THE SACRED SIX: Spruce up Your Home Soiree

Amp up your dinner parties, spruce up your home soiree and ensure your night-in is a knock out with a kick ass home bar…
Let Elliot Oxley, our Head Bar Trainer help with the Sacred Six: things you need in your home bar!

NUMBER 1

A mid-range quality gin: Don’t go for the cheapest on the shelf, aim for the middle. Tanqueray, Bombay sapphire, even Hendricks is all good. Gin is extremely versatile and opens up possibly the largest number of popular cocktails from your bar.

NUMBER 2

Aged Rum 5-12 year. Leave the white out. A good mojito can always benefit from an aged rum but a rum old fashioned will make you no friends if you use a white.
The best bang for your buck would be a bottle of Havana especial or Appleton Signature Blend.
Delicious in a daiquiri, and Murderous in a maitai; No rum & coke’s at your parties.

NUMBER 3

Sweet Vermouth (Or Red Vermouth)
Trust me, this can make or break any great cocktail.
Invest in a good quality bottle, consider it like a wine- the cash:quality is pretty much linear.
Aim to use it within 8 weeks, and store it sealed in the fridge the entire time.

NUMBER 4

Bitters
Nothing more is needed than a bottle of Angostura bitters.
Readily available at most supermarkets.
Treat this like the salt of the kitchen, just a drop in any cocktail will bring it to life.

NUMBER 5

Citrus
Let’s talk lemons & limes
No need to go super mixologist and purchase citric acid (this wouldn’t be a bad idea though)
Grab 2 lemons/limes per guest for your event.
And you’re drinks offering will increase greatly.

NUMBER 6

Ice
Three words: Ice, Ice, Baby..
The staple ingredients of all cocktails is ice.
Avoid the £1 a bag from the shop as this is poor quality water, and will decrease the quality of your drinks. Instead, buy the DIY bags and make as much ice as you can leading up to your party.