punchdrink.com is my go to for recipes. They have just about everything you'd want. diffordsguide.com is pretty good as well.

In terms of "must have drinks", that really depends on what you like. If you want to be well-rounded, I would start with the classics. Most classic cocktails have specs that are shared across many different drinks. For example, learn a daiquiri, then you know a gimlet. Learn a martini, then you've learned a manhattan. Some variation applies here and there but you get the idea.

For spirits, again this it depends on what you like, but I would have a bottle of vodka, blanco tequila, bourbon or rye, london style gin, lightly aged rum, dark rum, sweet and dry vermouth (buy small bottles, keep them in the fridge), a couple of liquor (ex. triple sec, Campari, luxardo), and angustora and orange bitters. No need for a ton of gear, just buy a solid boston shaker and a long stirring spoon and you should be good.

As a home bar enthusiast, I agree with CDawgCollins recommendation. However, one or two Mason jars with sealable lids can take the place of both shaker and mixing glass as a cheap stop-gap while you figure out what you want in this category. I will advocate for a high quality jigger and a bar spoon or three. Two part tin shakers, “Boston Shakers,” are the way to go IMO.

The oxo stainless steel angled jigger. All other jiggers need not exist

https://www.oxo.com/shop/coffee-beverage/barware/steel-angled-jigger.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2024-03-01_kw_na_brew_na_cnt_oxo_brew_na_na_na_n/a_na_na_na_na_dtc_na_na&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20551236447&gbraid=0AAAAADHFonDoVSx2BUZMvqq2spGKIIXts&gclid=CjwKCAjw9uPCBhATEiwABHN9K1Z96CMTtMIFGGWb_h58GLFEuEobEEa5_mL-SmMpsiYPvkvDZNcNuhoC39IQAvD_BwE

The important point is to be able to make what you like. You're just starting and don't know what you like? Try a few from the ingredients you already have. The Difford's cocktail finder is a great tool for that. You can also browse around in Punch Drink or Liquor.com, or the list of classics and modern classics from the IBA (International Bartender Association).

If you want to try apps, Mixel is a very popular one and so is Cocktail Party. Noflair is interesting but does not have a android version.

I’ll comment a few things and probably the same as others.

1- A decent Boston shaker set up. I don’t like Cobbler style shakers. I have two steel Boston shakers. I got mine from A Bar Above.

2- One or two jiggers. I have 3 I use. I have a Japanese jigger (one side is one ounce, the other is two ounces). I also have the OXO which is a good one.

3- A hawthorn style strainer and a small bar strainer.

4- One or two bar spoons.

5- A muddled. I have a simple wooden one.

6- Glassware. I have some rocks glasses, Mai Tai style glasses, Nick and Nora glasses, highball glasses, margarita glasses, a couple of hurricane glasses, and some pint glasses. Most things you can put in a hurricane or highball glass, you can put in a pint glass honestly.

7- A couple of bitters. I have Angostura, orange and Peychards.

8- A paring knife to cut limes and lemons if you’re using fresh juice (which you should)

9- For syrups etc I like Liber and Co or Real syrups.

10- Booze….start out small. A lot of recipes call for certain types and you can really get into the weeds when it comes to rums. I’m currently up to 70 bottles or so of various types of alcohol.

Get yourself a jigger. Most of the time it doesn’t matter and doesn’t necessarily matter for amounts. But more for ratios when making cocktails.

Obviously, having more than this is great, but having all these really feels like you can cover the essentials:

Tools: Boston shaker (tin-on-tin), double strainer, bar spoon (because fancy).

Drink: vodka, whiskey, coffee liqueur (preferably kahlua for the best espresso martini), cointreau, disaranno.

Misc: sugar syrup (ideally made with demerara sugar if you have it), angostura bitters, as much ice as I can shove in my freezer (not enough), lemon juice, lime juice, cranberry juice, limes, oranges, egg.

Inb4 "fernet, and nothing but fernet" comment

Jameson

Coffee cup and a bottle of whisky

Hey the bar equipments behind are they from saki. What is your review on them. I am looking for a good set.

Peychaud's is great for New Orleans cocktails - didn't see it, unless it's one of the bottles in the back (mine has a black cap). I also don't see any absinthes, pastis, or chartreuses, but Peychaud's pairs well with those, as well as floral or complex spirits like gin, since it's anise forward.

I noticed the vanilla extract - you might like Licor 43 from Cartagena, Spain. It's thick, vanilla-heavy, and great neat or in cocktails.

Could you possibly list them? I can’t quite make some of them out in that photo.

