Stocking your home bar can be a daunting task, especially if you’re new to home bartending. If you were planning for one specific party, you’d be better off just getting the ingredients you need for whatever drink you’re making, but if you’re looking to create a well-stocked home bar, you might need some pointers. Here are six things you’ll need to get started!

The Base Spirits
The very first things you’ll want to put in your home bar are some base spirits. To start with, we recommend Vodka, Light Rum, Bourbon, Tequila, and Gin as they’re the most commonly used spirits in cocktail making.

Bitters
A Bitter is a bittersweet spirit infused with highly aromatic ingredients such as orange peels or cacao beans. Essentially, Bitters are what elevates a glass of Bourbon and Sugar into an Old Fashioned. For your new home bar, you’ll want an Orange Bitter to start with.

Sweet and Sour
Sweet and sour ingredients are essentially to cocktail making what salt and pepper are to cooking. To get started, you’ll want Homemade Simple Syrup, Triple Sec, Lemons, Oranges and Limes.

Tools
Next, you’ll want to get some good tools. If you’re just starting out, we recommend getting a Boston Shaker, Hawthorne Strainer, Muddler, a Peeler, and a Mixing Glass. These five tools will let you make almost any cocktail you’ll come across.

Read more about essential bar tools here!

Recipes
Last but not least, you’ll want some great cocktail recipes to make at home! Luckily, we’ve got a bunch for you right here. Enjoy!