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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

Cocktail Pin Collections

July 25, 2018 by elana 2 Comments

Cool Sh*t: Cocktail Pin Collections // stirandstrain.comThere’s a trend gaining momentum right now that has me feeling nostalgic, and maybe you’ve seen it pop up in your Instagram too: cocktail pin collecting.

Pin collecting always seemed akin to baseball card collecting, kids mostly, or adults geeking out on some fancy pins. But right now you can get your favorite tiki drink (or mug!!) in pin form, or favorite cocktail! You can even show your love of Angostura with a teeny tiny bottle pinned to your collar.

I’ve rounded up a few small shop artisans and a few more commercial makers of pins to highlight some really cool and unique concepts that are out there right now.

Are you into pins? How do you display yours? Or is this trend not for you? Comment below!

1. Gin and Tonic Pin 2. Aperol Spritz Pin 3. Tiki Ti Bar Pin 4. Angostura Trio Pin 5. Beer Pin 6. Rosé Pin 7. Zombie Pin 8. Alien Tiki Mug Pin

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Filed Under: Clever Ideas, Gift Guide Tagged With: cocktail attire, gift guide, gifts, pins

Gift Guide: Father’s Day 2018

June 12, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Dad does not want a tie this year…unless that tie is covered with tiki drinks.

Gift Guide: Boozy Father's Day Gifts for 2018 // stirandstrain.com

What kind of boozy Dad do you have? I’m sure we’ll find a gift for him! Mail order of the month club Dad? Now with Rum! Athletic Dad? Beer bike! Swinger Dad? Sexy coasters! DIY Dad? Mix your own cocktail! Grilling Dad? Hot Dickel! Nerd Dad? Vader-Stein! Gourmet Dad? Beer chocolates! Getting Dad a bad gift is not an option this year.

1. Flaviar world of spirits members club 2. Whiskey Wood Engraving 3. Cocktail Crate Classic Old Fashioned Mixer 4. Darth Vader Stein 5. Sexy Legs Coasters 6. Tiki Cocktail Tie 7. Hot Dickel 8. Theo Beer Chocolates 9. Peroni Bike

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar art, father's day, gift guide, gifts, home bar, rum, tiki, whiskey

May Entertaining: Memorial Day Backyard Party

May 24, 2018 by elana 3 Comments

It’s a three day weekend. Time to grab a watermelon, eat some frozen champagne and dress up like a cocktail!

May Entertaining: Memorial Day 2018 Gift Guide // stirandstrain.com

It’s the official start of summer. So let’s tap a (watermelon) keg, freeze up the champagne (pops), and break out the patriotic bunting and vodka. You’re going to need some shades out there in that sun, so they might as well resemble your favorite cocktail. And if that’s too loud a statement, put your favorite spritz on your shoes instead.

1. Bunting 2. Cocktail Sunglasses 3. Aperol Spritz Shoes 4. Tiki Pin 5. Frozen Champagne Pop 6. Watermelon Keg 7. Watermelon Martini Pop 8. Star Swizzle Sticks 9. Crystal Head Vodka

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, frozen drinks, gift guide, gifts, holiday, home bar, watermelon

May Entertaining: Cinco de Derby Party

May 2, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Giddy-up! ¡Olé! It’s a Cinco de Derby Cocktail Party brought to you by Master of Mixes!

May Entertaining: Cinco de Derby Gift Guide // stirandstrain.com

Place your bets! Does your trifecta include Blood Orange Margaritas? Minty Mint Juleps? Three Sheets to the Wind? (I’m definitely putting all my money down on those three)

When Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby fall on the same day, everyone’s lucky. So, it’s time to throw a party of dueling cocktails! Mix up a giant punch bowl of Master of Mixes Blood Orange Margaritas, or make some ice cold batches of super minty Mint Juleps with a little help from Master of Mixes Mint Syrup (with extra mint garnishes please!). Stir it up with a pony or two, and tip back a festive cup to drink them all out of. And if you’re headed to the races later, slip a little into your lucky flask.

1. Party Banner 2. Cactus Cups 3. Tassel Napkins 4. Pony Cocktail Pick 5. Master of Mixes Blood Orange Margarita Mix 6. Master of Mixes Mint Syrup 7. Silver Punch Bowl 8. Opera Glasses 9. Horseshoe Flask

 

If you’d like to learn more about Master of Mixes and their naturally flavored, delicious mixers (and take a peek at their over 45! different flavors), please visit them at MixologyPro.com!

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Filed Under: Everyday Parties, Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, blood orange, cinco de mayo, drink holiday, Everyday Parties, gift guide, gifts, holiday, home bar, Kentucky Derby, master of mixes, mint

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails

April 11, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

It’s like one of those day to night outfits, except with a bar cart.

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails, a day to night transformation // stirandstrain.com

Earlier this year I saw the alarming trend that cocktail bar carts were going away! And instead, coffee carts were going to be the next big thing. Well, we’re all not about to throw away a $600 cart we bought just to get another cart and then have that trend flop on its face. If you’re on the fence about purchasing a cart, well, maybe this will inspire you! You can have it both ways by dressing your cart up for breakfast AND happy hour. Let me show you how your bar cart can do double duty as it transforms from coffee to cocktails.

