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Tips

Tequila Cazadores: Cristalino Launch

February 27, 2020 by elana Leave a Comment

Tequila Cazadores Cristalino Launch // stirandstrain.comThis post was made in partnership with Tequila Cazadores. Ideas are my own.

This past year I’ve been really lucky to work with a brand that I have loved, and drank, for years: Tequila Cazadores. When starting this partnership I found out that I was going to have a really exciting task, introduce a brand new type of tequila to the market! I mean, it’s not everyday that a totally new category comes across your desk. 15 flavored vodkas, yes. An amazing crystal clear tequila that is actually aged 2 years and then using activated charcoal to absorb all its color… nope!

I’m honored, flattered really, to have been chosen to let you all know about this new product from Tequila Cazadores. So, let’s talk about Cristalino!

Tequila Cazadores Cristalino Launch // stirandstrain.comEven though Cristalino is clear, like their Blanco expression, it’s not for mixing. In fact, the suggested serving vessel is a wine glass, like how you see here. A wine glass also signifies you’re not shooting the stuff and chasing it with a lime. Just don’t do that. It’s meant to be sipped.

The reason that this aged tequila is crystal clear is due to the filtration process that is Cazadores uses. Activated charcoal is added to the liquid and all that caramel color you usually associate with an aged tequila is gone. Next, that mixture is sent through a press filter which captures all the charcoal and tannins from the barrel aging and filtration process. When it’s done, if you close your eyes, take a whiff and then a sip, you’d swear you were drinking an añejo tequila.

Tequila Cazadores Cristalino Launch // stirandstrain.comYou’re still getting aged wood, vanilla, caramel, and apples, but there’s also this soft, floral nose to it as well. It’s just so delicious and I loved each sip.

And now YOU, and everyone else in the US, can experience this new kind of tequila as Tequila Cazadores Cristalino is now available in the United States.

Tequila Cazadores Cristalino Launch // stirandstrain.com

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Filed Under: Reviews, Tips Tagged With: Cristalino, reviews, tasting notes, tequila, Tequila Cazadores, tips

Building a Home Bar: Keeping Cool with the Newair Premiere Line Fridge

February 18, 2020 by elana 1 Comment

NewAir 90 Can Fridge Review // stirandstrain.comFor those of you who have been around here since the early days, you may recall that we were going to build a bar in what is now my studio area in the house. And if you’re new here, well, that bar never happened. Fast forward almost a decade later and we are now finally ready to start building out what will be our new outdoor entertaining area. And tucked away within will be the home bar we’ve been dreaming about for a long time. But before we even start, we have a lot to figure out, and one of those big decisions has to do with appliances.

NewAir 90 Can Fridge Review // stirandstrain.comThe area we are allotting for entertaining space, including the indoor/outdoor bar and alcove is not huge, so we’re looking for small, compact appliances to put in. We’d really like as much bang for our buck if you will… And that’s why I’m loving this 90 Can Outdoor Beer Fridge from NewAir. Last year we worked with NewAir for holiday entertaining and have been using their countertop ice maker ever since (In case you’re wondering, we have yet to run out of ice!!). So now we’re super excited to team up again with them this year to give their new Premier Line Fridges a spin in this blazing hot Southern California sun.

We’ve had this outdoor beer fridge running for over a month now and have some pros and cons for our space. Take a look, and maybe these will help you decide too if this compact, streamlined, weatherproof fridge would work for your bar or entertaining space! (And if you scroll to the end, we’ve got a SWEET discount for you all too!)

NewAir 90 Can Fridge Review // stirandstrain.comPROS:

  • Easy to assemble! Took no more than 10 minutes to unbox, attach the handle and plug in. (Optional casters were included but we decided not to add on at this time)
  • Adjustable shelves. These are SO convenient since many of the cans we buy don’t come in the standard size. You can see our current configuration above.
  • QUIET. So many of the fridges we looked at were loud. And even with outdoor noise were audible. So I love that I’m not hearing the motor kick on and off the whole time while I’m out there with the until.
  • Cools thoroughly. It took a few hours for our fridge to fully cool the cans but once it was on and working, it kept them cold. Not slightly cooled, or colder on top or bottom, but ALL of them were nicely cold and ready to drink.
  • Compact but holds a lot. Upon first seeing this streamlined fridge, you wonder how much it really can hold. However once you start filling it you’d be surprised at how much 90 cans is.

