A gin bar is a great addition to your home or outdoor space, guaranteed to impress guests and add a touch of luxury to your dinner parties and summer barbeques. Or for those trying to save space, a gin cabinet is a great alternative, providing the same functionality as a gin bar but on a smaller scale.
Whichever option you choose, we have put together a complete guide to what to include in your gin bar, to ensure you are fully prepared for any cocktail request that comes your way!
Essential Types of Gins
The secret to a good home bar is having a variety for you and your guests to choose from. A few staples can go a long way in regards to making an array of different gin based drinks.
Tip: For a more cost-conscious approach to your gin stock, keep an eye out for sales and discounts to slowly grow your gin bar overtime! Sign up to Filey Gin online for FREE to be the first to hear about our gin discounts and offers.
Each gin is unique, with their own range of botanicals and difference in distillation processes. You will never find two gins that aren’t distinct from each other in some way. The great thing about gin is that a bottle will never expire, so there is no harm in growing your collection overtime.
When you find a gin that you enjoy, be sure to take notice of it's flavour profile so you know what other gins you may or may not like.
Mixers for Gin-based cocktails
You will be surprised how many gin-based cocktails you can make with just a few essential mixers. Having these mixers in your home-bar opens up an array of new options of how you can enjoy your gin. Every gin bar should include:
Mediterranean Tonic
The herbal and citrus notes of mediterranean tonic water makes it a great pairing with lighter gins. It is best paired with citrus gins, helping elevate these gin’s flavours without overpowering them. A gin and tonic with Mediterranean tonic water is best garnished with lemon, thyme, and rosemary, and is a staple addition to a gin bar.
Indian Tonic
Indian tonic is better paired with strong gins, enhancing the juniper and bitter flavours. Indian tonic is best garnished with cucumber and lime. Both tonics are best served chilled, so a mini fridge or ice machine is an important addition to your gin bar.
Lemonade
Gin and lemonade is a great alternative to gin and tonic, for those looking for a softer and sweeter gin-based drink. It is a favourable option for those who are just getting into the world of gin, who might find drinking gin neat, or with tonic, a bit too intense. Gin and lemonade should be served chilled, and garnished with lemon or mint.
Soda Water
Soda water is a neutral tasting mixer, and is great for pairing with flavoured gins where you want to allow the gin’s flavours to fully shine through. Soda water is used in a variety of gin-based cocktails, as it allows the other ingredients to remain at the forefront.
The essential Gin Garnishes
Garnishes are a great and simple way to amplify your gin drinks, both in flavour and aesthetic. Garnishes transform your at-home gin based drinks to cocktail bar standards, an easy way to wow your guests. Essential garnishes include:
Citrus Fruits (Lemons ,Limes, Oranges)
Lemons, Limes, and Oranges complement the botanical notes of gin, whilst also elevating the look, adding a pop of colour to your drink. Slices and wedges can be pre-cut and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days, so are perfect to prepare in advance when you are expecting guests.
Fresh herbs (Rosemary, Mint, Basil)
Herbs are a great way to add freshness and sophistication to your gin drink. Mint is perfect to add to summer gin drinks, with cooling and refreshing notes. Basil adds a sweet and peppery flavour, which is great with citrus or berry-infused gins. Rosemary adds earthy notes, complimenting the juniper of your gin. Add a few of these leaves to your drink, gently bruising them to release their aromas. You can pre-cut these herbs and store them in an air-tight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, juniper)
Add a fruit complexity to your gin drinks with berries such as blueberries, strawberries, and juniper. Strawberries and blueberries should be cut up into halves or quarters to release their flavours. Adding frozen berries is also a great way to cool down your drink and add some sweetness to it without watering it down with ice.
As the primary botanical in a lot of gins, juniper berries are a great addition to add to your gin-based drinks. They are great for adding to a traditional gin and tonic or martini, emphasising the gin’s botanics. Lightly crush the juniper berries with the back of a spoon before adding them to your drink. They can also be stored in an airtight container in a cool dark place for 2-3 years.
Gin Glass Types
Any professional looking home bar needs a variety of different glasses. The type of glass you serve your drink in influences both the presentation and the drinking experience. Your gin cabinet should include:
Highball Glass
Highball glasses are great for gin drinks which require a lot of mixer and ice, such as a long cocktail such as a Tom Collins, or a refreshing, cold gin & tonic.
Tumbler Glass
For drinks that are meant to be savoured and enjoyed slowly, a tumbler glass is a great option. The wider surface means it is great for those who enjoy drinking gin ‘on the rocks’, as the shape of the glass keeps the ice colder for longer.
For a complete guide on gin glasses, read our Types of Gin Glasses blog post.
Gin Bar Accessories
Tea Towel
Having a dedicated gin bar tea towel adds to the professionalism and practicality of your gin bar. From mopping up spills to drying glassware, having a tea towel on hand will help make making drinks easier as well as help keep your home bar clean. A tea towel which matches the style of your bar also helps bring colour and texture to your bar setup.
Drinking straws and Cocktail Umbrellas
Straws and cocktail umbrellas enhance the presentation of your gin cocktails, adding a playful and fun feel which will ‘wow’ your guests. If you really want to go big on the presentations, you could even look into other drink accessories such as edible glitter, edible flowers, and food colouring!
Bottle Opener
Whilst bottle of gins don’t usually require bottle openers to open, some speciality mixers such as flavoured tonics may come in bottles with metal bottle caps. A bottle opener is a must-have gin cabinet accessory, and is something you never want to be without!
Storing Gin and Organising your Gin Cabinet
How should I store my gins?
Gin should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place in order to keep it’s quality and flavour. Ensure your gin cabinet is kept out of direct sunlight and any heat sources. Bottles with cork closures should be stored upright to prevent the cork from drying out.
How should I stock a home bar?
How you organise your gin collection is completely up to personal preference. It may take some trial and error to find a system which feels convenient for you. Organising your gins by type is a great option which encourages you and your guests so try different gins in the collection. Some prefer to organise alphabetically, a good option for those who are familiar with each gin, their names, and know exactly what they are looking for. For more visible gin cabinets, organising by colour and shape is a great way to show off the artistry of the bottles and their designs, but may not be the most practical method.
Shelf labels are also great to mark down each drink, ensuring everything gets put back in the right place.
