DIY cocktail bar for your next party

Penned by our wonderful resident Cocktail Commander, Stephen Fried

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the world of DIY cocktail bars!

Gone are the days of relying on a bartender to mix up your favourite drinks. Now, with a little bit of know-how and some basic equipment, you can create your own cocktail bar for your next party and impress your guests with your mixology skills.

First things first, you'll need to gather your tools. A shaker, a strainer, a jigger, and a mixing spoon are all essential for any cocktail bar. These can easily be found at your local kitchenware store or online.

Next, you'll want to stock up on the basics: spirits, mixers, syrups, and garnishes. Vodka, gin, rum, and tequila are all great options for spirits, and you can never go wrong with classics like tonic water, orange juice, and grenadine for mixers. Syrups like simple syrup and grenadine can add a touch of sweetness to your cocktails, and garnishes like olives, cherries, and citrus fruits can add a pop of colour and flavour.

Now, it's time to get creative. You can create a signature cocktail for your party, or set up a build-your-own-cocktail station for your guests to experiment with. For a signature cocktail, consider a classic like a Moscow Mule or a Margarita, or get creative with a homemade syrup or infused spirit. For a build-your-own-cocktail station, set out a variety of spirits, mixers, syrups, and garnishes, and let your guests have fun experimenting with different combinations.

Don't forget to also set up a non-alcoholic cocktail station for your guests who don't drink alcohol, or who prefer to drink less alcohol. You can use the same syrups, fruits and herbs to make non-alcoholic cocktails that taste just as good as the alcoholic ones.

And there you have it, a DIY cocktail bar for your next party! Impress your guests with your mixology skills, and let them have fun experimenting with different combinations of drinks. 

Cheers!