How to Start your Home Bar | How to Drink

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  • čas přidán 20. 08. 2020
  • Try Haus, now! The first 100 people to purchase two bottles of Haus using my link bit.ly/haus_htd2 will get $10 off plus free shipping when they use my code, HTD2
    Shop my go-to spirits for cocktails: here: drink.curiada.com/homebar/
    This video is my baseline thoughts on all the things you need, and don't need, to get your home bar started. I'll talk about which bottles to buy, which not to buy- but more importantly about the approach you should sue in collecting bottles. I'll talk about what gear to buy when starting out, which books I like, I'll talk about ice. In short, all the questions I get asked the most, in one video. Sorry to say there's no drink in here.
    Slowly but surely, I'm starting a mailing list so that I'm not fully dependent on YT's algorithmized notifications system. If you'll sign up, I promise not to abuse your generosity, or sell your info to anyone. It's over on the blog right here:
    bit.ly/H2DBlog
    This episode was sponsored by Haus, check them out here:https: bit.ly/haus_htd2
    All the gadgets and books I mentioned are here: amzn.to/2Qh2M4B
    Camper English on Ice: bit.ly/3gn0oDU
    Grenadine: • Grenadine | How to Drink
    Orgeat: • Orgeat | How to Drink
    Ginger: • How to Make Ginger Syr...
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    Incredibly Awesome People who make this show possible!
    Shelby Benton
    Dennis Groome
    Ryan Wolfe
    Aditya Choksi
    Rachel Keys
    Whiskey Tribe
    Thomas D Choate
    William Madrid
    Erik Språng
    Nicholas Tsotakos
    Bradley Cronk
    Russell Gernannt
    James Evans
    Kolya Venturi
    Hooper Snow
    Adam Doyle
    Kimber Guzik
    Bill
    Todd Swain
    Brandon Wilson
    Richard Rappuhn
    Affable Kraut
    Michael Vandenberg
    reese cryer
    Sintax88
    Olivia
    Jeff Lewis
    Huyen Tue Dao
    Marzi
    Eric Louis N Romero
    Jacob Pizzuto
    Tammy Mott
    Jadgzeit
    Lee M Geller
    Alex Bertrand
    Daniel Batson
    Magnus Gezelius
    Jesse Hernandez
    Mark Nevada
    Cade Bryan
    Charles Armstrong
    Quinn
    Christy Rusk
    Anne Burns
    Atlas Merdia
    Robert Hilts
    Christian Bonifacio
    Jason Sears
    Justin Thomas
    Pablo Laboy
    Jacob Scida
    Directed by: Greg
    Edited by: Rachel Ambelang & Greg
    Produced by: Meredith Engstrom & Stefano Pennisi & Greg
    Cinematography by: Greg
    Created by: Greg
  • Jak na to + styl

Komentáře • 1,6K

  • @howtodrink
    @howtodrink  Před 3 lety +354

    I hope this one was helpful! Links are here!
    *All the Gadgets, Tools, and Books (affiliate): **amzn.to/2Qh2M4B*
    Camper English on Ice: bit.ly/3gn0oDU
    Grenadine: czcams.com/video/qTF7QkIkns8/video.html
    Orgeat: czcams.com/video/wVKVD1Q6TXU/video.html
    Ginger: czcams.com/video/5Jx2t0DgoWc/video.html
    Twitch: bit.ly/2VsOi3d
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    Gear: amzn.to/2LeQCbW

    • @bigbadleeroybrown5104
      @bigbadleeroybrown5104 Před 3 lety +4

      I needed this video so bad

    • @ironsmills
      @ironsmills Před 3 lety +1

      this video was truly awesome! i can't wait for the next one :)

    • @joshwoychyshyn4853
      @joshwoychyshyn4853 Před 3 lety +1

      Just started watching your channel and man you do a great job, most relatable and understandable cocktail/bar videos I have seen

    • @ashalexander1441
      @ashalexander1441 Před 3 lety

      Very helpful. Thanks so much!

    • @christopherkaukau1986
      @christopherkaukau1986 Před 3 lety

      Yeeess my good man. been waiting for a vid like this. Lasgooo 💪💪💪

  • @dewey69
    @dewey69 Před 3 lety +4303

    Instructions Unclear. I now own multiple taverns across Kentucky

    • @ItzFoxUwU
      @ItzFoxUwU Před 3 lety +253

      Task failed successfully

    • @DCBiscuit
      @DCBiscuit Před 3 lety +127

      You used the wrong ingredients, but got the right recipe.

    • @hammer326
      @hammer326 Před 3 lety +12

      Didn't know Justified was coming back!

    • @-RondoIQ
      @-RondoIQ Před 3 lety +14

      I’m from Kentucky ✊🏼✊🏼

    • @mrpunjabi8606
      @mrpunjabi8606 Před 3 lety +22

      Not agin Gerald for fucks sake

  • @Tylerururu
    @Tylerururu Před 3 lety +3157

    "Buy the ingredients for the cocktails you plan to make."
    Excellent. I have now filled by cabinet with bottles of Vodka and Kahlua, and my fridge is filled with heavy cream.

    • @Ajguy
      @Ajguy Před 3 lety +241

      Jackson Rockwell The Dude abides.

    • @Dirtyboxer1
      @Dirtyboxer1 Před 3 lety +53

      Similar, but I like Negronis and Negroni derivatives, so I went a different route. I have a bottle of vodka, but I can't say that it gets much use. I bought it about six years ago and it's still 3/4 full.

    • @tylerhilpisch7850
      @tylerhilpisch7850 Před 3 lety +139

      Im thinking just a Fridge full of heavy cream that is not in a container and when you open it it goes everywhere.

    • @Quintinohthree
      @Quintinohthree Před 3 lety +32

      @@Dirtyboxer1 Good. Vodka should go unused except in the rare cases where neither gin nor light rum can replace it.

    • @rjtheripper931
      @rjtheripper931 Před 3 lety +12

      I just use any type of coffee creamer for my white Russians.

  • @giggityguy
    @giggityguy Před 3 lety +1953

    "Start your bar around a single spirit."
    *Looks into my liquor shelf, sees three different types of whiskey*
    I'm a genius

    • @GrantBakken
      @GrantBakken Před 3 lety +37

      Those are rookie numbers there son... *looks at the 28 whiskies in my bar case...

