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.
