1.
Inspired by Wish I Were A Housewife.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-tequila, Cointreau, maybe mezcal if you're cool
-sparkling water
-fresh berries like raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries
-fresh squeezed juice like grapefruit, lime, mango, and orange
-hot sauce or chili sauce
-sliced limes
-simple syrup (simmer equal parts water and sugar 2 minutes then cool)
-kosher salt, Lucas salt, or chili salt on a plate for rimming glasses
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-muddler
-drink stirrers
-jigger or measuring cups
-glasses
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these on cards or on butcher paper taped to the wall. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
muddled fruit + 2 oz tequila + 1 oz Cointreau + 3 oz juice (or 2 oz juice and 1 oz sparkling water)
2.
Inspired by Wit and Delight.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-gin, vodka, Pimm's, and elderflower liqueur (St. Germain is a common brand many liquor stores sell)
-tonic, club soda, and ginger beer
-fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, basil, thyme, and tarragon
-fresh squeezed juice like grapefruit, lime, and lemon
-sliced cucumbers, limes, and lemons
-simple syrup (simmer equal parts water and sugar 2 minutes then cool)
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-cutting board + knife
-highball glasses
-jigger or measuring cups
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these on cards or on butcher paper taped to the wall. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
3.
Inspired by The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-sparkling wine, Aperol, Guinness
-sparkling water
-fresh berries like raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries
-fresh squeezed juice like grapefruit, cranberry, orange, and/or watermelon
-sugar cubes or Angostura sugar cubes
-Angostura bitters
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-Champagne flutes
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these nearby on a chalkboard or butcher paper. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
-Cranberry Champagne Cocktail (click for recipe)
-Watermelon Bellini: 1 part watermelon juice, 1 part sparkling wine
-Venetian Spritz: 1 1/2 ounces Aperol + 2 ounces sparkling wine + 2 ounces sparkling water + 1 lemon twist
-Champagne Velvet: 1 part Guinness, 1 part sparkling wine
4.
Inspired by The Sweetest Occasion.
To do a good Bloody Mary Bar you could just set out tomato juice and clamato juice and a bunch of garnishes and that would be awesome, OR you could go a step further and make two or three different Bloody Mary base mixes ahead of time and label them.
BLOODY MARY BASE RECIPES:
OTHER INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-vodka, gin
-sliced lemon and lime
-celery stalks
-a variety of hot sauces, Sriracha, chili sauce
-worcestershire
-freshly grated or prepared horseradish
-a variety of olives
-lots of pickled things! radishes, cornichons, smokra, green beans, cipollini onions
-raw oysters
-cocktail shrimp
-cooked bacon strips
-meat straws
-Old Bay
-Pepper mill
-Celery salt, Lucas salt, and/or kosher for glass rim
-Ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-glasses
-mixing spoons
-long skewers for garnishes
MICHELADA RECIPES
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/bloody-beers
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Michelada-Bloody-Mary
See my post on 33 Next-Level Tips For A Bloody Mary Bar for more ideas. Also Bon Appetit has a Bloody Mary Slot Machine.
5.
Inspired by Modern Moments.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-dark and light rums, orange curaçao, and orgeat syrup
-fresh orange juice, lime juice, and pineapple juice
-cream of coconut
-oranges, chunks of pineapple, and maraschino cherries
-simple syrup (simmer equal parts water and sugar 2 minutes then cool)
-bitters
-nutmeg
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-cocktail shaker and strainer
-cocktail umbrellas
-drink stirrers
-cutting board and knife
-muddler
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these nearby on a chalkboard or butcher paper. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
6.
Nonalcoholic!
Inspired by I Heart Naptime.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-fresh lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, grapefruit, strawberry — any juice!
-sparkling water
-ice teas — both caffeinated and uncaffeinated
-coconut water
-fresh herbs like mint, basil, tarragon
-fresh berries
-sliced cucumber, limes, lemons
-ginger syrup (click for a a DIY recipe or buy it here), and simple syrup (simmer equal parts water and sugar 2 minutes then cool)
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-straws
-glasses
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these nearby on a chalkboard or butcher paper. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
-Iced Green Tea + Ginger syrup + Mint
7.
Inspired by Sunday Suppers.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-vodka, gin, Lillet, and dry vermouth
-olive juice (a.k.a. dirty water)
-soda water
-cucumber slices, olives, lemon twists
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
Martinis should be stirred not shaken, so you'll want to set out a large glass people can mix and stir their vermouth and vodka with ice, then strain into a glass.
-jigger or measuring cups
-mixing glass like this one or this one
-martini glasses
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these nearby on a chalkboard or butcher paper. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
8.
Inspired by Better Homes and Garden's Casual Outdoor Entertaining Ideas.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT:
-white rum and ginger liqueur (Domaine de Canton is a common brand many liquor stores carry)
-Pomegranate juice
-fresh herbs: mint and basil
-fresh berries
-fresh citrus: lemons, limes, maybe grapefruits
-superfine sugar or simple syrup (simmer equal parts water and sugar 2 minutes then cool)
lime slicers
-club soda
-ice
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-jigger or measuring cups
-cutting board and knife
-highball glasses
SUGGESTED RECIPES TO POST ON THE BAR (write these nearby on a chalkboard or butcher paper. You may need to simplify them to serve one drink):
9.
Inspired by Lark and Lace.
Another option is the "any drink" bar.
INGREDIENTS TO SET OUT
Set out a range of things that make sense together — be sure you have the basics covered like lemon juice, sparkling water, a couple of herbs, bitters, simple syrup.
TOOLS TO SET OUT
-cutting board and knife
-glasses
-ice
RECIPES TO POST
Just pick your 3 favorite cocktails that are simple to make and be sure their ingredients are represented, then write the recipes somewhere noticeable.
The 5 Essential Rules of Any DIY Drink Bar
1. Squeeze a lot of citrus juice in advance and set it out in squeeze bottles. This $16 electric juicer will be your best friend.
2. Give people instructions and a way to measure. Whether you say "1 part this, 1 part that" or give specific ounces or tablespoons, make sure your measuring utensil will make sense to your guests. And give a recipe that makes one drink at a time.
3. Always set out sparkling water. Not everyone wants to get smashed, and bubbles improve many cocktails.
4. Set out lots of ice. You can't make a good cocktail without ice. An ice bucket is helpful.
5. Label things! Whether you use plastic squeeze bottles, recycled salsa jars or pretty sling top glass bottles, slap some masking tape on there and write the contents with a Sharpie.