5 Great Ways to Update Your Bar

By Linda Hirst and Bradley Nesbitt
October 05, 2011
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Every hour is happy hour at the beach. Here's how to get a stylish setup so you can mix, shake, and serve at home.
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Raising the Bar

Photo: Rick Lew
In just five easy steps, you can take your at-home bar from glum to glam.
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1. Help yourself.

Photo: Rick Lew
Drink dispensers are perfect for a crowd. All you need to do is fill them up and let thirsty guests do the rest. Now you can enjoy your party without running around on refill patrol. Craft a signature house cocktail for extra entertaining points, or try a nonalcoholic version for kid-friendly get-togethers. Who knew hosting could be such a breeze?

Buy them: Glass Drink Dispenser, $79 (large), and Rhodes Drink Dispenser Stand, $19; potterybarn.com

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2. Shake things up.

Photo: Ted Tucker
Don’t worry if the most complex drink in your repertoire is a vodka tonic. Become a master mixologist with a curated cocktail book. Make sure you have plenty of mixers and a variety of liquor on hand so you can try them all—from an elegant Moscow mule to the classic frosty margarita. The options are endless!

Buy it: The American Cocktail: 50 Recipes that Celebrate the Craft of Mixing Drinks from Coast to Coast, $19.95; chroniclebooks.com

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3. Rack 'em up.

Photo: Ted Tucker
Free up counter space and safely stow glass bottles with a beverage stand.

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4. Send the right message.

Photo courtesy of manufacturer
Embellish classic, hem-stitched cocktail napkins with a bright thought—such as “cheers” in different languages: cin cin, salud, prost. Another idea: Bring a stack embroidered with a friend’s initials as a hostess gift.

Buy it: Monogrammed Linen Cocktail Napkins, $29 for a set of 12; grandinroad.com.

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5. Sip in style.

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Keep cherries and other garnishes secure at the bottom of your glass (not rolling up to hit you in the nose) with chic picks. They’ll help you perfect that cool, absent-minded cocktail stir, and you’ll never have to go fishing for the olive in your martini again.

Buy it: Snail Set of Eight Picks, $193, Ecruis; devinecorp.net for retailers.

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