How to Craft Your Own Bar at Home

Happy hour feels almost like a necessity now, right?

Let’s be honest: Lately, it feels like you need a drink most days. Staying indoors to do our part to flatten the coronavirus curve also means we’re staying away from our usual pau hana spots to celebrate the end of the workday. Here’s how you can still share a drink with friends (virtually) in the comforts of your home with your very own bar set up — making the days cooped up inside a little better (and more refreshing).

Do the research.

Before your next grocery run, do some research on your favorite cocktails and find what you’d feel comfortable making. Consider sticking to a few core liquors and building from there. Love gin? Go for the classics like a gin and tonic or a gimlet — gin, lime juice and simple syrup — for added class. Or maybe a French 75 — gin, champagne or prosecco, simple syrup and lemon juice. Then, make a list of items you can find at your local grocery store and plan for substitutes just in case — for instance, making your own simple syrup instead of buying, or purchasing sparkling water instead of club soda.

Get the essentials …

Once you are prepped and ready to go — don’t forget your mask, hand sanitizer and other safety measures — head out to your grocery store to buy the essentials. Make sure you aren’t making an extra trip, but instead purchasing these items as you go out to buy other groceries.

… Including a stunning bar cart to house your items.

A bar cart is the perfect home for your supplies, and luckily, INspiration Interiors has you covered. Shop online for your selection, such as the Corridor Bar in white oak with double-louvered doors for easy access. (There’s also a wooden stemware rack to hold glasses.) When your order is ready, you will be contacted by the INspiration Interiors team to coordinate pick up or possible curbside delivery (options may change). Visit INspiration Interiors online and click on the green chat icon to talk with a sales associate online for more information.

Be creative.

If you don’t have a bar cart or the space for one, that’s OK. We recommend setting up an area in your kitchen as a bartending station. A cake stand or kitchen tray can provide a stylish foundation for your bottles. Set the scene by grabbing bowls for lemons and limes, and the necessary tools you need for cocktail creation — think glass cups, spoons and smaller bowls for garnishes. Have some fun and create a whole setup displaying your drinks of choice.

Happy hour time!

Now that you have your home bar ready to go, it’s time to host a virtual happy hour to connect with friends. Use FaceTime, Zoom (40 minutes free for group meetings of up to 100 people), Skype or whichever application you prefer. (Virtual) cheers — we’ll all get through this together.

Feel free to share your home bar with us online through our Instagram hashtag, #hawaiihomemag, so we can see what you’re up to!