Anyway, from what I can see, and forgive me for being that snob, but… you could probably do better re: the rum selection.

Do you have brandy / cognac? And what tequila & mezcal do you currently have?

As for non-spirits, Aperol, maraschino liqueur and a coffee liqueur come to mind. Oh, and how are you doing for vermouths?

I’d like to add a recommendation that you get a good mixing rye such as Rittenhouse. Get a better sweet vermouth than Martini. Cocchi di Torino would serve wonderfully.

I grow my home bar's bottles based on which cocktails I want to try.

On the subject of quality vs. cost, since someone else mentioned it, I like what I do:

Each time I finish a bottle I'll replace it with another bottle in the same category, but a different brand. Sometimes expensive bottles, sometimes cheap ones. Fun fact: more expensive doesn't always mean better taste.

So over the years since I got in to cocktails I've learned what I like and dislike.

There are some bottles/brands I always have in stock, and others that are always changing.

For example, I find gin can be really hit or miss. I've learned I tend to dislike Hendricks. But I really like Empress Cocktail gin.

For rums, my favourite easily-found bottle is the Appleton 12 year, or Appleton Signature to save money. The lower-end rums have generally been poor choices (Bacardi, Captain Morgan) for my pallette. Planteray has been strong. In the rum category I have a lot of bottles because there is so much variety.

Tequila is interesting because I found there are a lot of expensive bottles that really not that good. Often the celebrity tequila falls into this category.

I've learned that homemade syrups (grenadine especially) far outshine store bought, unless you find a good brand. But price-wise homemade is cheap.

Temu or AliExpress for most things with the exception of shakers and strainers. Those tools you definitely want to spend an okay amount of money. Low quality ones are REEEAAALLLLY annoying to work with. Cheap shakers either don't seal well, or become difficult to open after shaking. Cheap mesh strainers break the most out of all bar tools I've used. I always recommend Cocktail Kingdom for when you want to buy something of quality.

I had a thing for glassware even before I got into cocktails so it’s actually just ridiculous now. I have:

• a set of coupes
• Nick & Noras
• martini glasses
• flared vintage wine glasses that I use for high volume drinks
• small vintage tulip wine glasses that I use for port/sherry/wine at dinner parties where we don’t have enough table space
• small vintage dessert coupes (that really have no use but they served as my first coupes so they have sentimental value)
• bunch of thrifted and non-thrifted small rocks glasses (5-7oz … I like a tall wash line for my stirred rocks drinks)
• normal sized rocks glasses
• tiny antique cordial glasses (about 2-3oz, fun for a martini tasting!)
• a bunch of regular and mini glencairns for whisky/rum
• a set of double walled stemless teacups that I use sometimes as stemless coupes
• a bunch of stemless wineglasses
• a set of Standart wine glasses
• sets of Riedel red & white wine glasses
• set of champagne tulips, and a set of less delicate flutes for parties
• regular water/juice/milk glasses (roughly rocks and highball sized)
• 4 differently shaped beer glasses and a set of Noniq pint glasses

There’s only 2 of us and we don’t even entertain that much! I do (obviously) like having the “right” glass for a drink, and my partner is very indulgent of my whims. 😆 I tend to reach for the coupes, N&Ns, small rocks, and martini glasses the most (impractical but I love a martini and I love it in a martini glass).

I’m finally at the point where I don’t have a glass “itch” I want to scratch (god forbid I get into tiki). And I often serve desserts out of some of the glasses when we host (eton mess, mousses, etc), to help me validate the collection.

Nick and Nora are my goto cocktail glasses for cocktails served up. A couple double old fashioned glasses would be next on my list.

And then a shit ton of exotic mugs because im a exotic cocktail person first!

Cocktail Kingdom makes reasonably-priced, nice quality coupes and Nick & Noras. I have 7.5oz coupes and 5 oz N&Ns, so they don't overlap too closely in volume.

(Can't comment on shipping costs though – I picked these up when I worked in the same neighborhood as the showroom)

Don't get into tiki. You start out simple.... A set of mass-produced modern mugs on Amazon.... Next thing you know, you're scouring every antique shop in a 200-mile radius looking for vintage mugs and ordering $300 limited editions!

All mine are thrifted or inherited. I quite possibly have too many but can you really? I’m not a fan of everything matching so most of mine are real nice but Random! Loved glassware long before I got into crafting better cocktails. Cheers!