CONS:

  • Smudges. While a stainless steel front looks great, I found that I’m constantly wiping it down from smudges, and ones I don’t see reflect in the sunlight. I’ve also gotten water spots from sprinklers going and then drying on the exterior.
  • Price. I wasn’t sure if these would be a con or not, so it’s somewhere in-between. This is a durable, indoor/outdoor fridge and with that comes a higher price tag.
  • Not all stainless steel. Because this is made to be built in and is a 15″ counter height, it is not all stainless steel as the sides are black. So, if this will be free-standing in your space, it will be two-toned.

NewAir 90 Can Fridge Review // stirandstrain.comCurrently our 90 Can Beer Fridge is hanging out amongst the patio furniture but as we build out the deck and start turning our dirt floor, unfinished ground story space into a usable entertaining area, we are considering bringing the fridge either into the indoor/outdoor counter space, or maybe giving it a home near the grill. Stay tuned this year as we look to YOU with help picking out ideas for this space! And big thanks to NewAir for letting us try out their new premium line fridge.

OH HEY WE’VE GOT A PROMO CODE!!! If you’re interested in getting your own 90 Can Beer Fridge (model # NOF090SS00) AND want to get $183.99 OFF the retail price, use code STIR at checkout on NewAir’s site! YAY! Would love to see where you set yours up (and what you put IN it!).

NewAir 90 Can Fridge Review // stirandstrain.comFor more information on NewAir’s entire line of products, check them out here!

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Filed Under: Entertain Me, Reviews, Source It, Tips Tagged With: appliance, entertain me, entertaining, home bar, newair, reviews, source it, tips

Low ABV Options This Friendsgiving With Smirnoff Hard Seltzers

November 5, 2019 by elana 1 Comment

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comThis post was made in partnership with Smirnoff. Recipe and ideas are my own.

I consider myself lucky to have a few close friends in my life. Friends who will willingly let me photograph them while we come together to celebrate our Friendsgiving dinner this year. Now, I honor my friendships with these ladies all the time, and we try to get together once a month now that our lives have gotten much busier with families, jobs, commitments, etc… So, in some sense, once a month we already are celebrating a version of Friendsgiving. But now that we’re in November, we can officially call it that I guess!

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comWhile we may have come together over a shared bond of going out and having fun, now everyone in the group is at various forms of no-abv, low-abv, and mod-abv (a new term I am coining here). Getting together with a bottle of whiskey is just not going to cut it anymore, and as countless statistics now tell us, more people are embracing entertaining with all these facets of alcohol consumption in mind. So, together with Smirnoff this holiday season, I’ve included their Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry Rosé and Smirnoff Seltzer Berry Lemonade hard seltzers for low-abv and mod-abv options. These are some of the best tasting hard seltzers I’ve tried so of course I’m including them here for my friends (only the best!). The fruit flavors taste, well, real! With just enough bubbles that they also stand in for a great mixer to pair with something harder too.

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comAt our Friendsgiving you won’t find a turkey, you won’t find a formal sit down dinner, but what you will find is laughter, dancing, pigs in a blanket, and since I’m bartending, delicious drinks. Oh and snacks. LOTS of snacks. I like to set out small stations around the house as no one ever stays in one place. One area I’ve got a DIY Your Seltzer bar with berries, herbs, ice, and citrus. And fun straws!! There’s the main table of food that’s pretty much center to everything, and it’s round, which I love, because it has a good flow of traffic around it. I never keep anything super high on there so guests can reach over from any angle and not have to worry about knocking something over. I have hard mixers set up in another nook with jiggers, mixing spoons, and glasses. And for fun, and because I love the element of take aways from parties, I have some polaroid cameras set up in a basket for my friends to take photos with while they’re enjoying themselves.

