shop and save

• Buy in advance
• Buy in bulk
• Don't buy liquor in bog bottles
• Ask about the return policy
• Have it delivered
• Chill with care

cocktails

• Martini
• Cosmopolitan
• Champagne cocktail
• Margarita
• Bloody Mary

beer

• pilsner
• pale lager
• dark lager
• pale ale
• brown ale
• porter
• stout

white wine

• chardonnay

Au Bon Climat

Brocad

Verget

• gewurztraminer

Hugel

Trimbach

• pinot grigio

Aloise Lageder

Livio Felluga

Venica

• riesling

Gunderloch

Hugel

J.J. Prum

• sauvigon blanc

Babcock

H. Bourgois

L.Crochet

red wine

• merlot

Falesco Vitiano

Havens

• nebbiolo

Icardi Nebbiolo

• pinot noir

Castle Rock

Chalone

Louis Jadot

• tempranillo

Emilio Moro

Muga

• zinfandel

Ravenswood

the bar

Certain essentials: flat and sparkling water, regular and diet sodas, lemons and limes belong in every home bar.  The most basic options are wine and beer, which makes sense at casual gatherings. For more variety, set up a modified bar, which includes wine, beer and a handful of standard liquors and mixers. Lastly, if you're hosting a true cocktail party or formal affair, set up a full bar, which is stocked to make just about every mixed under the sun.

There's some room for variation: You can add champagne or sparkling wine to any kind of bar. To instantly upgrade a wine and beer bar, try passing out a signature drink.

Quantities: These figures are easy to work with: A 750 ml bottle of wine pours 4-6 glasses and a 750 ml bottle of spirits makes about 16 drinks. But for a more accurate breakdown, talk to a salesperson at a good liquor store.

There's a specific kind of glass for each cocktail so you can get the whole gamut if you'd like. Another solution is to take the opportunity to stock up on a few general styles that are appropriate for a variety of drinks.

what to stock

For a cocktail party of 50, for example, assuming guests enjoy a variety of drinks follow a shop list that looks like this:

• 2 Liters of vodka
• 1 small bottle of dry vermouth for martinis
• 1 liter of rum, scotch, bourbon, tequila, triple sec and gin.
• 1 bottle of Rose's lime  juice
• 1 bottle of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bottle of Tabasco sauce
• 2 gallons each of orange and cranberry juice
• 1 gallon each of grapefruit and tomato juice
• 6 liters each of tonic water, seltzer, cola, diet cola, and club soda
• 10 bottles each of red and white wine
• 2 cases of beer

Garnishes: For a basic bar, stock up on a dozen of each lemons and limes. A full bar might also include a couple of jars of green olives, cocktail onions, maraschino cherries, orange slices and lemon twists. If your serving margaritas grab salt and for Bloody Mary's snag celery stalks.

Ice: Make you have two pounds of ice cubes per guest. When serving beer grab lots of crushed ice to beer and white wine cool. Try having commercial ice cubes, which stay separated and can be delivered the day of your event.

Proper accessories complete a well-stocked bar. These tools of the trade will have you mixing in style.

Corkscrew: The most essential bar gadget known as a "waiter's tool," which folds up like a pocketknife and combines a blade to cut foil from wine bottles, a corkscrew and bottle opener.

Ice scoop: A Metal ice scoopers work well in comparison to tongs or shallow spoons.

Shaker: For a big event, keep two on hand for cold, well-mixed cocktails.

Long-handle spoon: To stir mixed drinks and mash ingredients like mint leaves and lime wedges grab a long-handle spoon.

Small chopping board and knife: Cut and peel lemons and limes.

Shot glass or jigger: Use for crucial pouring and accurate quantities.

Napkins: Provide three cocktail napkins per guests, however nine or 10 if you're serving hors d'oevres.

Pitchers: Use simple pitchers to hold mixers such as soda and juices.

Glassware: Assume three glasses per guest for a two-hour party. If dinner plan on two more glasses of wine set on the table.