Stocking a Home Bar on a Budget

Having drink supplies on hand doesn’t have to break the bank — you can easily stock your bar for $100 or less! Learn what you need to buy to keep your bar stocked with goodies to make tons of drinks.

Setting up a home bar and stocking it for success doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. I’m here to tell you how to stock your bar for $100 or less and you can be prepared for anything from brunch to a nightcap.

Your home bar setup

What do I mean when I say “bar?” I do NOT mean that you need to have a restaurant-level wet bar in your basement, complete with a mini-fridge, ice maker and shelves of booze. (If you do, great — I’m jealous! Even I, a cocktail blogger, do not have such a set-up. Shocking, I know. But we don’t even have a basement!)

Your home “bar” may just be a corner of your kitchen counter, or perhaps your booze is stashed in a cabinet. It really doesn’t matter! Your home bar is whatever area YOU designate it to be. The end.

Mine is a bar cart ^* with more booze in the sideboard next to it. I store most of our booze in the sideboard (you’d expect a cocktail blogger to have a larger-than-normal collection, right?) but I keep a few fancier-looking bottles out on our bar cart and switch them out for different seasons and occasions. I usually have bourbon (our fave) in a whiskey decanter ^* on top for easy access.

Regardless, you can get by with a lot less than I do. In fact, when my husband and I have people over, we usually only stick to the basics I am presenting below.

Factors to consider when stocking your bar

If you are planning a party, there are a few things to consider. And for the purposes of this exercise, I’m going to make some assumptions. Take all of this with a grain of salt and customize things to how YOU like them and how YOUR party will be. No party is alike.

• number of guests: I’m supposing you are either planning a small party or having a few friends over a couple of times a month, like a game night or brunch. You probably cannot have 50 people over and only spend $100 on spirits. (Anyone willing to try?) For this exercise, I am showing you how to stock your bar for a smaller party of 10-15 guests. For more, you’ll need a bigger budget.
• budget: If your budget is under $100, then you may want to plan a smaller party, ask guests to BYOB or go for something more budget-friendly like a mimosa bar where guests build their own drinks.
• length of the party: The longer guests stay, the more they will drink! I’m basing this on a 3 hour party, where most people will have 1-2 drinks per hour.
• your guests: If your guests are big drinkers, you might need more than this. If there are more teetotalers in your group, then you might not use it all. You know your people better than I do, so adjust as needed.

Tools you’ll need

One more assumption: The list below is all about the spirits and ingredients to buy for $100. I’m going to assume that you already have the basic bar tools, so those would be extra on top of the $100 price tag.

If you don’t, I recommend you pick up a basic bartending set ^* that’s already put together. The main tools you will need are these:

• jigger
• cocktail shaker ^* and/or mixing glass
• hawthorne strainer
• muddler
• bar spoon

essential bar tools

jigger

Buy Now →

boston shaker

Buy Now →

hawthorne strainer

Buy Now →

^*

If new tools aren’t in your budget, don’t fret. Here I break down all the ways you can hack a cocktail with whatever tools you have on hand. You can make ice in a muffin tin or shake a cocktail in a mason jar. There are no rules! And no one will care because, after all, you’re making THEM drinks.

Glassware

Oh, I also didn’t include any glassware in this list. I’m guessing you’ll be purchasing some clear plastic cups or maybe you have a set of stemless wine glasses (my favorite for making cocktails on the fly). Even mason jars make great cocktail glasses!

If you don’t already have them, you could also stock up on the basic glassware like martini glasses ^*, rocks glasses ^*, Collins glasses ^*/highball glasses ^* and more, but that’s outside of this budget!

Budget alcohol for a party

The prices below are based on what I can find here in North Carolina, where we have state-run liquor stores. The prices of spirits in your state or country will very likely vary, but I’m assuming that what you’ll pay will probably be somewhat close to what I have here.

I’m also not accounting for shipping or taxes. Those are going to vary for everyone, too. So, let’s get into it, shall we?!

How much alcohol you need

For a cocktail party with 10-15 guests, you will need 4 to 5 fifths of booze. (A fifth is 750 mL). You will want a mix of spirits, beer and wine. People like options.