    • @memyself898
      @memyself898 Před 3 lety +10

      3? Armature....

    • @kai199025able
      @kai199025able Před 3 lety +94

      guys guys he said 3 types. clearly hes got 60 scotches, 120 bourbons, and atleast 1 canadian

    • @vinscocktails1864
      @vinscocktails1864 Před 3 lety +15

      @@satyammishra4224 who said OP is human. Everyone who puts "guy" in their name is obviously a beaver

    • @TheHuckeberrie
      @TheHuckeberrie Před 3 lety +7

      Looks at shelf
      3 whiskeys, 3 rums, and a bottle of gin
      Ah yes

  • @aznfratboy1
    @aznfratboy1 Před 3 lety +814

    My shaker: an old pasta jar.
    My bar spoon: a chopstick.
    My mixing glass: A keep cup coffee cup.
    My jigger: A medicine measuring cup.

    • @gugan_1678
      @gugan_1678 Před 3 lety +32

      I thought I was the only one using a chopstick to stir a drink!

    • @OlDurtyGurty
      @OlDurtyGurty Před 3 lety +52

      Did you purchase those things from Williams & Sonoma for $350?

    • @gugan_1678
      @gugan_1678 Před 3 lety +38

      @@OlDurtyGurty along with tax, it was about $395

    • @aznfratboy1
      @aznfratboy1 Před 3 lety +2

      @@OlDurtyGurty /facepalm Clearly the "azn" part of my username was lost on you.

    • @barefootwildflowers3209
      @barefootwildflowers3209 Před 3 lety +11

      My shaker is a mason jar, my bar spoon a spoon, and my jigger is my kitchen scale. It measures in fluid ounces.

  • @diomehiro2
    @diomehiro2 Před 3 lety +632

    Look at this man, teaching me the right questions instead of giving me the wrong answers.

  • @joshholsopple1435
    @joshholsopple1435 Před 3 lety +1644

    Oh my God, greg is the guy in the math problems! "Greg bought 31 oranges and 25 limes..."

    • @tannerwise8788
      @tannerwise8788 Před 3 lety +22

      Sheldon Robertson how many of each drink is he making per day?

    • @tannerwise8788
      @tannerwise8788 Před 3 lety +1

      Sheldon Robertson mm that’s quite the conundrum.

    • @AaronRotenberg
      @AaronRotenberg Před 3 lety +13

      @@tannerwise8788 You should be able to solve this for a probability distribution over days using dynamic programming. 😁

    • @bombshellblonde544
      @bombshellblonde544 Před 3 lety +1

      LMAO he really is!!!

    • @augustjsb
      @augustjsb Před 3 lety +1

      @Sheldon Robertson any specific species, or just the most common?

  • @Lem0n1215
    @Lem0n1215 Před 2 lety +188

    Bottles: 2:06
    Syrups: 5:19 (Sugar 2/1 Water)
    Bar Tools: 11:40
    Ice: 19:40
    Books: 23:40

  • @mohnjayer
    @mohnjayer Před 3 lety +340

    Pro-tip for making crushed ice drinks: Sonic sells pebble ice in 10 pound bags for like $3. It’s great ice and makes your drinks look restaurant-quality.

    • @TwoAPTMLMusicProductions
      @TwoAPTMLMusicProductions Před 3 lety +3

      melts too fast for cocktails

    • @mohnjayer
      @mohnjayer Před 3 lety +28

      @@TwoAPTMLMusicProductions Clearly, you don’t know the Educated Barfly ‘whip shake’ technique. Works great with sonic ice for almost any drink.

    • @GhostCabinet
      @GhostCabinet Před 3 lety +18

      Thanks commenter McCommentFace

    • @CWB342
      @CWB342 Před 3 lety +1

      You just changed my entire life.

    • @anikaka3850
      @anikaka3850 Před 3 lety +2

      Sonic has the best ice!

  • @KrommKONG
    @KrommKONG Před 3 lety +745

    Step 1- don't be an alcoholic because you'll drink your whole bar

    • @nmarrs8539
      @nmarrs8539 Před 3 lety +36

      To late. That’s why I watch this show, drinking through others

    • @NLB-wd2zp
      @NLB-wd2zp Před 3 lety +23

      That's what I'm sayin. If there was a bar in my apartment, the only way I'd ever leave is on a stretcher 😂

    • @Kruegernator123
      @Kruegernator123 Před 3 lety +6

      @@nmarrs8539 Misery loves company!

    • @hashdealer8822
      @hashdealer8822 Před 3 lety +13

      You can also cover up your alcoholism by having a "hobby". Pretend like you don't have a problem. You know, stock up on vodka every other day in case there's guests coming.

    • @liquidchef7838
      @liquidchef7838 Před 3 lety +1

      🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • @zigmoproductions7796
    @zigmoproductions7796 Před 3 lety +572

    What are the odds he talks about starting your home bar the day I turned 21, cool.
    Thx for the Bday wishes everyone

  • @Psykel
    @Psykel Před 3 lety +106

    I’d love a guide how to literally build a home bar. The furniture part of it, layout and so forth.

  • @goodmrgary4240
    @goodmrgary4240 Před 3 lety +20

    I started watching your channel as well as The Educated Barfly last October and decided to build my own home bar. I started with the ingredients for an Old Fashioned and practiced that. Easy enough and a grand classic cocktail. I enjoyed it so much and my guests complimented me on my technique so I decided to slowly add to the bar. Now every two weeks when I get paid I pick another cocktail from one of the two show's episodes, and buy the ingredients for that specific drink. Here I am 10 months later and I have a full bar, to the level that anyone who comes over is relatively impressed. At this point guests will bring bottles over of liquor they think I would like, or bring ingredients to make drinks with what I already have, and leave the bottles or ingredients with me to keep with the bar. My bar has grown to over 35 bottles and maintained, it's a beautiful thing. Thanks!