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comAnother aspect of entertaining during the holiday season is sometimes people are looking for ways not to overindulge. When one of my friends arrived for the party she announced she was off sugar and carbs this month, usually I would have been scrambling to find something to serve, but lucky for her, the Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry Rosé and Smirnoff Seltzer Berry Lemonade hard seltzers have zero sugar and just 1 carb per serving. And unlike some drinks you might get claiming no sugar, they aren’t adulterated with a bunch of artificial sweeteners. This announcement was totally unexpected from this friend but I felt super lucky to be able to offer her some tasty drink options (and eat all her dinner rolls! Ha. Sorry F!).

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comSmirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.comIf you’re looking to incorporate some low-abv (and mod-abv) options this year with these Smirnoff hard seltzers, here’s a few ideas…

  • To make it super casual, and easy on yourself and everyone, these pretty slim cans fit nicely in a punch bowl filled with ice for a self-serve option.
  • If you want to do a little DIY bar like I did, and invite your guests to gussy up their drinks, here’s some flavor options:
    • Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry Rosé with fresh raspberries, mint sprigs, and rose petals.
    • Smirnoff Seltzer Berry Lemonade with fresh berries, thyme, and citrus slices.
  • Include a few harder options who are looking for a classic party drink:
    • Pair the Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry Rosé, with the DIY options, with a London Dry style gin.
    • Pair the Smirnoff Seltzer Berry Lemonade, also with its DIY options, with Pisco.

Smirnoff Seltzer Friendsgiving // StirandStrain.com

And PRO TIP folks! Save yourself the trouble of having to deal with weekend holiday traffic. JUST. DON’T. Order in your Smirnoff hard seltzers and other party goods on Drizly. I did! And as usual, it got to the house under an hour.

People change, tastes change, and with that, the offerings at your parties will ultimately change. Stay ahead and honor your friends this holiday season with options that fit into their lifestyle. And make sure they’re delicious! Happy Entertaining!

**Smirnoff Seltzer. Per 12 fl. Oz.: 90 Cals, 1g Carbs, 0g protein, 0g fat

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Filed Under: Entertain Me, Everyday Parties, Recipes, Seasons, Tips Tagged With: entertain me, entertaining, Everyday Parties, Fall, Friendsgiving, hard seltzer, low ABV, Mod ABV, Smirnoff

A Green-Hued Bar for St. Patrick’s Day

March 14, 2019 by elana Leave a Comment

An emerald assortment of fine liquors and not a green beer in sight.

Green Hued Bar for St. Patrick's Day // stirandstrain.com

Green for St. Patrick’s Day! Green for spring! A few of our favorite green hued liquor picks just in time for the weekend.

1. Ancho Reyes Verde 2. Jägermeister 3. Ardbeg 4. Green Chartreuse 5. Grüne Fee Absinthe 6. Ford’s Gin 7. Becherovka 8. Green vintage shaker set

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Filed Under: Gift Guide, Source It, Tips Tagged With: gift guide, gifts, home bar, source it, St. Patrick's Day, tips

Source It: Salt for Margaritas

February 21, 2019 by elana 1 Comment

Salt. It seems like a simple ingredient, but if you happened to step into my kitchen, you’d notice the tray of salts we keep. I like variety, and what better time to sample some new salts with #NationalMargaritaDay happening tomorrow! Because I take my Margarita with salt on the rocks, thanks.

 

Source It: Salts for Margarita Cocktails // stirandstrain.com

Sure, you could rim your glass with straight kosher salt or even “Margarita Salt”, but here’s a few fun finds I personally use and love.

Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt : When I want a salt with a dramatic color, I turn to this black lava sea salt.
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes: Maldon is a classic salt with beautiful flakes.
Sal de Gusano: Worm salt! If you’re having a Mezcal Margarita, try rimming your glass with this salt made from the worms that live in the plant.
Aleppo Chile Pepper Sea Salt: sweet and mildly spicy, it’s a great salt for a tangy Margarita.
Wild Hibiscus Flower Pyramid Salt Flakes: a beautiful color on the glass with an earthy, floral scent.
Citrus Ginger Salt: all around great, zingy salt that works well with all the fruit flavored Margaritas.

If you’re in the DIY mode, I also have a recipe for Vanilla Salt that is super easy to make and delicious on all kinds of things, including a Margarita. Check it out here!

