| A lot of times when people open a new bar or | | | | you will need for the average crowd you will |
| are throwing a big party, they always seem to | | | | need: Orange juice (OJ), Pineapple juice (PJ), |
| forget something. It's usually one of the | | | | Cranberry juice(CJ),Grapefruit Juice (GJ), Tomato |
| "bartender tools" that are necessary but are also | | | | juice, ½ & 1/2 or cream, Sour-mix, |
| easily forgettable. The "bartenders tools" are very | | | | Grenadine, Rose's Lime Juice, Coke, Lemon- Lime |
| important, some are optional and you can live | | | | Soda(7), Club Soda, Tonic Water, Ginger Ale, |
| without, but in my experience when you forget | | | | Strawberry Daiquiri mix, Peach daiquiri mix, Pina |
| lemons is when people want lemondrops or tequila | | | | Colada Mix, and Margarita Mix. |
| shots. When you don't have lime wedges, | | | | THE WELL: Your "well" is your speed rail right |
| everybody orders Margaritas or Mojitos. So in the | | | | behind your bar where you keep your most |
| Holiday Spirit for the party season. I have put | | | | requested liquors. They are usually the cheapest |
| together a little checklist of "bartender tools" that | | | | off-brand of these liquors. These are the |
| you might need. | | | | commonly used liquors for HAPPY HOUR specials |
| This is basically for those of you who wish to | | | | known as well drinks. Every bartender sets up |
| start their own home bar from scratch, are | | | | their well and speed rail differently but I go with |
| having a party, or just wish to practice at home. | | | | what I have been taught as the traditional well |
| All of these tools will be supplied for you | | | | set-up. From left to right I follow the old acronym: |
| otherwise. These are just the bare minimums to | | | | "Virgin Girls Run With Big Studs To Town." Which |
| get by on, you of course will want to add stuff | | | | reminds me: Vodka, Gin, Rum, Whiskey, Bourbon, |
| as your creativity, knowledge, and experience | | | | Scotch, Tequila, Triple- Sec. This set up is |
| progress. | | | | especially handy for making Long Islands and |
| AT THE BAR: This is where most of you | | | | Margaritas. You'll see what I mean once you are |
| "bartender tools" will be kept for easy access. A | | | | standing back there. |
| set of mixing tins an ice scoop, a bar spoon, a | | | | THE BAR: The liquors you choose to carry are all |
| muddler,a glass rimmer, straws, and napkins. A | | | | up to you. I suggest visiting a local corporate |
| fruit caddy with lime wedges, lemon wheels, | | | | restaurant and building your inventory off of their |
| maraschino cherries, orange slices, green olives, | | | | set-up. |
| cocktail onions, and celery sticks. You might also | | | | What to serve? That's up to you. If you run or |
| need sugar packets, salt, pepper, celery salt, hot | | | | own an establishment then you need to be able |
| sauce, worcestershire sauce, and whipped cream. | | | | to cover pretty much any drink imaginable. But |
| The more complex of a drink menu you have, | | | | for a private party, I suggest going over a drink |
| the more garnishments you will need. I've seen | | | | menu (there are FREE ones on-line) and finding |
| everything from pop-rocks to jalapenos. | | | | 40-50 drinks that you can make with less than 10 |
| BEHIND THE BAR: To cover your mixers that | | | | different liquors. |