  • @colinmurphy9157
    @colinmurphy9157 Před 3 lety +945

    Gregg: "I'm just gonna be talking for a long time..."
    Me: *Slaps the like button*

  • @fckarasiak
    @fckarasiak Před 3 lety +653

    Greg: "Chose a cocktail that you like most and just buy the ingredients you need to make them."
    Me, thinking about my Long Island Iced Tea: "...(deeply breath)..."

    • @Wavezzzz601
      @Wavezzzz601 Před 3 lety +72

      Moment of silence for everyone who needs everything

    • @timothyjohnson224
      @timothyjohnson224 Před 3 lety +94

      I started with LIIT on purpose for this exact reason. I figured if I got all the stuff for that, I could have LIIT any time. But also, I would probably be 3/4 of the way to most other drinks as well and build slowly out from there. It's worked well so far.

    • @haydenself2182
      @haydenself2182 Před 3 lety +3

      Timothy Johnson smart idea

    • @agnetalykins7564
      @agnetalykins7564 Před 3 lety +2

      @@timothyjohnson224 That was essentially my thinking as well, lol.

    • @jasoncoates1835
      @jasoncoates1835 Před 3 lety +46

      Luckily my favorite cocktail is one part Scotch, in a glass. Unluckily that means I spend the GDP of a small nation on my bar and that's still pretty much the only drink i can make.

  • @Psykel
    @Psykel Před 3 lety +99

    Greg: ”A bottle of rum.”
    Me: *glancing at the nine bottles of rum in my bar cabinet*

    • @kana22693
      @kana22693 Před 3 lety +2

      Rumchads rise up!

    • @cathya7045
      @cathya7045 Před 3 lety +5

      This happens to me every time I come back from visiting family into Dominican airports sources cheap a good rum

  • @grey.poupon
    @grey.poupon Před 3 lety +382

    me: cuts and freezes all of my citrus no matter what, literally drinking a cocktail made with a frozen lemon right now
    Gregg: you cannot freeze your citrus
    me: 👁👄👁

    • @DrBrangar
      @DrBrangar Před 3 lety +54

      Freezing has a drying effect. Half the use of citrus is in the peel, since the oils there are really flavourful. A twist from a previously frozen orange will not be the same as a never frozen one. Juice, however, I have heard stays about the same for whole fruit, though cut fruit will oxidize (it seriously does. Juice an orange, then taste it immediately vs in an hour or two) as well as have the drying effect. But I tend buy the bottled stuff anyway because I just can't be arsed to juice a couple limes on my reamer every time I want a Daiquiri, so don't take my word on that.

    • @theblobfish9614
      @theblobfish9614 Před 3 lety +11

      @@DrBrangar so you basically refuse to drink tasty daiquiris?

    • @poseidon527
      @poseidon527 Před 3 lety +19

      That emoji looks terrifying on pc

    • @notinsane4165
      @notinsane4165 Před 2 lety +3

      @@poseidon527 I know it's been a year but yeah you're right, the eyes are like dead fish eyes thousand yard staring into my soul.

    • @IQzminus2
      @IQzminus2 Před 2 lety +3

      Well it’s all relative.
      Yes, fresh citrus is a lot nicer than citrus that has been frozen. And it doesn’t handle being frozen amazingly.
      But frozen citrus is a million times better than those bottles of ‘lime’ or ‘lemon’ juice that taste like dish-soap and sadness.
      If I don’t use up a whole citrus I slice up the rest into wedges and toss them in the freezer.
      And those frozen citrus wedges are my backup always ready if I forgot to get any or my fresh have gone bad.
      For cooking and for drinks.
      Those frozen wedges work as a last minute back up and is better than no citrus at all.
      And if I get lots frozen wedges in the freezer I make mixed citrus lemonade.
      Not as amazing as the same drink would have been using fresh fruit, but better than just tossing perfectly editable and delicious citrus straight into the compost.
      And it does still yield tasty and delicious result, just not as perfect as it could have been.

  • @Jack_Arbor
    @Jack_Arbor Před 3 lety +211

    The more important question is-
    *How do I NOT drink the bar I’m trying to build, before it’s built?*

    • @sporeham1674
      @sporeham1674 Před 3 lety +24

      Unironic advice here, put the alcohol somewhere you can't see them. A storage closet or something similar. Out of sight, out of mind!

    • @Jack_Arbor
      @Jack_Arbor Před 3 lety +7

      Billybob James good idea. I legit thought about stashing it at someone else’s house until I have everything I want.

    • @rngmstrdan
      @rngmstrdan Před 3 lety +26

      @@Jack_Arbor I'd loose everything twice as fast at a friend's house than if I just left it at my place.

    • @CaseyHarMegiddo
      @CaseyHarMegiddo Před 3 lety +7

      God, right? I'd probably notice that I have what I need for a cocktail I've never tried and make it, then realize I have the stuff for another too, and another, and another... Then I'm passed out on the floor with even less of a bar than before.

    • @crickettweeks4417
      @crickettweeks4417 Před 2 lety

      THIS! 🙉

  • @dillionbarton8383
    @dillionbarton8383 Před 3 lety +25

    It was this channel that made me want to try my hand at mixing drinks for my friends. I would pick a few drinks that I would want to make and buy all of the ingredients that I need. Five months, and almost $500 later, there are very few drinks that I don't have the ingredients to make. It has been an exciting journey, and I owe my inspiration to Greg. To say thank you, here is a drink that I made at home. Maybe someone has done it before, but I haven't seen the recipe yet.
    The Gingermeister
    2oz. Scharf Jagermeister
    1oz. Ginger Syrup
    1oz. Vodka
    1 Can of Ginger Beer (Ginger Ale is fine)
    Shake on Ice, strain into collins glass with a long single piece of ice in it, fill the rest of the way with ginger beer (or ginger ale, it's fine).
    Just a little recipe from my bar to yours. Thanks for everything.

