At-Home Bartender Starter Kit (Bar Cart Essentials + Glassware + Garnishes)
Build your dream at-home bar cart with this complete, curated guide to home bar essentials. This list covers everything you need to be a bartender at home, from must-have cocktail tools (cocktail shaker, jigger, strainer, bar spoon, muddler, citrus press, ice molds) to elevated glassware (coupe glasses, martini glasses, double old fashioned glasses, margarita glasses, wine glasses) that makes every drink feel like a night out. I also included a smart “starter shelf” of best liquors to stock for a home bar like vodka, gin, tequila, bourbon/whiskey, rum, and the bar staples that actually make cocktails taste legit: dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, bitters, cocktail syrups, rimmers, and cute functional garnishes like cocktail cherries, dehydrated citrus, olives, and edible flowers. If your favorite drinks are dirty martinis, margaritas, and espresso martinis, you’re in the right place. I added dedicated sections for each so you can nail the classics at home, plus the fun extras that make it feel like a vibe: bar cart styling pieces (trays, coasters, decanters, ice buckets, cocktail picks, napkins, and bar books) that look pretty but are actually useful when you’re hosting. Whether you’re building a bar cart on a budget, upgrading your glassware collection, or putting together the perfect setup for entertaining, these are my tried-and-true picks to make cocktail night at home easy, elevated, and very “yes, I made this.”