What Are the Basics of a Good Home Bar?
by Ryan Vlastelica
At our home bar we have nothing but assorted large fruits that have been pumped full of alcohol and left in the freezer. After we finish writing this introduction, we're going to crack open a gin-sodden honeydew and have a tipple.
ERIN
Where she presides: Velvet,South Williamsburg
Favorite drink: Sake-to-me
Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon and some scotch. Liquors are
all about the flavor. Get some St. Germain for the girls. Or for
mixing. Also, you need beer. Wheat beer for the summer, couple lagers,
you'll be set. And champagne and orange juice for mimosas when your Mom
comes over.
MICHELLE
Where she presides: Blue Ruin, Hell's Kitchen
Favorite drink: Red wine
Jameson. If there's no Jameson, you don't have a bar. Just shut the
doors. If I were to run out, I'd go and get some right then because it
ain't a bar without Jamo. You also need the Rolling Stones on the
jukebox, because if you don't have the Stones, forget it. For other
drinks, you need Jägermeister — that stuff turns people into
animals — and then SoCo, because there's nothing else like it.
I'm not going for variety here, this is just what people drink. I also
guess red wine, because that's what I drink, and white wine, too, but I
don't give a shit about that. As for mixers, the usual, but if you
order a pomegranate martini I'll laugh in your face. Just have a beer
and a shot and shut up. [Michelle then gave free shots of
Jameson to me and my friend, which is pretty much the most generous
thing a bartender can do. Go give her all your money.]
RYAN
Where he presides: The Thirsty Scholar, East Village
Favorite drink: Bud Light
Have cheap vodka for people you don't like, Kettle One or Grey Goose
for people you do like. Jameson, Jack, Bombay Sapphire, and always a
citrus vodka as well. Then the mixers: Club soda, coke, ginger ale,
orange, cranberry and grapefruit. That's everyone's standard bar. Plus,
have a bottle of Chardonnay and a bottle of cheap Shiraz around. That's
all you need. Well, unless you get some weirdo coming over who likes
Sambuca.
MATTHEW
Where he presides: Dojo, West Village
Favorite drink: Orange vodka and tonic
Well, if it were for a party, I'd have beer on hand... Blue Moon and
Corona. Also, some tequila. The main reason is just that's stuff I know
my friends like. Otherwise, though, the things I always have are
champagne and white wine. A type called Piper-Hegesick. I don't have it
every night, but I have it often. No, it's not for celebrations, just
for me. What can I say? I like a good glass of champagne.