  • @sambrock9277
    @sambrock9277 Před 3 lety +7

    I agree, find the one you like, and build from there. My beginner bar is made entirely around the 1 drink I made up, the "Florida Georgia Lime."
    In a pint glass, over ice:
    2 oz vodka
    2 parts peach tea
    1 part orange juice
    Lime garnish

  • @ashavila7999
    @ashavila7999 Před 3 lety +34

    When you said knives are knives I just thought about the scene from the new incredibles movie where mr incredible is losing it while trying to help dash and he’s like “ MATH IS MATH “

  • @raphaelhooks6894
    @raphaelhooks6894 Před 3 lety +242

    I was literally just sitting here thinking about this subject as we speak. Perfect timing. Lol

    • @xXRickTrolledXx
      @xXRickTrolledXx Před 3 lety +5

      Same, oddly enough

    • @techno_tuna
      @techno_tuna Před 3 lety +2

      my 21st is in 8 days, the best timing

    • @drasticbread249
      @drasticbread249 Před 3 lety +2

      I literally was talking to friends yesterday about making cocktails at home because we can't go out and get them anywhere right now. After work I went out and picked up bourbon, simple syrup, peychaud bitters, a jigger, a bar spoon, and a set of large ice molds. It's a start, but at least I can make a killer old fashioned now.

    • @MrManniG
      @MrManniG Před 3 lety

      Well i got a few bottles of whisky and rum. So I got that going for me, which is fine

    • @lautaroortiz5935
      @lautaroortiz5935 Před 3 lety

      That's the best feeling

  • @shutuppabs323
    @shutuppabs323 Před 3 lety +73

    I started with bourbon and Gin. And with that I focused on Old fashions and Gimlets. And from that I started to expand based on those core spirits. Which then lead me down paths of other drinks to which I then bought ingredients for them. Etc. Now I have a bar where I can make anything from an old fashion to a paper plane or a gimlet to Gordon’s cup. And I came to that slowly (slightly accelerated recently with the pandemic) but all of those cocktail ideas etc was done because this channel. Thanks, Greg.

    • @richardking4514
      @richardking4514 Před 3 lety +2

      The pandemic helped me out as well. It was my first attempt at stocking my home for more than one style of drink so I chose a few favorites and practiced making them from the moment I woke up until the time I went to bed, then from the afternoon until the evening.

    • @bombshellblonde544
      @bombshellblonde544 Před 3 lety +4

      The pandemic is literally why I got into it. I keep thinking maybe I'm drinking to much, but then I remind myself that when I got Demerara sugar, instead of "I'm excited to drink," my thought was "I'm excited to see how this changes the taste of my daiquiris with that Haitian Barbancourt"

  • @Serketry88
    @Serketry88 Před 10 měsíci +5

    I recently discovered this channel; after binging your entire rum playlist, I went out and bought 10 different cocktails' supplies with a single quality low-funk rum, and half dozen fruits and modifiers. So far, it's working out pretty good.

  • @Vinc90
    @Vinc90 Před 3 lety +46

    ant: *discovers Greg's 500-pound stash of sugar
    "the...the promised land"

  • @CaptIronfoundersson
    @CaptIronfoundersson Před 3 lety +51

    "101 Quarter Ounce Pours" is a great name for a book.

    • @senpaichiyochi9884
      @senpaichiyochi9884 Před 3 lety +1

      He could write an entire book on this subject with that title and make bank xD

  • @boesvig2258
    @boesvig2258 Před 3 lety +27

    I started with the Daiquiri. If you have white rum, simple syrup and lime, it's so easy to branch out. Not only can you do a ton of variations on the Daiquiri (even the maligned but delicious Strawberry Daiquiri), other classics like the Mojito and the Piña Colada are only a couple of cheap ingredients away.

  • @johnt6773
    @johnt6773 Před 3 lety +106

    "I'm gonna be talking for a really long time"
    *excited alcoholic noises*

  • @MissBeautifulMess11
    @MissBeautifulMess11 Před rokem +13

    Laughing because I’m watching this 2 years later and he says those jiggers with the handle “suck” and he almost exclusively uses those now. Just made me laugh 😆

    • @nikkishins
      @nikkishins Před rokem +2

      I don't think he's talking about the kind of jiggers he uses now. The ones he's talking about basically look like little hammers. They're like the Japanese ones but with a rod sticking out the side.

  • @christophersienko632
    @christophersienko632 Před 3 lety +17

    The advice you give here at the beginning is basically what helped me finally get over my newbie anxiety and just start making cocktails. Way back when, I bought bartender's guides, Dale DeGroff, Old Mr. Boston, whatever, I could find, and then would get totally overwhelmed by the options. Spent years just sipping bourbon and meaning to get back to it. Watched your "5 easy three-ingredient cocktail" video and videos on very, very simple drinks. Old Fashioneds. Whiskey Sours. Manhattans. Just got the stuff I needed to make those, and made them over and over again until I felt like I could do a Whiskey Sour in my sleep. Checked out "Best Prohibition-Era Cocktails" vid next, and noted anything that I had most of the ingredients for.
    I got a little pocket notebook and hand-wrote all my favorite recipes from your vids + simple cocktails in "The Craft of the Cocktail" by hand. Now they feel like *my* homemade recipes because they're in my handwriting, haha. I made my own Grenadine per your recipe -- pomegranate molasses and orange flower water will put you back about eight bucks, and having a bottle of that around is a frickin' GAME CHANGER, especially for prohibition cocktails. I keep a wantlist of different boozes at Binny's so each time I have a little cash, I'll add a new fancy bitters or a good bottle of jamaican rum to my shopping cart. My wife got me gum arabic (so I can make gomme syrup) and a dasher bottle for absinthe for our anniversary, so Sazeracs are coming up next!!
    After like five false starts, I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of this! But I refuse to let go of my cobbler shaker, haha! I've never gotten the seal right on my Boston Shaker and it always leaks while shaking on the second drink, and then seals shut on the third. Maybe I'll get the hang eventually, but right now I'm working with the tool that works for me.
    Thanks for the channel! This is the one that finally made me confident to open up the bar and try something beyond sipping bourbon every night.

  • @hulkslayer626
    @hulkslayer626 Před 3 lety +11

    THIS!!! This channel is a great example of the superiority of CZcams over television! Thank you!

    • @psilocybemusashi
      @psilocybemusashi Před 3 lety

      youtube is evil but videos are good. i haven't had cable or an antenna for over a decade now... really it has been at least 15 years without a tv. i am not bragging my point really is that youtube is evil. sure they don't have a problem with this channel but you will get deplatformed if you have an opinion that some professor at some university thinks is offensive to someone. that isn't freedom. that is tyranny and youtube is helping to spread tyranny. youtube used to be good. today it is thought police.

