Classy home bars to keep the spirits high at your house-warming party

There is a wide array of barware you can choose from, depending on your taste for aesthetics and your budget

If you're the kind who loves the good life and enjoy regaling friends at your house over weekends, it might be a good idea to have a home bar if you want to show off your collection of VSOPs, tonics and ales, or your prowess at concoting a potent mix of brew. While home bars come in different sizes, shapes and styles, there are a few essentials that you must know about.

The basic components of any bar include wine coolers, ice buckets, ice pickers, cocktail shakers, an array of glassware, trays and tools like bottle openers and muddlers.

Depending on one’s budget and style preference, there are several options in barware collections. Says Sachin Gupta, founder, Beyond Designs store: “The kind of bar the customer ultimately goes for totally depends on the style she prefers -– contemporary, classic, or a fusion of the two. At Beyond Designs, we have both, classic designs that have a hint of the contemporary, and contemporary styles that have shades of the classic."

Barware comes in many metals such as copper, plated gold and silver, and stainless steel. But the ones trending are those that come in a combination of metals. Says Annchal Mohill, founder Karo Store: “We have a wide variety of sets with some really delivering a luxurious and classy feel, as the combination involves other textures. For example we have sets that combine stainless steel with textured leather or nickel plated brass or even brass and copper.”

Silver barware is evergreen. The Frazer and Haws Bar style in pure sterling silver is the kind one would associate with the royalty of pre-independence India. Says Chanda Narang, CEO, Frazer and Haws: “Reminiscent of the famous lifestyle of the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala, a bar for Captions and Kings comes with a silver wine bucket, and a champagne pail. These statement pieces can be accompanied with silver wine goblets and champagne flutes. Other accessories include a silver ice bucket, a silver cocktail shaker, and a silver serving tray. Our products are all upwards of Rs one lakh.”

While silver is sheer luxury, stainless steel is considered the most practical and functional metal for barware. Says Gupta of Beyond Designs: “Stainless steel has fast emerged as a designer material for barware, as it offers a great choice of finishes and textures through hammering and hand-beating. It can look dainty and glamorous, at the same time stay sturdy. You can have champagne glasses in stainless steel finished in various shades of gold and blue. Another set of fluted champagne glasses in stainless steel can be hand-beaten with a golden tinge. So the possibilities are huge and charming.”

Currently, a new barware style is gaining popularity: a fresh look, stand-out design and some exotic touches like gold or silver, and or antique tinge, 

Must-haves in any home bar 

Four glasses and tools to make just about any cocktail:

• The coupe glass/ champagne coupe
• The double old fashioned glass
• The Collins glass
• The curved rock glass
• A mixing glass
• A Boston Shaker
• A bar spoon
• A jigger
• A strainer
• A muddler
• Bottle opener  
• Ice Tongs
• Corkscrew
• Pourer
• Ice Bucket

Other than these, you would also need coasters and Trays to serve the cocktails.

What a silver home bar might typically cost you 

• Wine Glasses:  Rs 40,000 onwards
• Champagne Glasses: Rs 20,000 onwards
• Bowls: Rs 20,000 onwards
• Ice Tongs: Rs 10,000 onwards
• Ice Bucket: Rs 50,000 onwards
• Wine Cooler: Rs 200,000-400,000 
• Cocktail Shaker: Rs 60,000  
• Decanter: Rs 80,000  
• Peg Measure: Rs 10,000