We’re going to get a few bottles of spirits:

1 vodka or gin + 1 whiskey + 1 “variable” spirit + 1 vermouth

Your “variable” spirit is going to be your wild card. You might choose rum in the summer for classic mojitos and daiquiris, but in the winter you might opt for a sweet liqueur such as Kahlua to make White Russians and Tootsie Rolls.

These four bottles should get you through almost any request. No one expects you to have a full bar, so this is a good starter set. But I do also recommend a non-alcoholic option, too (more on that below!).

The spirits

1. Vodka or Gin, 750mL ($12-20)

Vodka is a good base for many drinks because it lacks flavor. Some people call gin “flavored vodka” because of the botanical, herbal notes. Whichever you prefer, it’s a good idea to have a light spirit on hand. It’s a great way to spike punch, but it’s a classic in a gin & tonic or vodka cranberry.

• Budget vodka: SKYY ($12.95) or Finlandia ($15.95)
• Splurge vodka: Tito’s ($25)
• Budget gin: Seagram’s ($12.95) or Beefeater ($19.95)
• Splurge Gin: Bombay ($19.95)

These two spirits are so versatile and interchangeable! With a London dry gin, you can make an elderflower rose gimlet or a fruity gin bramble. With vodka, you can make cosmopolitans or spiked lemonade. With either vodka or gin, you can make a ton of familiar drinks:

• Tom Collins or vodka Collins
• gin martini or vodka martinis
• gin gimlets or vodka gimlets
• French 75s or champagne cocktails
• Moscow mules with vodka or a gin-gin mule with gin (or a yule mule at the holidays)

2. Whiskey, 200 mL* ($4-12)

Whiskey can mean a few things — bourbon, rye, Irish, Canadian, scotch. They are all made a little differently, and you don’t necessarily want to switch them for each other because doing so may alter your cocktail recipe in a not-so-nice way. This is probably not the time to splurge on single-barrel, either.

*Everything else so far has been for a fifth (750 mL), but I’m suggesting you get 200 mL here unless you know your guests really like whiskey. (Mine do!)

Budget whiskey: Maker’s Mark ($9.95), Woodford Reserve ($11.95), Jack Daniels ($8.95) or Evan Williams ($3.95)

Splurge whiskey: Old Forester ($24.95 for 750 mL) or Bulleit ($16.95 for 350 mL)

3. Wild cards ($12-$30)

This is where you can have some fun. Maybe you’ll dream up a signature cocktail to serve with it. Let this pick be your wild card.

• White rum, 750 mL ($14-$22): Bacardi ($12.95), Captain Morgan ($15.95), Sailor Jerry’s ($21.95)
• Blanco tequila, 750 mL ($18-$22): José Cuervo ($20.95), El Jimador ($21.95), Lunazul ($21.95)
• Liqueurs for other cocktails ($20-$30): Coffee liqueur ($24.95), Irish cream ($29.95), orange liqueur/triple sec ($10-15)
• Aperitifs ($15-20): You will need Campari for Negronis or Aperol if you’re planning to mix up any Aperol spritzes or any other bitter cocktails. Amaro is also nice
• Champagne ($8-20): Another great option for making fun cocktails or sipping on its own.
• Brandy or cognac ($10-20): Underrated and sweet, for Brandy Alexanders and brandy old-fashioneds, or sipping neat.

If you want to take these up a notch, go top shelf with a reposado tequila or Cointreau, but that will up the budget, so do what makes sense for you.

4. Vermouth ($10-$15)

You will want to pick up some vermouth as well. It comes in dry and sweet varieties, but you probably don’t need both, though sweet vermouth is more versatile for Manhattans and Negronis. But you will want dry vermouth especially if you are expecting to make martinis. Buy a smaller-sized bottle. Keep it in the fridge after opening to ensure freshness.

Other items for a well-stocked bar

If you bought the most expensive thing from every category on my list, you’re probably getting close to $100. But hopefully you didn’t, because you still need room in your budget for a few other items that your home bar should have on hand!

If you chose the low end, we’re closer to $40 so there should be plenty of budget left!

Beer, wine and champagne

12-pack of beer ($12-$20)

Not PBR, Not Bud Light, but not the fanciest craft beer you can find, either. We’re on a budget, remember?