  • @BoredBob
    @BoredBob Před 3 lety +7

    One of the best times I ever had and one of the best things I ever did on the whole bucket list of things was to run "my own" bar. When I was stationed on the Sinai peninsula of Egypt supporting the MFO each contingent was allowed to have it's own bar. Our contingent was considerably smaller than many of the others (12 people total) who had large stateside equivalent type bars (compared to 100 or so people). We had a small "patio bar". In a pinch we could probably squeeze in 20-30 people tops elbow to elbow but generally only had about 10 or so people at a time and we only opened on the weekends and kept a quiet laid back more "exclusive" less frequented speak easy kind of a place. Prices were fixed by the command at $1 a beer or mixed drink and we weren't allowed to operate "for profit". Basically just enough to pay operating costs and to fund morale activities like plaques and cookouts and such. Tradition was that the newest person there who wanted to started off "working" (no pay) at the bar and eventually took over when the current person left (generally a 6 month stint). Because of messed up paperwork with my replacement I ended up staying in country for an additional 6 months. So I ran, tended, bar backed, and managed a 1 man show for closer to 12 months. Because we were a small, quiet, less "party" type bar I was able to carry a small amount of a lot of different beers and liquor as opposed to slinging cases and cases of MGD. It was an amazing time and I loved every minute of it and would do it again in an instant.

  • @Germainger28
    @Germainger28 Před 3 lety +2

    I genuinely love when you talk about this stuff. Hearing the history and techniques behind drinks is fascinating and you tell it in a very comprehensive way. I really enjoy this type of content as well as how to make the drinks. Wonderful job!

  • @RejectedJedi
    @RejectedJedi Před 3 lety +146

    captain jack's life: "if you're going to rough it, you can get by with one bottle of rum"

  • @manuelfuentesguerra88
    @manuelfuentesguerra88 Před 3 lety +20

    I started my home bar because I started watching this channel dude, thanks for that! First bottles I bought were to make the Mai Tai, best drink ever.

  • @derian5938
    @derian5938 Před 3 lety +41

    Really great and helpful episode-I remember catching a Q&A livestream of yours near the beginning of quarantine where you briefly went over the must-haves for a home bar when buying on a budget and taking notes on it like crazy, and this felt like a really refined and easy-to-reference expansion on that spiel.
    Personally, I've really enjoyed the more behind-the-scenes and educational episodes and just the longer-form rambles in general, so I'd love to see that followup video about techniques and other practice tips!

  • @catgirlswag
    @catgirlswag Před 3 lety +2

    Been watching your videos for quite a while now. This was a fantastic video to tie together all the essentials you've talked about in bits and pieces throughout all your other videos. Great one-stop for all the necessities!

  • @SpiderJesus26
    @SpiderJesus26 Před 3 lety +100

    Greg becoming self aware of his addiction to spilling.

    • @MarkRovelli
      @MarkRovelli Před 3 lety

      after watching this video, Greg should have spilled something to keep his record intact...

    • @michelguevara151
      @michelguevara151 Před 3 lety +3

      what?!?
      I'll have you know 'obviously more than a barspoon' is a legit measure

  • @TimeSpaceWormsNow
    @TimeSpaceWormsNow Před 3 lety +61

    Me trying to start a home bar: "Why is the rum gone?"

  • @DaxTheOtter
    @DaxTheOtter Před 3 lety +2

    after finding your channel at the beginning of the year and subsequently binge watching as much as i could i have grown more and more interested in mixology. this video, plus the video about the best stuff in your bar 2020, has finally pushed me over the edge of adopting this hobby, having wished bartending gear for my eighteenth birthday coming up. thank you for introducing me to a hobby im sure me (and my friends) will enjoy immensly

  • @simoncameron4355
    @simoncameron4355 Před 3 lety +1

    One of your best video's to date. Breaking down not just your thought process, but taking a simple approach to expanding a persons drinking experiences, o yea, and helping people enjoy the experience.

  • @DM_Redbeard
    @DM_Redbeard Před 3 lety +13

    It's funny you out this out today, this week I started my journey into mixology. My wife surprised me with a bar kit that came with a very nice set of weighted Boston style shakers and went out and rounded up some ingredients for the coffee cocktails from your videos. They came out fantastic, and tonight I am going to make the potion #2 from the Zelda video you did a while back. She snuck in a order of butterfly pea blossom powder (she knows I like visual effects) so I think it will be a grand time. I am also looking forward to hosting our friends for Dungeons &Dragons&Drinks.
    Thank you for making these videos Greg, they have been very enjoyable, entertaining, and will give me more excuses to spend time with our friends.

  • @Barprints
    @Barprints Před 3 lety +8

    That food analogy for the bar setup is brilliant! I recommend the 5 basic spirits (Rum, Gin, Vodka, Tequila, Whisky) when starting out just based on people's usual taste and the ability to do highballs; starting with you favorite cocktail just make sense. Cheers

  • @Bad-Nick
    @Bad-Nick Před 3 lety

    This channel inspires me to broaden my home mixing horizons, and often informs my drink choice when I don't know quite what I want for the evening. Cheers on hitting the gold, because you earned it.

  • @ButterfliesandDaisys
    @ButterfliesandDaisys Před 3 lety +2

    This is fantastic advice. I started making cocktails through my love of tiki drinks and started this same way (only I bought two kinds of rum). Now I have a well stocked, varied bar and can make hundreds of drinks - tiki and non-tiki alike. Thank you for a great video!

  • @CaffienatedMothman
    @CaffienatedMothman Před 3 lety +7

    I've literally been thinking about this all quarantine. Your timing is perfect my man.
    A knife with a fork at the tip is probably a serving knife or a cheese knife (cheese knives have a curved fork).

