“Can I get you a drink?”
As a guest, there’s hardly a sweeter thing to hear as you set foot in a loved one’s home. And as a host with festive occasions on the horizon, there’s no better way to brighten spirits, pun intended, and kick off a get-together in style.
The sips-on-wheels tradition actually began with Victorian tea trolleys – and no liquor to be found. But when Prohibition ended in the States, and again when World War II came to a close, morale picked up and libations flowed. Today, we see the in-home bar cart as part of a midcentury, Mad Men-esque trend.
“People are realizing that what they find in cool cocktail bars is much easier to recreate at home than it first seems,” says Steve Wildy, Beverage Director for Menus & Venues, our food-and-drink sister brand. “A bar cart is always part of your home décor – but it really comes to life when you entertain.”
Here, we’ve gathered some insider bar cart ideas that’ll set the party abuzz.
How To:
Stock & Style Your Bar Cart
How to Stock a Bar Cart
What You'll Need:
Basic liquors: whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, rum
Mixers: juices, sodas, bitters, simple syrup, garnishes
Tools: shaker, strainer, large mixing vessel, long spoon, ice bucket, tongs, jigger
Glassware: rocks or highball glasses, wine glasses, coupes, punch bowl
1. Cover all your beverage bases. When you’re playing host, Steve says, it’s important to have something for every guest. “You want to have one representative from every major type of liquor handy. That’s whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, and rum, at least.”
2. Layer in what you like, too. So if you’re a whiskey fan, for example, enrich the offerings with a rye, a bourbon, and a scotch. Or if tequila’s your thing, round things out with an añejo and a reposado.
3. Add the mixers and syrups. Steve likes to display them in small glass bottles for easy pouring (and a colorful touch). Choose just a few at a time, based on what you’d like to serve, to keep surfaces uncluttered.
4. Aim for cozy concoctions. For fall and winter holidays, it's best to comfort rather than invigorate. “The cozier the drink, the higher the booze quotient,” says Steve. This time of year, you're bound to crave cocktails that help you “settle into your couch, rather than give you a pep in your step.” Right now, he’s loving all things brandy: “It reminds me of being in New England, by the fire.” Try incorporating an apple brandy – Steve prefers a Calvados, which is made by distilling apple or pear cider in France. And consider cocktails made with warming spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove.
5. Don't forget the tools! When it comes to your tools, “a little goes a long way,” says Steve. “You only need a few, high-quality, simple tools.” You’ll want a shaker, a strainer (either attached to the shaker or separate), and a large mixing vessel with a long spoon. Add an ice bucket with tongs and a measuring jigger – that’s the hourglass-shaped doodad marked with liquid ounce measurements – and you're ready for all things shaken and stirred. (Pro tip: This set of five bar tools gives you a head start.) “The great part is that all this stuff looks awesome sitting on top of your cart,” says Steve.
6. Choose your serveware. “With glassware, you have a lot of leeway,” he adds. (Basically: Don’t feel like you need to have every. single. type.) We recommend a roster that includes rocks or highball glasses, wine glasses, and coupes, for drinks like martinis or daiquiris. Steve also recommends allotting space for a punch bowl and ladle to serve a ready-to-go, signature cocktail that your guests can sip throughout the night – no bartender required.
Basic liquors: whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, rum
Mixers: juices, sodas, bitters, simple syrup, garnishes
Tools: shaker, strainer, large mixing vessel, long spoon, ice bucket, tongs, jigger
Glassware: rocks or highball glasses, wine glasses, coupes, punch bowl
1. Cover all your beverage bases. When you’re playing host, Steve says, it’s important to have something for every guest. “You want to have one representative from every major type of liquor handy. That’s whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, and rum, at least.”
2. Layer in what you like, too. So if you’re a whiskey fan, for example, enrich the offerings with a rye, a bourbon, and a scotch. Or if tequila’s your thing, round things out with an añejo and a reposado.