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Filed Under: Source It, Tips Tagged With: margarita, NationalMargaritaDay, salt, source it

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar Rims

December 11, 2018 by elana 1 Comment

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comThis post is brought to you by Specialty Retailers, Inc. Recipes and ideas are my own.

Did you know that Margaritas are the most popular cocktail in the U.S.? Probably not surprising when you think of the amount of frozen, neon colored drinks you encounter walking down the main strip in Las Vegas. I’m sure those are being counted in this statistic. And that bottled drink mix with the svelte lady on the front; that’s probably being counted too. But here in my home bar, a Margarita is a solid, easy to mix drink with endless variations. And today we’ll be making them holiday ready for a little online party!

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comToday I’m taking part in Stage’s virtual holiday party and sharing my Cranberry Sauce Margaritas to help celebrate and #SetYourHolidayStage! I’m making them extra festive with an easy DIY rosemary sugar rim you can whip up in minutes and use all holiday season long. As my older readers know, I have an entire front yard full of rosemary. So when the Fall and Winter seasons are upon us, I’m sticking it in everything. Food, of course, but also in lots of cocktails. If you’re finding us through the Stages Holiday Party, a quick search through the archives will introduce you to a whole new world of using rosemary in cocktails; take a look!

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.com

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comWe still have two whole weeks until Christmas and who knows how many parties we’ll be going to or hosting up to then. If you’re in charge of drinks, Stages has all the accessories you need to make prepping and decorating easy! We did a quick shopping trip online to get all our gear for our virtual party including glasses, those cute gold foil holiday napkins, a caddy to hold the napkins and straws, a chalkboard sign to write out the name of our Signature Cocktail, the containers to store the rosemary sugar, a dipping tray for all the ingredients for the Cranberry Sauce Margaritas, as well as some festive decorations like this teeny tiny lights and the nutcracker. Even my holiday sweater came from there! SO MANY GREAT ENTERTAINING OPTIONS.

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.com

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.com

Ok, so you set your holiday stage and are ready for guests. Let them feel in charge with a little DIY bar set up. This 3 cup dipping tray could hold snacks any other time of the year, but today it will hold all the components for the Cranberry Sauce Margaritas: cranberry sauce, lime wedges and the rosemary sugar. Put out some little spoons for the dishes and some shot glasses for the booze components. Holiday parties should be about coming together with friends and family, and having this little DIY bar lets guests mingle about with one another.

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comThe recipe for the Cranberry Sauce Margaritas has just a touch of sweetness in it from the cranberry sauce and the Grand Marnier. You can adjust going up or down with either to your liking. I also think adding just a touch of the rosemary sugar into the drink doesn’t hurt either, just remember to shake it really well to combine it all! TIP: use the spent lime wedges from the cocktail recipe to help rim the glasses. Then you won’t need to waste additional lime wedges just for rimming. Also, when rimming your glass, use a shallow bowl or rimmed plate and push the sugar out towards the edges so that the sugar will evenly coat around the glass.

Let’s make some drinks!

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comCranberry Sauce Margaritas

1-1/2 ounces blanco tequila
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1 tablespoon cranberry sauce
rosemary sugar (see recipe below)
rosemary sprig

First, rim a rocks glass with the rosemary sugar. Set aside. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled 2/3 with ice. Shake well to combine, about 30 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into the prepared rocks glass. Add additional cranberry sauce if desired. Optionally garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.comRosemary Sugar

2 cups granulated sugar
5 sprigs of fresh rosemary, about 3 to 5 inches long, divided

Take one sprig of rosemary and remove all the needles. Finely chop them. Combine the chopped needles and the sugar in an airtight container. Mix well to evenly distribute the rosemary. Add a few extra sprigs to the jar, shake, and let sit overnight or up to a few days. Sugar may look clumpy but it will dry out and break down. Remove the sprigs, seal the jar, and keep in a cool, dry place up to three months.