  • @absinthetikiti7829
    @absinthetikiti7829 Před 3 lety +7

    This is SO weird!!! I JUST bought a bar on OfferUp , and I’m picking it up today! Your video couldn’t have come at a better time! And I totally agree with your recommendation to buy your ingredients according to whatever drinks you plan on making at the moment, then add on from there. I started making tiki drinks at the beginning of quarantine, and I’ve amassed quite a collection already! It’s all very exciting. 😄

  • @zacharylang845
    @zacharylang845 Před 3 lety

    I’ve been waiting for a video just like this for so long!! I’d love to see more about home bars and how to get started on mixology and the techniques necessary for beginner mixology!

  • @x_Laki_x
    @x_Laki_x Před 3 lety +2

    Man I gotta say ever since this whole thing with the global pandemic, I started watching your video and making cocktails at home has made things more enjoyable. I've basically made myself my own lil bar at home and can't wait for this pandemic to get over and show off some of the drinks recipes you've shared. My personal favorite recipe you've made is the Tavern Punch from your D&D video. Thank you for your videos they've helped me find something I enjoy doing other than getting Drunk with friends.

  • @dejaquejarmeunrato686
    @dejaquejarmeunrato686 Před 3 lety +7

    I wish this video existed when I was getting started at mixology.
    Now I am a professional bartender and man I agree with everything.
    Also, if you care about the results, quality and technique of your cocktails, also choose one and dedicate yourself until you find it almost perfect.
    For me it was de Mojito, and to this day I have received no complains about it, it's perfectible tho

  • @spitter7657
    @spitter7657 Před 3 lety +3

    I just started a home bar with lots of spirits, and I found that having the plastic pours for the bottles helps making less of a mess

  • @bradenprince9788
    @bradenprince9788 Před 2 lety

    The episode I've been looking for. Googling how to start your home bar is a nightmare of answers. Thank you so much! Favorite CZcams channel ever.

  • @magnoliaflower3310
    @magnoliaflower3310 Před 3 lety

    Thank you so much for making these videos. I don't usually drink. I have a very low alcohol tolerance. I love watching your video. It feels like having a relaxing drink after a hard/stressful day.

  • @TheWhiteDragon3
    @TheWhiteDragon3 Před 3 lety +20

    Funny enough, I actually went out and bought all that and spent a load of money when I wanted to get into mixing my own drinks. A year later, I still have a bunch of those bottles, though none of them have gone unopened. So if you do the stupid thing like I did and blow a bunch of your money, depending on how often you drink, the upkeep costs aren't that bad. If they are, well, you might need to talk with someone about your drinking habit.

    • @psmuldow
      @psmuldow Před 3 lety

      I started with an inherited cocktail book from my grandfather and the idea that I would work my way through it alphabetically. I already had some stuff when I started, but it was still a daunting task. I'm still working my way through it alphabetically with one serving of one drink per day, and my approach is to go to the store on a weekly basis to defray the costs. At the beginning of each week I take stock of the drinks I'm scheduling for the week, and buy the fresh stuff that I need, like cream or citrus. I've been at it awhile now and I'm pretty well stocked, and I only need to buy a bottle of this or that every month. I've been at it for 2 years and am working my way through the S's now. I just bought a $30 bottle of sherry last week for my upcoming sherry cocktails in my book. But when you're just starting out, it can be kind of expensive; but even in the beginning I was only spending $50-75 a week on stuff I needed and most of it has lasted awhile

    • @psilocybemusashi
      @psilocybemusashi Před 3 lety +1

      @@psmuldow basically i do something similar. though i don't go through a book. i make about one new cocktail per week only but i do try to do at least one new one every week and buy whatever i need for that. the only thing i seem to go through is cointreau since i like it a lot and i add it to drinks even when it isnt called for lol

    • @psilocybemusashi
      @psilocybemusashi Před 3 lety +1

      i have about 3 different rums 4 or so whiskeys 2 different gins a small bottle of tequila vodka which i don't use much since i really don't do much with vodka or tequila. no interest in most vodka drinks except for my wife who doesn't much like alcohol. i have tons of liqueurs though. you don't need expensive stuff you need variety and that just takes time.

    • @psmuldow
      @psmuldow Před 3 lety

      @@psilocybemusashi Yeah, having variety is key. It does take a lot of time, and can get expensive if you put your collection together piecemeal. When I'm looking for new bottles, I look for stuff that isn't bottom-shelf gut rot but also not top shelf, high dollar items. I go for unique, affordable options that don't break the bank. I recently found a single malt Scotch that is aged in chardonnay casks that has a really interesting flavor profile that was $35 for the bottle. I try to get my liquor for less than $50 a bottle; I feel I can get good quality and solid variety at that price point

  • @_yuukulele
    @_yuukulele Před 3 lety +3

    The "Do the vertical integrations first, so it carries over to the horizontal integration" analogy is such a great analogy! Wonderful work

  • @michaelguerra6820
    @michaelguerra6820 Před 3 lety

    Always love your videos. I already have a home bar and I watched this just because I love the witty banter. Keep up the awesome work.

  • @rymerson21
    @rymerson21 Před 3 lety

    Just bought my first home ...moved in on Sunday of this week and going to start my bar very soon.... thank you love the channel !!! From a canadian who drinks old vienna!!

  • @MorpheusXTRM201
    @MorpheusXTRM201 Před 3 lety +74

    Hey Greg, have you ever heard of a manga and anime called "Bartender"? If so could you attempt to create one of its drinks like "Old Pal" or "Alexander"?

    • @anathemasoul8393
      @anathemasoul8393 Před 3 lety +1

      I would love to see that.

    • @kevinmoy5463
      @kevinmoy5463 Před 3 lety +11

      Those are both classic drinks as well. The Alexander was popular throughout the 80's and 90's and could be seen along side the sweet and fruity vodka martini craze, if I recall correctly. The Old Pal, also a old, old classic from the 1920-1930's and has only somewhat been in the whiskey/bourbon revival of the past decade (which we've seen similar drinks come up like the Old Fashioned and the Negroni)
      The Manga was pretty decent in it's portrayal of older drinks and if you liked it, you may like Sleepy Barmaid (Madoromi Barmaid) which is fairly new and started 3 years ago (2017).

  • @andyimpens6901
    @andyimpens6901 Před 3 lety +3

    Best, “what you need to start a bar” video on CZcams. Thanks!

