the drugstore if you don’t have the room for storing extra glassware. You can also pick up a lot of great glassware at thrift shops. We’ve gotten tea sets from Goodwill for $10. Thrift store finds are unique and make it easy to ball on a budget.

The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re reading this book is that we want you to have fun. Don’t feel like you have to go out and spend a bunch of money to make these. Everything is customizable. Don’t have a martini glass? Serve it in a paper cup. A recipe may call for blood orange juice, but you may only be able to find regular OJ. That’s good as gold! These recipes were carefully crafted to be the best they can be, but shit happens, and you may need to adjust. Or try a different recipe based on the ingredients you have. We included some drinks that call for ingredients that you may have to order online or at a high-end liquor store, and there are other drinks you can make with the sauce packets you have from the drive-thru and an empty water bottle. Have fun and get loose! And if you’re not having fun, drink until you are having fun.