Whether you’re an aspiring mixologist or just looking to impress your guests, having the right tools and accessories in your home bar is paramount.
We can’t emphasize enough the importance of having the right glassware for each drink. You wouldn’t want to serve scotch in a champagne flute or champagne in a rock glass – it would be a disaster for your drinking experience.
With an overwhelming variety of glassware and bar accessories available, it can be difficult to determine what exactly is essential and what can be simply skipped.
Ocean Glassware, as the only glassware brand that aims to elevate everyday moments beyond the ordinary takes the responsibility to break the ice and enlighten you on some must-have bar essentials to create the perfect home bar.
So, let’s see what you need to create the perfect bar cabinet…
Glassware
Spirits
Rock Glasses
Majorly known as whiskey glasses or old-fashioned glasses, rock glasses are short and wide with a thick base, making them ideal for enjoying spirits neat or on the rocks. Their versatile design allows them to accommodate a variety of spirits, including whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and other aged spirits.
Shot Glasses
The most fun way to consume spirits is with lively shots. Shot glasses, with their tiny cylindrical design, serve the purpose best. With a standard capacity of 1.5 ounces, they are ideal for enjoying quick shots of tequila, vodka, rum, whiskey, and other liquors.
You can also utilize these cute, little glasses for beautiful dessert presentations, and as a DIY cocktail measurement tool.
Buy Ocean San Marino Shot Glasses
Cocktails
Martini
Though martini glasses were initially designed specifically for serving martinis, their distinctive design—a V-shaped triangular bowl with a long stem—has made them an iconic symbol of cocktail culture. Feel free to utilize these elegant glasses to pour your cosmopolitans, daiquiris, margaritas, and other cocktails.
Beer
Mug
There are many options for serving beer to your guests, such as pilsners, pint glasses, and so on. However, beer mugs are the most popular choice because their sturdy handles provide a comfortable grip for holding cold beer while also preventing heat transfer from your hand.
Wines
It is almost impossible to enjoy your wine without pouring it into the right wine glass. The combination of a bowl, stem, and base adds elegance to your bar cabinet while also serving a functional purpose: the stem prevents heat transfer from your hand, and the bowl allows for efficient swirling to accentuate aromas. Both red and white wines have glassware that complements them best.
Red Wine Glasses
The red wine glasses have wider bowls for better aeration, unlocking complex bouquets and flavors.
White Wine Glasses
White wine glasses, on the other hand, have narrower bowls to preserve delicate aromas and maintain a cooler temperature, enhancing the enjoyment of these aromatic and refreshing wines.
Buy Ocean Lexington Wine Glasses
Water, Juice, and Other Soft Drinks
Highball
Highball glasses, also known as tumblers or collins glasses, are tall, straight-sided glasses that are perfect for serving water, mojitos, iced tea, lemonade, soda, juices, or any other non-alcoholic beverages.
Pro tip – You can also utilize highball glasses for serving cocktails like Gin, Tonics, or Tom Collins because of their ability to accommodate a generous amount of liquid and ice.
Champagne
All the above-mentioned glasses are sure to equip your bar cabinet with everything you will ever need. However, let’s not forget about all the champagne popping and celebratory toasts you are sure to be sharing with your loved ones. If you wish to take your home bar a level up, equip it with vessels for champagne.
Champagne Flute
Serve your sparkling wine and champagne in beautiful champagne flutes, which are characterized by their elongated, slender shape with a tall stem and a narrow bowl.
Buy Ocean Madison Flute Champagne
Pro tip – Though champagne flutes are one of the most commonly used glassware for serving champagne, you can also replace them with champagne coupes. Because of the unique design of coupe glasses, which include a shallow, broad bowl with a stem, they can not only be used to serve champagne straight but can also be utilized for cocktails like champagne cocktails, sidecars, etc.
Bar Accessories
The Must-Haves
Cocktail Shaker
Most cocktails need a good shake, and cocktail shakers do just that, mixing and chilling drinks to perfection. Make sure that your shaker has a built-in strainer to prevent pesky ice cubes or fruit chunks from slipping into your drink, and a tight-fitting lid to prevent spills.
Jigger
This handy tool is a cocktail measuring cup that is dual sided to ensure the right measurement of your drink proportion.
Ice Buckets and Tongs
Is keeping the ice cold and accessible a challenge for you? Invest in a well-insulated ice bucket with a tight-fitting lid to keep your ice cold and tongs to grab ice without melting it with your hands.
Bottle Opener and Corkscrew
You will also need a tool to crack open your bottles. Get your bar a bottle opener made of stainless steel for opening beer or soft drink bottles and a corkscrew for uncorking wine bottles.
The Enhancements
Consider your home bar well-equipped if you have gathered all the above-mentioned essentials. However, if you wish to elevate your bar setting to a different level, consider adding the following enhancements.
Decanters
Decanters allow fine spirits to breathe and develop richer flavors, while also eliminating sediment and impurities, elevating the entire drinking and serving experience in your home bar.
Muddler
If you love to experiment with different cocktails, muddlers made of natural material with a textured end can be helpful for crushing herbs and fruits.
Mixing Spoon
To mix the ingredients of your cocktail, invest in a good mixing spoon that has a twisted handle and an extended length.
Strainer
If you do not have a cocktail shaker with a built-in strainer, you must at least get a separate strainer, as it is really essential to keep the solids away from your drink.
Equip Your Home Bar with Ocean Glassware
When it comes to selecting glassware for your home bar, the brand you choose plays a crucial role in ensuring a superior drinking and hosting experience. That’s why opting for a trusted and reputable brand is essential. Ocean Glassware, a leader in the industry for over four decades, has established itself as a reliable choice for top-quality glassware. With its presence in over 90 countries, Ocean Glassware has become synonymous with making every moment beyond ordinary.