  • @reillyobrien4372
    @reillyobrien4372 Před 3 lety +2

    Greg is a gentleman and a scholar. I just moved down to Florida this week and I was literally making a shopping list to stock a little home tiki bar and looking for something to play in the background when this gem pops up.

  • @edwalz8535
    @edwalz8535 Před 3 lety

    Greg, this was great! I’ve picked up most of these tips from you and Leandro over the last couple of years, but it’s such a great idea to put them all in a starter video.

  • @sumyupee
    @sumyupee Před 3 lety +8

    Great episode. I love how Greg really demystifies bartending and makes it seem much more approachable and easier to understand if you're just getting into it.

  • @MrCrazyeyes07
    @MrCrazyeyes07 Před 3 lety +48

    I bought a bottle of everclear and a package of hypodermic needle.

    • @j-rocd9507
      @j-rocd9507 Před 3 lety +9

      The good old "Trump Sanitizer"

  • @justoneman3916
    @justoneman3916 Před 2 lety

    Great dissertation! I’ve taken the advice to model my bar, and garden, built around the ability to mix the favorite cocktails of my family and friends. I then augmented with a growing collection of my favorite spirit which grows bigger every gift season.

  • @huntudown4
    @huntudown4 Před 3 lety

    Absolutely! I started making aperol spritzes and now I love aperitif drinks through vermouths. Recomend starting with something you like and expanding with modifiers.

  • @crshwrck
    @crshwrck Před 3 lety +24

    "there's no cocktail in this episode" Alright I'm out. "I'm gonna talk for a really long time." Ok I'm back in.

  • @jonngarr
    @jonngarr Před 3 lety +25

    I stock ginger beer, limes and every spirit that mixes well with those 2

  • @jennihart1896
    @jennihart1896 Před 3 lety

    Hi. I found your channel yesterday and lost my Saturday down a delightful rabbit hole of adult beverages. I love the thought, care, and research you put into these episodes, and they're so much freaking fun to watch. I'm learning a lot and planning a trip to a well-appointed liquor store sometime soon.

  • @ianhall7513
    @ianhall7513 Před 3 lety

    This kind of series would be a great addition to your channel. Learning the techniques and materials for the novice is a great way to bring more people into the world of mixology.

  • @cuross01
    @cuross01 Před 3 lety +25

    *stares at my cabinet full of different rums*
    ...yes...

  • @WhereIsHeist
    @WhereIsHeist Před 3 lety

    Man, love the honesty on the ice! No matter what you do, directional freezing is the way! Boiling, double boiling, etc doesn't matter!

  • @aleek4481
    @aleek4481 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for this episode. I've been hanging out for exactly this type of episode. As it happens, I just bought some bottles to make a hot toddy, egg nog and a long Island ice tea yesterday. I still found this episode informative and it gives me better direction for how to expand going forward. Thank you!

  • @BIargityBlarg
    @BIargityBlarg Před 3 lety +12

    The overwhelming impression I got while reading Liquid Intelligence was 'Dave Arnold is a madman, and I trust him with my life.'

  • @insanecomicdude
    @insanecomicdude Před 3 lety +5

    I would love to see some "experiment" videos, in the vein of GugaFoods / SousVideEverything. Make a classic cocktail several times over, varying only one thing. Maybe an old fashioned with several different base spirits, or different brands of whiskey, or shaken vs stirred, or gomme syrup vs simple vs simple+egg white. Then just try all the variations and compare and pick your favorite. For bonus points, bring the production crew in to sample them and give their ratings as well.
    Anyway, I love the channel. Carry on.

  • @7CHUGI
    @7CHUGI Před 3 lety

    the best video on home bar I have seen, much better for regular people like just naming bunch of bottles and including so much value and info about this space

    • @Barprints
      @Barprints Před 3 lety

      I always tell people that the bottles really depend on your personal palate. If you have one of each from the top 5 basic spirits, you're good to go. The rest comes down to you equipment and ingredients (fruit, mixers, etc)

  • @eros13691
    @eros13691 Před 3 lety

    Love your channel. Found it recently and have ended up binge watching dang near every one. Absinthe as a mixer I have a hard time with because I love the taste. As for mixed drinks love the various sours. Thanks to you I have been making them with egg whites for the first time, and it really improves an already wonderful drink. Thank you

  • @margaretfields7520
    @margaretfields7520 Před 3 lety +4

    Great video! In building my bar, I am always trying to understand better what substitutions work and don't work when making a drink. The spectrum of vermouth types, amari, sherry are fun to explore, but I'm always looking for guidance. Techniques and tricks would be fun too! Thanks.

  • @fidomaster447
    @fidomaster447 Před 3 lety +26

    This concept is basically how my home bar is entirely gin with an occasional bottle of scotch mixed in

    • @isaiahmyers1181
      @isaiahmyers1181 Před 3 lety

      Nonalcoholic ingredients. He mentions it a few minutes in.

    • @asdfgidji879
      @asdfgidji879 Před 3 lety +1

      tequila and rum for me lol

  • @sprok5623
    @sprok5623 Před 2 lety +1

    The first part of the video where you’re recommending how to start your home bar is literally exactly what I did when I started mixing. Went to the store, found a cool looking rum took it home and tasted it. Then found a liqueur that complimented it, finally I went to the grocery store to add my last ingredient and bam I invented a pretty gosh darn good drink and loved it, from there I just kept buying bottles of stuff to compliment what I already had and make new drinks until before I knew it, I had a full stocked bar with anything I’d need to make most drinks

  • @Rikus8051
    @Rikus8051 Před 3 lety

    Possibly the best video on this topic. Thanks Greg. Helped a lot!

  • @kaptainskarlett9927
    @kaptainskarlett9927 Před 3 lety +4

    Greg’s grenadine recipe is the best I’ve made so far.

  • @MissScarletTanager
    @MissScarletTanager Před 3 lety +16

    "That little fork on the end, dunno what you're supposed to do with that". That's because that's a cheese knife. Specifically I think it's called a soft cheese knife or a fork-tipped spear/pronged knife. The pronged tip is to help in serving harder cheeses.

