How to set up a summer drinks bar

If you love a tipple, setting up a designated space that’s equipped with everything you need to make your favourite drinks makes for a very happy summertime indulgence. By setting aside a designated space with everything you need, you can quickly make a drink to enjoy in the late evening sunshine, and can see when you need to restock supplies. Not to mention, there’s no rummaging in drawers and cupboards to find everything you need.

Start with a drinks list

In order to set up a basic bar, you need to make a list of what you’d like to make. If mojitos are your favourite summer drink, try to find an additional two or three drinks you can make with the same bottle of rum. Write down, or print, the recipes and then stock all the ingredients ready for when you want to whip up a drink. Start with a single bottle and then build up your supplies, and your cocktail recipes, when you can. Here are a few of our favourite recipes to start you off:

What tools to stock

In addition to an assortment of glasses, here’s a list of the basic tools to keep in your bar, allowing you to whip up everything from a margarita to a mojito in a jiffy:

Blender
Bottle opener
Citrus press
Cocktail shaker
Long handled spoon, or bar spoon, for mixing drinks
Muddler (use the end of a wooden spoon as a substitute)
Pairing knife
Small measuring cup

What alcohol to stock

Here is a selection of the best bottles to stock to transform into a range of cocktails:

Gin
Tequila
Vodka
Rum (dark and light)
Whiskey (Scotch and Bourbon)
Cointreau
Bitters
Pimm’s

Don’t forget mixers

Keep a few bottles of these mixers on hand to turn into easy drinks:

Ginger ale
Lemonade
Soda water
Tonic water
Citrus juice

Other ingredients to stock

Keep these ingredients in containers, ready to add into you cocktails:

Sugar
Salt
Ice

Fresh add ins

Summer cocktails are all about making the most of the season’s best produce, from fresh fruit to herbs. Here are a few ideal inclusions that can make your cocktails taste of summer sunshine: