Happy Hour: The Essentials

In lieu of a cocktail recipe this week, here are the essentials to have on hand for your home bar:

LIQUOR

Bourbon

Cointreau or Triple Sec

Gin

Rum (light)

Scotch (blended)

Tequila (white)

Vermouth (dry)

Vermouth (sweet)

Vodka

MIXERS

Cola, ginger ale, club soda, sparkling water, tonic water

Lemons

Limes

Cranberry juice

Orange juice

Angostura bitters

Simple syrup. Heat 1 part sugar and 1 part water in a saucepan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Simple syrup keeps at room temperature for a couple of weeks; eventually it will crystallize. In a pinch, superfine sugar can be substituted.

Garnishes

Green olives (pitted)

Lemons

Limes

Kosher salt

Maraschino cherries

GADGETS

Long cocktail spoon

Paring knife

Peeler

Cutting board

Corkscrew

Bottle opener

Juice squeezer

Standard shaker (metal bottom, metal lid with a strainer)

Jigger (usually with a 1-ounce measure on one side, 1 1/2 ounces on the other). Most recipes call for 1 1/2 ounces of alcohol (a jigger, or a shot), but some call for 1 ounce (a pony). If you don't have a jigger, 3 tablespoons are about equal to 1 1/2 ounces.

Bartending handbook ( I LOVE Hip Sips by Lucy Brennan)

Cocktail napkins

Cocktail toothpicks

GLASSES

Martini glasses — must-haves for every bar because they say "cocktail"

Highball glasses

All-purpose wineglasses

Written by Amanda Hinnant-REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE

November 2002
PHOTO: POTTERY BARN-MODINE BAR