  • @kurthuhn9461
    @kurthuhn9461 Před 2 lety

    Thanks this has been a question I've been waiting for. Also, thanks for making mixology fun and approachable. Keep up the great work.

  • @averyjohnson2554
    @averyjohnson2554 Před 3 lety

    I bought everything to make a long island over the course of a month. That set me up with a good base to start with. I just kept buying a bottle or 2 every month. Works because I'm a beer drinker at heart.

  • @TheRat85
    @TheRat85 Před 3 lety +45

    When I was a kid (I'm 34, so late 80's- early 90's) my parents used to go to Tom and Jerry parties. I'm curious if you've ever heard of this cocktail and if you have a recipe for a Tom and Jerry.

    • @gammafighter
      @gammafighter Před 3 lety +49

      "Tom and Jerry parties" sounds like a weird sex thing.

    • @pdehun6234
      @pdehun6234 Před 3 lety +4

      Bar talk and cocktails channel made cocktail called Tom and Jerry. Maybe that what you looking for, or it is another cocktail called Tom and Jerry :D

    • @TheThingNG
      @TheThingNG Před 3 lety +5

      Fun fact: it was Walt Disney's favorite drink.

    • @AdamS-nv5oo
      @AdamS-nv5oo Před 3 lety

      You must be from Midwest.

    • @Javaisd3ad
      @Javaisd3ad Před 3 lety

      @@AdamS-nv5oo Way to not make broad generalizations Sir.

  • @YYZed
    @YYZed Před 3 lety +6

    I've got a bottle of tequila, rum, bourbon and gin. Citrus and simple syrup make SO MANY COCKTAILS out of those.
    I built up what I have so far based on Greg's vids, FWIW.

    • @benburch
      @benburch Před 3 lety +1

      add some bitters and you pretty much have everything you'll ever need

    • @YYZed
      @YYZed Před 3 lety

      @@benburch shoot, I forgot I have peychauds and ango

  • @amytg777
    @amytg777 Před rokem

    i keep coming back to this one just because it's so fundamental. ty greg

  • @rodrigogutierrezreyes4702

    This is great. I've been gathering slowly hut surely many items to get my home bar going. Thank you very much!

  • @CAOMarcos
    @CAOMarcos Před 3 lety +4

    Hey Greg! Thank you for the awesome starting video! One scientifically pedantic, but important question, when you are prepping your 2:1 simple syrup is that 2 parts sugar plus 1 part water by mass or by volume? Thank you!

    • @suezotiger
      @suezotiger Před 2 lety

      Hi you posted this forever ago but I've only ever seen it made by volume

  • @conormurphy4328
    @conormurphy4328 Před 2 lety +4

    “Fresh eggs are the same thing, you’re gonna want to buy a chicken”

  • @shadowsiwren
    @shadowsiwren Před 3 lety

    Excellent and informative, please do more of these! Also perhaps make a video of some of your favorite cocktails, even if youve made them on the show before, because hearing you geek out about this craft gives me life and joy, and makes me want to start my own home bar when I get my own place.

  • @lion2243
    @lion2243 Před 3 lety +1

    This was a video i didnt know i was waiting for.
    So many great informations
    Thaks alot Greg!

  • @natrick
    @natrick Před 3 lety +21

    Fun drinking game: drink every time Greg looks down.

    • @JessicaTorres-tx7ik
      @JessicaTorres-tx7ik Před 3 lety +3

      I'm dying to know whats on the floor!

    • @Spaghetti297
      @Spaghetti297 Před 3 lety

      I watch videos on 1.5 speed when I'm trying to learn something from them. I would die if I did this 😂😂

  • @KittyKatKya
    @KittyKatKya Před 2 lety +4

    Don't really mess around with mixing much at all, so don't know how this might throw things off taste wise, but:
    For your simple syrup crystallization issue, have you considered adding a minute amount of corn syrup to the mix when initially dissolving the sugar granules? The different molecular structure should keep it from ever freezing up on you and prevent even the slightest bit of crystal formation.
    Again, as someone without much if any experience with various mixed drinks, and especially without much of any palette for the minor nuances there-in, I'm curious if that would do anything taste wise. Perhaps make it even slightly more sweet than your already admitted overly sweet solution.

  • @capitanchunk
    @capitanchunk Před 3 lety +1

    You're right about the egg white in sours! I hadn't revert tried that before your video but I can't do them anything other way now, I've started using screwball peanut butter whiskey sours this way and they're awesome!
    Also, I have a new fridge coming at the end of the month that has "Craft Ice" in the freezer, which are basically 2" clear ice spheres, I'm so excited!! Thanks for the video!

  • @helmighomestead2976
    @helmighomestead2976 Před 3 lety

    good way to approach! i agree, start with what you drink, expand on what you drink. then perhaps lend out a bit to what friends like and drink. it will take years and years, but eventually will grow into a great well rounded bar

  • @pmorales21
    @pmorales21 Před 3 lety +9

    When life gives you lemons, make limoncello. And by life I mean I bought way to many lemons.

  • @jackielinde7568
    @jackielinde7568 Před 2 lety +4

    When I did research into making flavor-infused alcohols (As a welcome home gift for my brother who was returning from a tour of duty in a dry country), I found rinsing the jars with hydrogen peroxide first, and then give it a rinse with boiling water should kill anything in the jar. You will want to use rubber gloves when handling the jars and the hydrogen peroxide, as it will also attack the cells in your skin. It's just that human skin cells are a lot tougher than the bacteria you're trying to kill. (If you see those alleged health experts touting the benefits of hydrogen peroxide as a skin care regiment, please don't do this. Those bleached patches of skin is where the hydrogen peroxide is slowly killing off the skin cells.)
    Likewise, if you're using wide mouth jars instead of bottles, it's a lot easier to fill a large pot of water, put the jars in (making sure to get out the trapped air) and let them boil for a little bit.

  • @cam4short
    @cam4short Před 11 měsíci

    I am the beginner of beginners and I reallyyyyy like this guy. 🙌🏼 thank you for your advice!!

  • @Warlock66889
    @Warlock66889 Před 2 lety

    Amazing relaxed presentation and great video quality. Your whole setup is so elegant This is some top notch content here! Cant wait for more. Ty for the amazing content.