My reasoning is that not all 10-15 of your guests will have a beer. Some might have more than one, some might have just one, but most will probably settle for a cocktail. You know your guests best, so buy more if you think they’ll imbibe.

1-2 bottles of wine ($6-$8/bottle)

Same deal with wine. If you’re serving cocktails and beer, you will probably be okay with one bottle of each. A bottle of wine can serve five 5-oz. servings — this isn’t the time for heavy-handed pours. Buy more if you think your guests will drink it. Check out these guides to rosé wine, red wine and white wine if you’re not sure which to buy. Make sure to put the white in the fridge before serving.

(If you don’t use it, drink it later. Also, wine makes a great hostess gift for the next party you attend).

Sparkling wine ($10-$15) — optional

This one is totally optional, and you’ll probably want two bottles. I would only add this to the mix if you’re celebrating something, like an engagement or a promotion. Maybe a holiday! Bonus, you can use it in cocktails. It’s a great option for a variable spirit as well.

Freixenet ($13.99) is my favorite brand of budget bubbly. Check out this sparkling wine guide for more ideas and tips on understanding labels. (Don’t forget to chill it ahead of time.)

Mixers & more

You also might already have some of these on hand. They’re good to have around. Pick and choose depending on your party and drinks you think you might serve.

You should also stock up on ice cubes. You’ll want about a pound per person!

Bubbly mixers

Pick up a 6-pack of these sodas ($4-5 each). They won’t keep after you open them, so go for a few small bottles or cans rather than the big 3-liter ones. That way you have some leftovers for your next party!

• club soda
• ginger ale and/or ginger beer (I taste tested the top brands of ginger beer for you)
• cola and diet cola
• tonic water ^*

Standard mixers

And if you don’t have these in your fridge or pantry already, you’ll want to stock up on them. Of course, adjust for what you are planning to have.

• water (a pitcher of filtered and/or bottles of water is better than tap, if possible)
• milk, half-and-half or heavy cream
• fresh limes/lemons and/or juice
• orange juice
• cranberry juice
• sour mix or margarita mix
• lime juice
• Bloody Mary mix
• grenadine
• triple sec
• whipped cream

Non-alcoholic options

I also recommend serving an alcohol-free mocktail in addition to water, or you can provide zero-proof alcohol alternatives for the non-drinkers.

Check out my go-to quick mocktail recipes for easy mixing with the mixers above, or you can try one of these cocktail classics turned non-alcoholic mocktails.

Garnishes & more

Last but not least, there should be room in the budget for a few other things if you don’t have them already. Let’s try to keep within our budget and stock the bar for $100 or less!

Most of these will keep refrigerated or in the pantry, so you should be fine for the next party!

• Olives ($5-10): Olives are a must for any martini or Bloody Mary. Make sure you get pitted olives or ones that are studded with something delicious inside, like blue cheese olives.
• Cocktail Cherries ($10-15): Cocktail cherries are a must in the old-fashioned and the manhattan.
• Salt ($3-$11): Hopefully you have this already? A coarse salt is ideal for margarita rims. This easy lime salt gives you the best texture and a little flavor on the rim of your drink.
• Sugar ($3-5): Again, you probably have this already. Great for rims or making simple syrups. Sugar cubes are commonly used in old-fashioned cocktails and champagne cocktails. You can also make your own in fun shapes and colors if you like!
• Aromatic Bitters ($8-20): Bitters are key for so many cocktails. This alcoholic additive is made from complex flavor infusions, and they can really take your cocktails up a few notches. Angostura is a popular one.
• Nutmeg or cocoa powder ($0-5): You might have these, too! They are great for garnishing dessert drinks like Irish coffee or hot chocolate.
  

Let’s party!

And there you have it! Hopefully you are able to keep your shindig’s booze costs under a Benjamin (or very well close to it).

Once you learn how to stock your bar on a budget, you’ll be a pro for the next time. Just take a look at your inventory and see what you need to buy to fill in the gaps. Every party is a lesson in entertaining, and you will learn more about your friends’ and family members’ tastes in drinks, too.

Please don’t forget to have fun — and let someone else do the dishes!