Seven party essentials for your home bar
Rum and coke sour recipe
Bar essentials
Entertaining a group
You’ll have plenty of room for wine with this spacious aluminum bucket. It can comfortably hold multiple bottles of wine and bubbly, perfect for a large party. For non-alcoholic affairs it can double as an ice bucket or punch bowl.rnrnGrand Brassierie Cast Aluminum Champagne Bowl, $129, Restoration Hardware.
The perfect cocktail
Mix cocktails in style with this sleek cylindrical shaker. Its slim profile won’t take up much room on your bar cart, making for a perfectly practical addition to your setup.rnrnStainless steel cocktail shaker, $12, CB2.
A bartender's tool
Effortlessly open wine and beer bottles with this wood-veneered opener from La Creuset.rnrnLe Creuset Waiter’s Friend, $30, available at La Creuset retailers.
Recipes galore
Even a novice bartender can impress a party – all you need is a good drink recipe. This book from one of the world’s top-rated bars, the Please Don’t Tell Speakeasy in New York, has all the info you need.rnrnThe PDT Cocktail Book, $20, Indigo.ca. For more drink ideas, visit Chatelaine's cocktail recipe guide.
Don't forget the coasters
Invest in some quality napkins to elevate any get-together and use them as coasters to save table and countertop surfaces. These ones by Smith Handmade are made in Canada from pure linen and come in a variety of pretty pastels you can mix and match.rnrnNeon Border Cocktail Napkins, $28, Anthropologie.com.
Prettiest bottle stoppers
Add some glam to your bar cart with these handcrafted agate and glass bottle stoppers. They make a great hostess gift, too!rnrnGarra Bottle Stoppers, $34, Rablabs.com.
A neat display
Keep your liquor and glassware in line with a pretty tray. Use it to serve guests or place it on top of any surface, like an ottoman, mantel or side table for an instant cocktail station.rnrnSmall Rectangle Lacquer Tray, $28, Weestelm.com.
The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to Chatelaine!
Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.