Start with basic hand tools and a drill. Work your way up to other power tools. Shop vac a must. Start learning the basics of a home in case of emergency, like how to turn off water at the main and each sink/toilet, how to turn off gas to an appliance etc. Tools are expensive and only worth what you know how to do with them so I wouldn’t dive in to quickly.

Simple claw hammer, cordless drill and circular saw (jigsaw if preferred) or corded if needs be, a level, tape measure these are the main ones but if you need more sockets, pliers, nice set of drill bits for every material and screw type.

No one has mentioned Allen wrenches. You will find they are a must.

I’ve done a relatively insane amount of diy and this is what I’d recommend.

A 12v drill/impact driver combo kit (the Skil brushless kit is nice and right around $100 usually).

An 11 in 1 screwdriver

A 5 in 1 painters tool

A smooth face, relatively light hammer and a combination pry bar and nail puller

Adjustable wrench (channel locks are a good choice)

Adjustable pliers (just get channellocks here as well)

Shop vac

A gfci tester and a non contact voltage tester (trust me, you’ll use them)

Needle nose pliers

A studfinder and a small (12”) level

A bag to put all this stuff in.

And don’t buy anything else until you need it for a specific project.

I would say buy a wet/dry shop vac and a set of pliers right now. That way you can stop a water leak and prevent further damage if it happens. You could probably add a hammer also since you’ll most likely be hanging decor up.

I say buy anything else as you tackle a project requiring it.

Battery powered impact driver and a bit set. Doesn't need to be expensive, and works much better than a drill for most purposes.

Good quality step ladder. I'd get one with a tray.

Shopvac and a power washer.

Motha fuckin caulk. Got a draft? Caulk that shit. See a crack with some ants, caulk them bitches in. Caulk the trim, caulk the cracked picture frame.

Second: go back in time 15 years ago and buy some open-it’s.

Credit card and a big jug of whiskey.

Congrats! For a starter home bar: Bourbon (Buffalo Trace), Whiskey (Jameson), Vodka (Tito’s), Tequila (Espolón), Rum (Bacardi), plus one red and one white wine. Add mixers like soda, tonic, and citrus and you’re set.

Depends on your demographic and budget. Assuming better then well but not breaking the bank.

Jameson, Tito's, Espalon to get the three main liquors. Personal anecdote but rum has became more rare as a home staple for me.

For older demos - Bulleit Bourboun and bitters for old fashions. Vermouth and whatever gin (Tanqueray, Beef, Bombay) for martinis.

For younger demos - Triple sec, peach schnapps, sour mix will come in handy.

Fernet Branca, Chartreuse Green, Rumple Mintz, and Malort if you hang out around degenerates.

I’d start with what you like, no need to go all out all at once. Do you like cocktails? Figure out what cocktails you like and what all goes into it. For example if you want try making old fashioneds all you need to get started are a nice bourbon, of which I recommend Four Roses, Basil Hayden’s, or Rowan’s Creek, some bitters, sugar (Demerara sugar is preferred but granulated or sugar cubes work as well), and an orange (just for the peels, you want to rub the peels on the edge of the glass, then you can just snack on the rest of the orange while you drink). Cherry optional! Start with making cocktails you like by following recipes and what liquors they prefer, before you know it you’ll have a decent home bar going with different mixers and ingredients available, as well as some decent bottles of booze.

Oaxaca Tequila is pretty good

I saw Green Spot and Jameson Black Barrel going for good prices these days to represent the Irish whiskey catagory.

• Socket set (not adjustable spanners)
• Drill/screwdriver
• Hammer
• Plunger
• Multi-grips
• Spak filler
• WD-40
• Painter's tape
• Tape measure
• Level
• Circular saw
• T Square
• Sandpaper

Socket set

Screwdriver set or one of those multi piece drivers. Home Depot has an 11 in 1 I use a lot

Drill

Hammer

Allen wrench set

Those are what I use the most. Other than that, I'd say buy stuff as you need it. I also use some jewelers screwdrivers but that's for working on electronics rather than home repair.

EDIT: Tape measure (Laser measures are a great alternative if you don't mind the extra cost) and a stepladder that will comfortably let you reach anywhere you may need to (i.e. without having to stand on the top or the top rung). If you intend on doing outside work an extension ladder

A multimeter or other voltage tester.

Wire stripper

Telescoping inspection mirror (such as this. It’s one of those things that you don’t think about getting but is appreciated when you have one.

Flashlight, especially the sort on head bands.

Ladder

Hammer, screwdriver set (quickpiks are good and compact), pliers, forceps(good for unclogging drains). If you have glasses it’s good to have a set of the super small screwdrivers.