About Barware

Many homeowners have a designated area called a wet bar for storing and serving alcoholic beverages, but few homeowners are trained bartenders. To stock a bar properly, it pays to understand the basics of the professional bartending world, from the storage of beers and wines to the barware needed to mix cocktails or blend frozen drinks. Whenever you stock a bar for entertainment purposes, you need to make sure you have everything from glasses to garnishes.

One consideration when you stock a bar is the storage capacity. Liqueurs and spirits usually rest on shelving units along the back wall of the wet bar. Estimate how many bottles you can display safely on existing shelves. Specialty items such as Galliano are often sold in very tall bottles, which can be difficult to accommodate in a private bar. When you stock a bar with limited shelf space, display the most popular liqueurs and cocktail ingredients and leave the rest in a cabinet or under the bar itself.