Cranberry Sauce Margaritas with Rosemary Sugar: A Holiday Party with Stages // stirandstrain.com

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Filed Under: Everyday Parties, Make It, Recipes, Tips Tagged With: blanco tequila, cranberry, Everyday Parties, grand marnier, holiday, lime, make it, rosemary, tequila

Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50: Rum Edition

September 7, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Outfitting a bar under $50: The Daiquiri Edition // stirandstrain.comWelcome to the final installment of our “Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50 (including booze!)” series. These guides are meant to be used either as is, or as a starting point to at least get the essentials in order so you’re not stuck with guests and no cocktails. If you have some extra change we’re also including one way to upgrade it as a bonus at the end of the guides!

Today we’re looking at the rum cocktail, the classic, the Daiquiri. You might only be familiar with the frozen kinds you get at the bar by the beach, but let me tell you, a simple Daiquiri is deceptively good, and super easy to make. And no, you don’t need a blender. (Also, realizing there’s a LOT of limes in these cocktail this week, so if you’re not so into those, shoot me an email or leave a comment below that you’d like a different, easy to make cocktail, and I’ll get back to you!) Hope you’ve enjoyed this series!

Daiquiri Home Bar Under $50 ($47.04)

  1. Rum: there are some great under $20 light rums out there now. Pick one you’d like to drink cause you’re going to taste it in this drink.
  2. Jigger: can’t stress enough how important an accurate pour is.
  3. Sugar: go ahead and make a large batch of simple syrup (1:1) and keep it in the fridge for up to a month.
  4. Pairing knife: there’s lime juice in the recipe so you’ll need to cut up some fruit.
  5. Limes: like I said…limes.
  6. Cocktail glass: again Ikea comes to the rescue. However, hit up some Goodwill shops or Etsy for my creative finds.
  7. Cocktail shaker: no need for a separate strainer as these have the built-in kind (Also, use your refrigerator’s ice maker to fill this with ice. No need for fancy cubes here).
  8. Citrus reamer: you need a lot of lime juice here so get it all out with a reamer.

Upgrade to an El Presidente ($32.05)

  • Orange Curaçao
  • Dry Vermouth
  • Grenadine

**Prices on products are subject to change and we cannot guarantee that you’ll still be able to score all this under fifty bucks come holiday season. Or two years from now. Pricing not including shipping and local taxes.

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Filed Under: Gift Guide, Source It, Tips Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, gift guide, gifts, home bar, notes, rum, source it, supplies, under $50

Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50: Tequila Edition

September 6, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Outfitting a bar under $50: The Paloma Edition // stirandstrain.comWelcome to day three of our “Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50 (including booze!)” series. These guides are meant to be used either as is, or as a starting point to at least get the essentials in order so you’re not stuck with guests and no cocktails. If you have some extra change we’re also including one way to upgrade it as a bonus at the end of the guides!

It’s Tequila Thursday around here and today’s guide will get you set up with a Paloma cocktail plus a few extra tools and ingredients (Like a pinch tin of salt! Where my salt lovers at??). The grapefruit garnish is optional but I love a big slice of grapefruit in my drink to be honest.

Paloma Home Bar Under $50 ($49.74)

  1. Grapefruit: as I mentioned in the note above, this is optional, but it does make a pretty garnish.
  2. Jigger: nothing fancy but it gets the job done. The job being an accurate pour!
  3. Limes: fresh juice is essential here so make sure you have some fruit on hand all the time.
  4. Tequila: You can get a 100% blue agave blanco tequila for under $20 so go ahead and get the 750 ml.
  5. Pairing knife: you can’t cut fruit with your fingers so a basic pairing knife is a must.
  6. Ice cube tray: 1.25″ ice cubes are the perfect size for your highball glass so get a tray that makes enough for you and guests.
  7. Bar spoon: for gentle stirring of drinks.
  8. Salt: throw a pinch into your drink and rim your glass if you like it like that.
  9. Grapefruit soda: an essential part of the Paloma and these cans are great to stack in your bar.
  10. Highball glasses: Ikea has 5 glasses for under $5. Go ahead and stock up.

Upgrade to a Spicy Margarita ($42.98)

  • Grand Marnier
  • Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur

**Prices on products are subject to change and we cannot guarantee that you’ll still be able to score all this under fifty bucks come holiday season. Or two years from now. Pricing not including shipping and local taxes.

