The night was fun but it’s now last call. Everyone is turnt, no one wants the fun to stop. So you, being the awesome human being that you are, invite everyone back to your place to keep the party going.

You get to your place, and then–

If this happened to you right now, would you be prepared? Do you have a fully-stocked bar? Do you have all the essentials necessary to keep the fun alive, or will things just fizzle out?

“After the show it’s the after-party” -Jay-Z

We want to make sure you have all the things necessary to have a good time when you’re planning on it, but more importantly, when you’re not. From liquor to bar tools to furniture, we’ve got you covered.

Stock your home bar with the right liquor

Essentials:
Unflavored Vodka: Skyy or Absolut
Whisky: Jack Daniels
Tequila: Jose Cuervo
Rum: Bacardi (light and dark)
Gin: Seagram’s
Mixers: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tonic Water, Soda Water, Pineapple Juice, Cranberry Juice, Red Bull
Beer: Bottles from your local brewery, cans of Yuengling or PBR
Wine: A red and a white from Trader Joe’s

Optionals:
Flavored Vodka: Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry, Vanilla
Nice Whisky: Jameson
Coconut Rum: Malibu
Spiced Rum: Captain Morgan
Good Scotch: Johnny Black
Good Cognac: Hennessey
Jager: Jagermeister
Shot Mixers: Triple Sec, Peach Schnapps, Baileys, SoCo

Necessary tools and equipment for a home bar

Having the right liquor and beer is only half the battle– you need to make sure you have the right storage for everything, the right tools to mix anything and the right hardware to enjoy any drink.

Butcher Block Island Bar

The actual bar is usually a focal point in the room, so you want it to look sleek. Nothing looks sleeker and is more versatile than a butcher block island table used as a bar– it works with modern designs, traditional designs and everything in between. Our favorite butcher block island has plenty of storage, plenty of countertop space, and has wheel so it can be moved if necessary.

Golden! Shaker, Strainer, Bar Spoon, Bottle Opener and Jigger

Some people prefer mixed drinks, some prefer shots, some prefer their drinks neat. Having a fully-functional bar means you can make any drink that a guest asks for. In order to do this, there are some tools that are just absolutely necessary– a shaker, a strainer, a bar spoon, a bottle opener and a jigger. With these five tools, you can handle any drink request. This is our favorite bar set, and it includes a nifty storage device for them all as well.

Whiskey Glasses

Nice whiskey glasses are not just for drinking your whiskey neat– they can be used for drinking any mixed drink in style as well. This quality crystalline set would make a great addition to any home bar. But if you’re making moscow mules, obviously you should be using 100% copper mugs made for moscow mules.

Wine Glasses

Nothing is stranger than drinking wine out of anything other than a wine glass, so it’s absolutely necessary that you have wine glasses available. Most sets are expensive, but this set from Amazon is so affordable and durable that it makes sense to pick it up even if you don’t drink wine often at all.

The Drunken Botanist

This is easily our favorite book to become a better bartender. Ok, maybe it’s not full of the technical details you’d need, or the greatest recipes, but one thing that makes a great bartender truly great is their knowledge and fun facts that they possess. So pick up a copy of The Drunken Botanist and keep your guests entertained and well-served at the same time!

Wall-Mounted Wine Rack

Wine is a status symbol, so present it proudly on your wall, separate from your liquor. This rustic wine rack is very versatile– it’d fit in just as well in the most modern bachelor pad as it would in the season wine-drinker’s den.

Bar Stools

Not every home bar will have a seating area, but if you do, nothing screams “home bar” like bar stools. These modern bar stools are built very well and have lasted a long time for us personally. And again, they are very versatile and would fit in in almost any style.

There you have it! Everything you need to prep and stock your own amazing home bar. Now go out, have a great time, and invite everyone back to your place to keep the party going!