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Zoom happy hours are quickly becoming a moment of solace in these troubling times: with the quick click of a button, you can be reunited (virtually) with your friends, and cheers with DIY’d cocktails. Sure, it may not be the same as meeting up in person, but it’s a close second when it comes to feeling connected. And if you’re one who finds sanctuary in these at-home social gatherings, a bart cart is an essential home item to have on hand, as a well-stocked one can satisfy any craving. (They key is in regularly switching up drink recipes—one day could be all about mezcal spritzers, the next, espresso martinis.)
It’s important to know that a good home bar cart requires love, care, and investment; it simply can’t be whipped up overnight. And this is coming from a pro: Vogue asked Ryan Chetiyawardana, of Dandelyan in London, to share his tips for building a full bar at home. However, with a little planning and execution, Chetiyawardana says it’s easier than you think to assemble a cart with all the restaurant-level tools—and there’s no time like the present to start investing in all of the fixings.
Below, 5 simple tips for nailing the at-home bar.
1. Start with the cart
A good at-home bar starts from the ground up. Literally: you’ll need the actual cart first. Luckily, there are a bevy of bar cart styles to choose from, and it’s easier than ever to find one that suits your interior. “Think on the practicalities of how you want to use it,” Chetiyawardana says. “Will it be more of a sideboard that gets wheeled across, or do you have the space to have something a little more elaborate? My main advice is make sure it s not rickety; a vintage cart is super cute until it wobbles and smashes your fave bottle of whisky.” Consider Serena Lily’s Monaco style in ratan, which gives off a slight tiki bar feel, or Latitude Run’s double-tiered style in a bright coral, to add a pop of color to your space.
2. Stock up on the essentials
A good bar cart needs a variety of liquor to suit multiple moods. But the types of liquors to shelve all depends on where the bar cart is situated. Chetiyawardana explains: “Tableside margaritas are best prepared in the kitchen where the requisite fresher—and messier—ingredients are more at home.” As for a living room bar cart? “I think stirred or built drinks are best, and if space allows, have something that allows a bit of customization, and the ability to serve a group,” he says (should you be entertaining your family). “A mature scotch, tequila and cognac fit the bill nicely, as does a balanced gin and vodka that suits a variety of serves. Then small bottles of vermouth, bitters, and quality mixers are useful.”
3. Get the right tools
If at-home cocktails are on the menu, your bar cart will need the right tools to get mixing. Don’t know where to begin? “Keep it pared back,” says Chetiyawardana. “A mixing glass, barspoon, jigger, peeler, bottle opener and a julep strainer should do you well.” To take it to the next level, he also suggests having dasher bottles in stock, and a small sealable bottle, which makes the addition of bitters and modifiers (such as vermouth or Campari) “more elegant and controllable.” For aesthetics, Amara’s snake-print tray also doubles as a focal point in the room.
4. Invest in glassware
An unexpected accent piece for a bar cart? Unique glassware. “These details make a huge difference,” Chetiyawardana says. “Not only the weight, rim, fineness of your chosen ones, but the style, too.” The right pieces can not only enhance the drink itself, but heighten your home’s overall decor factor: Wolf Badger’s coupe glasses give the cart a slight Art Deco feel, for instance, while Tre Product’s tinted shapely vessels infuse it with a dash of whimsy. Chetiyawardana suggests purchasing glassware based on personal drink preference. “Think on what you love to drink, and what you d love to showcase to your friends, and work from there,” he says. “If you like Martinis, invest in some fine, small ones. A compete can set the feel of a drink just right, and nosing glasses are better for neat spirits than a rocks glass.”
5. Don’t forget the finishing touches
Want to really impress your friends or coworkers on Zoom? Having finishing-touch ingredients stocked on your bar cart will bring any cocktail to new heights. “Quality makes all the difference here, so invest in the ones you love,” Chetiyawardana says. “Some good staples are Angostura bitters, Regans Orange Bitters, Peychaud bitters, a dry and sweet vermouth (store in fridge, and decant into small bottles with little air/head space), Campari, Luxardo or Fabbri cherries, unwaxed citrus, and quality olives in brine.” He suggests keeping these ingredients in small containers and out of light or in the fridge—then, when it s happy hour time, transferring them to the cart. Final touches like a reusable straw or decorative swizzle sticks, will then have your cocktails ready to dazzle.