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Filed Under: Gift Guide, Source It, Tips Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, gift guide, gifts, supplies, tequila, under $50

Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50: Gin Edition

September 5, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Outfitting a bar under $50: The Gin and Tonic Edition // stirandstrain.comWelcome to the second installment of our “Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50 (including booze!)” series. These guides are meant to be used either as is, or as a starting point to at least get the essentials in order so you’re not stuck with guests and no cocktails. If you have some extra change we’re also including one way to upgrade it as a bonus at the end of the guides!

Today is for all you gin lovers out there. The Gin and Tonic is another easy to whip up, refreshing cocktail to have on hand for yourself and guests. You’ll just need a few essential bar tools and only three ingredients to make your drink. This cocktail is also easily adaptable to other ingredients on hand, so you can change it up when the feeling strikes.

Gin & Tonic Home Bar Under $50 ($49.60)

  1. Ice cube tray: 1.25″ ice cubes are the perfect size for your highball glass and you’ll need a whole tray for guests and your next round.
  2. Limes: because you’ll need a squeeze of lime. I like to keep at least 3 on hand because I find odd numbered things pleasing to look at.
  3. Pairing knife: a sharp knife will precisely cut your limes and double opening that stubborn wrapper on your gin bottle.
  4. Bar spoon: for gentle stirring of drinks.
  5. Gin: you can splurge for a full 750 ml bottle of Beefeater because it’s good and cheap.
  6. Jigger: 1 ounce and 2 ounces is all you’ll need here for precise measurements.
  7. Tonic water: I’m a fan of Q-Tonic and tonic in cans I find easier to store in my home bar.
  8. Highballs: get yourself to Ikea and get yourself some perfectly acceptable highball glasses in cases of 6 under $5. Sweet deal.

Upgrade to a Negroni ($30.98)

  • Sweet Vermouth
  • Campari

**Prices on products are subject to change and we cannot guarantee that you’ll still be able to score all this under fifty bucks come holiday season. Or two years from now. Pricing not including shipping and local taxes.

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Filed Under: Gift Guide, Source It, Tips Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, gift guide, gifts, gin, home bar, supplies, under $50

Outfitting a Home Bar Under $50: Whiskey Edition

September 4, 2018 by elana 2 Comments

Outfitting a bar under $50: The Old Fashioned Edition // stirandstrain.comOver the next week we’ll be giving some guides on how to outfit your home bar under $50 (and that’s including booze!) depending on what your house cocktail is. These guides are meant to be used either as is, or as a starting point to at least get the essentials in order so you’re not stuck with guests and no cocktails. If you have some extra change we’re also including one way to upgrade it as a bonus at the end of the guides!

Today’s home bar surrounds the classic Old Fashioned cocktail. You don’t need much in the way of tools or liquor to get this set up quick, so it’s an easy way to start!

Old Fashioned Home Bar Under $50 ($49.07)

  1. Large ice cube tray: a basic large ice cube tray makes enough cubes for you and a guest plus another round.
  2. Sugar cubes: save your granulated sugar for syrups and the kitchen. Place a few of these out in a glass to have them at the ready.
  3. Bar spoon: for stirring cocktails!
  4. Bourbon: you don’t have to invest in large bottles to start your home bar. Get a 375ml to try and you’ll still get 6+ drinks out of it!
  5. Angostura bitters: you need bitters for an Old Fashioned so get an all purpose aromatic.
  6. Jigger: sure you could eyeball it but this way you know exactly how much booze to make the perfect cocktail.
  7. Muddler: a basic muddler will crush those sugar cubes as good as a really fancy one.
  8. All purpose glass tumbler: these are my GO TO glasses right now for cocktails to water to wine. And they’re cheap so you won’t worry when a guest (or, *ahem* you) break one.

Upgrade to a Manhattan ($24.39)

  • Sweet Vermouth
  • Luxardo Cherries

 

**Prices on products are subject to change and we cannot guarantee that you’ll still be able to score all this under fifty bucks come holiday season. Or two years from now. Pricing not including shipping and local taxes.

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Filed Under: Gift Guide, Source It, Tips Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, bitters, gift guide, gifts, home bar, supplies, under $50, whiskey

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