The Guide to Ridiculously Easy Entertaining - Tips from Marfreless
This heading includes the items related to preparing, serving and consuming the important beverages at your event. Below are lists of barware and other drink-related equipment that is helpful for entertaining at home divided among: 1) necessary for beer and wine, at the very least; 2) needed for the basic bar; and 3) accoutrements for an even more complete home bar.
1) Necessary Drink-Related Accoutrements – For social events at home, most people seem to serve only wine and beer, and simple cocktails. For the majority of get-togethers, the shaker does not even make an appearance.
2) Basic Bar Accoutrements
3) Accoutrements for an Even More Complete Home Bara
NOTE – In practical terms, a decanter can be nearly any glass pitcher or carafe that holds wine. Typically, it’s made of clear glass and features a narrow neck. In addition to holding wine from another vessel, be it a large format bottle or a box that might be unyielding and unattractive for your guests (or they could get the incorrect or proper impression that you are cheapskate), a decanter allows wine to aerate, which usually enhances its flavors. Many red wines, especially tannic, young, red wines, can benefit from resting in a decanter for a half-hour or so before guests arrive. With the exception of the pricey white burgundies, most white wines will not improve in a decanter.
1) Necessary Drink-Related Accoutrements – For social events at home, most people seem to serve only wine and beer, and simple cocktails. For the majority of get-togethers, the shaker does not even make an appearance.
- Bottle Opener – Your wine opener might contain a bottle opener. For a large party, it’s good to have several of these if serving bottled beer.
- Glassware – Wine glasses are probably the most important. As mentioned above, clear red wine glasses are the most useful. The ubiquitous, slightly tapered 16 ounce pint glass works will also work as a shaker when coupled with another wider glass.
- Wine Opener (or Corkscrew) – We especially recommend the Rabbit, for both her and him. The air-activated types of openers allow for the least exertion.
2) Basic Bar Accoutrements
- Coasters
- Cocktail Book – It’s good to have one of these on hand if you are providing a full bar.
- Coolers – Or ice chests, in some areas.
- Ice Bucket – It’s better than having your guests use your freezer for ice.
- Ice Tongs – These might be sold with the ice bucket.
- Jiggers (or Shot Glasses)– Useful for measuring pours
- Pitcher – For drinks in bulk; and useful for water, too.
- Shaker – This is near requisite for Martinis, and several other important cocktails.
- Strainer – These are often built into the shakers.
- Vacuum Sealers, Hand-pump – These help to keep wine an extra day after opening. A preservative gas such as the Private Reserve Wine Preserver brand is another option.
- Wine Buckets – These look cool, and add some panache to serving white and sparkling wines at your event; and, these are very functional.
3) Accoutrements for an Even More Complete Home Bara
- Bar Towels – Often purloined from British or Irish-themed bars, these can add an experienced publican feel to your personal bar area.
- Blender – Indispensable for the frozen drinks, of course.
- Buckets (or Tubs) – These are functional and attractive enough for most events to hold beers, sodas, wine and bottled water plus ice.
- Decanters – See the “NOTE” below.
- Glass Rimmer – This allows you to easily rim glasses with salt or sugar. It’s certainly worth purchasing if you make Margaritas at home on a regular basis.
- Martini Pitcher – This is a near necessity if you believe that Martinis should be stirred not shaken. It’s also a great party accoutrement, as it allows you to make a number of drinks at once.
- Muddler – This long, thin pestle-like device is used to mash and stir ingredients for cocktails such as the mint leaves in Mint Juleps.
- Pour Spouts – These are good to have if you are hiring a professional bartender, as these allow a faster and more accurate pour when used properly. Don’t expect your guests to use these correctly since most people will create a mess when pouring drinks with these affixed to the liquor bottles.
- Plastic Straws – These are great for parties, especially when frozen drinks are served. Those labeled “short milk straws” work very well for this.
- Stirrer – These long stirrers are necessary when using a Martini pitcher, and useful for making any drinks in bulk.
- Umbrellas – Can actually make certain drinks taste better….
- Wine Coasters – Or something that do the same function such as a hot plate, which is typically not as attractive, though.
- Wine Charms – These are quite inexpensive, and worth picking up for the occasions when several folks will be drinking wine at your place.
NOTE – In practical terms, a decanter can be nearly any glass pitcher or carafe that holds wine. Typically, it’s made of clear glass and features a narrow neck. In addition to holding wine from another vessel, be it a large format bottle or a box that might be unyielding and unattractive for your guests (or they could get the incorrect or proper impression that you are cheapskate), a decanter allows wine to aerate, which usually enhances its flavors. Many red wines, especially tannic, young, red wines, can benefit from resting in a decanter for a half-hour or so before guests arrive. With the exception of the pricey white burgundies, most white wines will not improve in a decanter.