Starting a Home Bar: Resources - Part 5
- Tariq Widarso
- Jul 6, 2021
- 2 min read
Finally, we get to the final part of my "Starting a Home Bar" series: the resources you need to start mixing. Although I strongly recommend everyone to have a crack at trying out their own concoctions, it would be essential to learn the basics to get you started from some reliable sources. Nowadays, it's possible to learn about the basics of mixology and recipes from the comfort of your home. Of course, nothing beats going by the bar and learning from a skilled bartender, but not everyone has that luxury. So here are some helpful learning resources to start a home bar.
Bar & Bartenders
Yes, even though this is a list of home resources, I won't ignore how effective it will be to learn straight from the horse's mouth. Drop by your favorite cocktail bar and learn directly by watching the bartenders work behind the bar. Don't be afraid to ask them questions about the basics of mixology, taste different spirits and liqueurs, and even ask them to show you how to make your favorite drinks. It is possible to translate the skills from the bar to your own home bar.
Books
There are hundreds of bartending and cocktail recipe books out there! As valuable as any other resource on this list, you'd only need to pick up a few essential books to get a good grounding. Then when you're ready, delve into more advanced and technical books to hone your craft. Here's a list of my recommended reading list:
"The Craft of the Cocktail" by Dale DeGroff
"The Savoy Cocktail Book" by Harry Craddock
"Imbibe!" by David Wondrich
"The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique" by Jeffrey Morgenthaler
"Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails" by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Caplan
"Good Things to Drink" by Ryan Chetiyawardana
"Cocktail Codex" by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Caplan
"The Drunken Botanist" by Amy Stewart
"Liquid Intelligence" by Dave Arnold
"Meehan's Bartending Manual" by Jim Meehan
Instagram Accounts
Instagram has become a popular social media platform for professional and amateur imbibers sharing their craft and recipes daily. Beautiful content attached to delicious recipes drives a budding online community of like-minded individuals to grow awareness and interest in mixology and the surrounding community. It is easy to follow several of your favorite accounts and learn directly by engaging with the imbibers. Here are several imbibe Instagram accounts to follow today:
Amateur Mixologist (@theamateurmixologist)
Apartment Bartender (@apartment_bartender)
Cocktails for You (@cocktails_for_you)
High-proof Preacher (@highproofpreacher)
Holy City Handcraft (@holycityhandcraft)
Imbibe (@imbibe)
Sip Sensei (@sip_sensei)
Thirsty (@thirsty)
Weekend Mixologist (@theweekendmixologist)
What's Marisa Drinking (@whats.marisa.drinking)
YouTube Channels
YouTube has become one of the most used free resources to learn new skills in the internet age. Without a doubt, it is invaluable in demonstrating practical skills and explanations. There are plenty of imbibing-focused Youtube channels that go over mixology skills and techniques, cocktail recipes, and even the history of some spirits. Here are some of my go-to YouTube channels:
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