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Drinks

How To Stock A Bar For Under $200

Just seven bottles of booze will have you ready for any request.
Assortment of cocktails on a grey marble counter Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Ready to mix, shake and stir your way through the holidays with ease? All you need are seven bottles of booze to get you there.

To start, take stock of the liquor cabinet, and think about what you need. To mix up classic cocktails — like gin martinis or Manhattans — $200 and a few pieces of glassware will easily set up the bar cart for the holiday season. (Just add add oranges, lemons, limes, bitters, cocktail cherries, soda and tonic water when you're ready to start the party.)

How to stock a bar for under $200

Campari, $29 for 750 mL.

How to stock your bar: Campari

Rye, Alberta Premium, $27 for 750mL.

How to stock your bar: Alberta Premium Rye Whiskey

Rum, Bacardi Gold, $27 for 750 mL.

How to stock your bar: Bacardi Gold Rum

Vodka, Stolichnaya, $28 for 750 mL.

How to stock your bar: Stolichnaya Vodka

Dry Vermouth, Martini, $9 for 500 mL.

How to stock your bar: Martini Dry Vermouth

Red Vermouth, Martini, $9 for 500 mL.

How to stock your bar: Martini Rosso

Gin, Beefeater, $40 for 1.14 L.

How to stock your bar: Beefeater London Dry Gin

Technique: How to make a citrus twist

Use a channel knife, paring knife or vegetable peeler to remove a thin strip of zest from a well-washed lemon, orange or lime. Twist the zest over the cocktail glass to release its fragrant oils into the drink. (Tip: To make a long ribbon-twist, wrap your strip of zest around a chop stick / swizzle stick and hold for 30 seconds.)

Oxo Good Grips Channel Knife, $10, Amazon. Oxo Good Grips Channel Knife, $10, Amazon.

Cocktail Glasses: What to have on hand

Lowball glass Also called a rocks glass, it's ideal for drinks served over ice.

Martini glass The choice for stirred or shaken cocktails served without ice.

Tall glass Also called a Collins glass, it's perfect for drinks that are topped with soda or tonic.

Watch: Three easy ways to garnish your cocktails

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