  • Utilize items that work for both coffee and cocktails: sugar cubes, spoons, containers, napkins, straws, etc…
  • A french press will make a great cup of coffee AND you can use it to infuse flavors into booze.
  • Double duty glasses for water and cocktails.
  • Coffee and tonic is still a trend so keep a few bottles out for morning and then later for G&Ts.
  • Have a house cocktail and keep just those items stocked on the cart.
  • Flowers! Decorate with edible flowers like pansies or nasturtiums and your cart will look pretty all day, and your drinks will look pretty all night.
  • Keep the whiskey, rum, liqueur, etc… out. Who says you can’t have coffee and cocktails?!

1. Edible Flowers 2. Canister 3. French Press 4. Ceramic and Wood Glasses 5. Leaf Napkins 6. Sugar Cubes 7. Bar (Coffee) Cart 8. Glasses 9. Containers 10. Tonic 11. Decanter 12. Gold Straws 13. Bitters 14. Bar Spoon

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar cart, bar tools, coffee, gift guide, gifts, home bar

{Now Closed} Giveaway // NIPYATA ShamRock It Boozy Piñata

March 6, 2018 by elana 10 Comments

Giveaway // NIPYATA ShamRock It Boozy Piñata on stirandstrain.comThey say everyone has a little Irish in them on St. Patrick’s Day (although I actually have a little Irish blood in me). So, in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, today we’ve got a little gold for you at the end of the rainbow. And by gold, I mean booze and by rainbow, I mean a giant shamrock piñata filled with it. And you can get it for free.

We’ve teamed up with NIPYATA!, the purveyors of booze filled piñatas, to give one lucky Stir and Strain reader their own giant booze-filled shamrock piñata. Make your St. Patrick’s Day party that much more special by having you and all your pals beat the crap out of this symbol of luck.

If you’re feeling lucky, enter below for your chance to win a NIPYATA! ShamRock It Piñata (retails $100) and get up to 12 entries to win. Open to US residents 21+ only (not available in AK, AL, AR, HI, ND, OK, PA, SD, UT, VT and WY). Giveaway ends March 10, 2018 at 11:59 PST. For more information on NIPYATA! and to check out all their awesome piñatas, please visit them at nipyata.com. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: gifts, giveaways, holiday

Gift Guide: A Sweet, Boozy Valentine’s Day 2018

February 13, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Give me all your whiskey filled chocolates and don’t ask me to share. That’s love.

Gift Guide: A sweet, boozy Valentine's Day // stirandstrain.com

What time is it? It’s time for champagne! Champagne cocktails, with a splash of hot red, bitter love. Mix it up for two in a few racy glasses and top off the evening stuffing your face with whiskey filled chocolates. Not into chocolate? How about a glass that doesn’t leave condensation rings all over your coffee table? Now that is SEXY.

1. Rosé Gummy Bear Cocktail Kit 2. Duo Glass 3. Champagne Watch 4. Stripper Glass Lady 5. Stripper Glass Man 6. Irish Whiskey Chocolate 7. Sweet Drink Stir Sticks 8. Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Rosé 9. Red Vintage Pitcher 10. Campari

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, campari, gift guide, gifts, home bar, rose

New Year’s Eve Bar Cart Styling: The Champagne Cocktail

December 27, 2017 by elana Leave a Comment

We’re all so exhausted from this year. Let’s ring in the new year with a simple cocktail. And a sword.

Bar Cart Style Post: New Year's Eve Champagne Cocktails // stirandstrain.com

Keep this year’s style simple with a few glittery tassels and a light box that tells guests to “Make Drinks Here”. If you want a few theatrics, pop that bubbly with a sabre and point guests to the use of your Chambong. Our drink of choice? A Champagne Cocktail: just drop one sugar cube into your glass. Add some Angostura bitters. Pour in the champagne. And don’t forget the Bloody Mary glasses for the morning after.

1. Metallic Tassels 2. Light Box 3. Stemless Champagne Flutes 4. Champagne Sabre 5. Pink & Gold Napkins 6. Glitter Champagne 7. Sugar Cubes 8. Angostura Bitters 9. Bloody Mary Glasses 10. Arabella Bar Cart 11. Chambong

Check our Instagram this week for a chance to WIN an Arabella Bar Cart and a bunch more prizes from Louis Jadot Wine!

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar cart, bar tools, champagne, gift guide, gifts, home bar, wine

Gift Guide: Smells Like Booze Spirit

December 23, 2017 by elana Leave a Comment

It smells like a cocktail, but you don’t want to drink this.

Holiday Gift Guide: Smells Like Booze Spirit // stirandstrain.com

You do want to smell it and lather your body with it! Put it on your lips and chew on it for a little bit after dinner. For your booziest enthusiast friends, those who really, really like spirits, here’s a few stocking stuffer and hostess gifts for all you last minute shoppers out there. And of course, these pair well with an actual bottle of booze too.

1. Pisco Sour Candle 2. Cocktail Lip Balms 3. Bourbon Vanilla Soap 4. Craft IPA Shampoo and Conditioner 5. Scotch-Infused Toothpicks 6. Dark Rum Candle

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, gift guide, gifts, holiday, home bar

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