How to set up a home bar for parties

Planning a cocktail party? Perfect hors d'oeuvres? Check. Perfect guest list? Check. Perfect decorations? Check.

But what about perfect beverages? What do you need? How much to you need? What will people want to drink?

While the Lounge Lizards can't predict the future, we can help you get your beverage situation under control by sharing some of our favorite tips and suggestions on how to stock your bar. And don't worry — a well-provisioned party with a basic bar doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg; a toe, maybe, but for what it can bring to your perfect evening, it's a sacrifice worth making.

Bar tools

Setting up your bar doesn't have to be complicated. If you're thinking about offering cocktails to your guests, you'll want to be sure to have the basic bar tools on hand.

A cocktail shaker, bar spoon, bottle opener, bar book with recipes, jigger (measuring device), ice bucket and, depending on the beverages you plan on serving, appropriate glassware. Skip the plastic; there's nothing worse than a great cocktail served in plastic except a bad cocktail served in plastic.

Tip: If you'd like to go one step further and pull out all the stops to impress your guests, don't forget to have a bar knife, zester or vegetable peeler on hand to add garnishes that are simple and sure to carry a wow factor.

The mixers

A good cocktail, like a house, is only as good is its foundation. So, if you plan to offer your guests a full bar, you will want to be sure to include the following: cranberry, grapefruit, tomato and orange juice, a variety of diet and regular soda, sweet and sour mix, grenadine, tonic water, ginger ale, lime juice, club soda, simple syrup, Red Bull and bitters.

Tip: If you don't know the drinking habits of your guests, you might consider purchasing the smallest containers of each of the mixers. Not only will your cocktails be fresher, if your guests drink differently than you planned, you will be able to save and use any unopened, unused mixers for another occasion.

Tip: Be sure to keep in mind that your cocktail will only be as good as its ingredients. The mixers are not the place you want to be skimping on in order to save money. Be sure to buy the name brand products. Sometimes off brands taste exactly the same and sometimes they don't even come close — tonic water is probably the best example of this. A holiday party isn't the place to experiment — our advice is to go with the sure thing.

The garnishes

Fresh lemons and limes are a must. You might also consider other fruits to use as garnishes, such as clementines, blood oranges, grapes, raspberries, grapefruit or almost anything else you think might go well, and, please, don't forget the maraschino cherries. Mint, thyme and basil also make great garnishes if you're looking for something a little green to add a little extra pizzazz.

Another idea for a garnish with a major wow factor that guests will not soon forget are edible wild Hibiscus flowers in a syrup that tastes like a blend of rhubarb and raspberries. Placed in glasses of champagne or sparkling wine with a little syrup they can dress up a cheaper bottle, both in flavor and in a classy appearance. It takes virtually no time to do (for video of this being done, see our blog item on hibiscus flowers). The visual effect of the flower dancing around the streaming bubbles is dramatic and impressive, and it really can make a lesser bottle of bubbly taste much better than it actually is. The jars, which come 11 to an $11 container or a "party pack" of 50 for $35 can be ordered on the company's Web site — www.wildhibiscus.com — which also boasts some truly terrific cocktail recipes for the holidays and beyond that give new meaning to the words flower power.

Tip: If you're looking to be creative without making a lot of extra work for yourself, frozen fruit can double as unusual, colorful ice cubes. You can go with anything from grapes to sliced star fruit to pomegranate — be creative. This is an easy way to impress your guests.

Tip: Our other suggestion would be to make your own ice. We love our icemakers, but a sprig of mint or basil placed in an ice tray filled with water and frozen will show your guests that you're creative and care enough to plan. You and your companions will enjoy added bursts of flavor from the mint or basil if you use hot water to fill your ice trays. The hot water helps to release the oils from the herbs and infuses the ice with added flavors.

The liquor

Shopping at your favorite party store is a lot easier than it might seem. You can find some lower-proof liquors (proof is bar talk for the percentage of alcohol) at stores that sell beer and wine, but the good stuff is at the state liquor stores. If you're just looking for the basics and don't care about the quality or taste of your cocktails, shop from the bottom shelf (we don't recommend this, but it is an option). If you kind of like your guests, shop from the middle shelf. If you really like your guests, and your budget allows it, shop from the top shelf — the party is sure to be merrier and you'll earn high marks from any lounge lizards in attendance.