3. Add the mixers and syrups. Steve likes to display them in small glass bottles for easy pouring (and a colorful touch). Choose just a few at a time, based on what you’d like to serve, to keep surfaces uncluttered.
4. Aim for cozy concoctions. For fall and winter holidays, it's best to comfort rather than invigorate. “The cozier the drink, the higher the booze quotient,” says Steve. This time of year, you're bound to crave cocktails that help you “settle into your couch, rather than give you a pep in your step.” Right now, he’s loving all things brandy: “It reminds me of being in New England, by the fire.” Try incorporating an apple brandy – Steve prefers a Calvados, which is made by distilling apple or pear cider in France. And consider cocktails made with warming spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove.
5. Don't forget the tools! When it comes to your tools, “a little goes a long way,” says Steve. “You only need a few, high-quality, simple tools.” You’ll want a shaker, a strainer (either attached to the shaker or separate), and a large mixing vessel with a long spoon. Add an ice bucket with tongs and a measuring jigger – that’s the hourglass-shaped doodad marked with liquid ounce measurements – and you're ready for all things shaken and stirred. (Pro tip: This set of five bar tools gives you a head start.) “The great part is that all this stuff looks awesome sitting on top of your cart,” says Steve.
6. Choose your serveware. “With glassware, you have a lot of leeway,” he adds. (Basically: Don’t feel like you need to have every. single. type.) We recommend a roster that includes rocks or highball glasses, wine glasses, and coupes, for drinks like martinis or daiquiris. Steve also recommends allotting space for a punch bowl and ladle to serve a ready-to-go, signature cocktail that your guests can sip throughout the night – no bartender required.
How to Style a Bar Cart
What You'll Need: cocktail napkins, coasters, fresh flowers, string lights, framed menu, cocktail books, wall art or mirror
1. Start with a statement base. Anthropologie's Senior Brand Stylist Tom Magill, who spent more than eight years as a stylist at our New York City stores, says bar carts are popular there because they pack a lot of punch for their size. “It can really liven up a room without overtaking it,” he says. “It’s low-profile, but an amazing way to add glamour to an evening.” A bar cart can be fashioned from brass, lucite, glass, or even marble.
2. Incorporate sparkling glassware. While a cart such as the Juneau Bar Cabinet is certainly luxurious on its own, its charm is only amplified by what's in it. Like Steve, Tom recommends glasses suited to a range of drinks. But beyond functionality, he says, glasses are also a great excuse to add style. “I love clear glasses, but in a variety of textures,” says Tom. “Cut crystal, etched glass…they’ll all catch the light a little differently.” (We especially love the way our iridescent lustered glasses reflect a hint of the rainbow.) Plus, says Tom, a clear vessel helps to showcase the colors of the drink itself.
3. Show off your prized possessions. When it comes to bar cart styling, if you’re lucky enough to have inherited a set of tinted brandy snifters or Murano wine goblets, by all means show them off. “In that case, I’d play up the color palette with cocktail napkins and coasters on top of the cart,” says Tom. Speaking of which: You’ll need both, regardless of your glassware.
4. Bring in a personal touch. “My favorite part about styling a home bar is adding something personal,” offers Tom. That could be coasters monogrammed with your family's initial, a vase of faux plants, or perhaps for the holidays, sprigs of holly, juniper, or pine. You could even weave holiday lights throughout the bar cart’s legs. Or, we love this idea: Print out a menu of the specialty drinks you’re serving, or a few ingredient lists, and frame them in beautiful picture frames.
5. Add some reading material. Tom also suggests stacking a few small cocktail books: “They add color and pattern to your bar cart, and provide inspiration when you're in the mood for something new.”
6. Consider location. During a party, you can park the cart in a corner and field friends’ orders yourself, if you'd like. But Tom also encourages wheeling it to the center of the action and inviting guests to try their hand at DIY-ing drinks. “It’s a fantastic mobile libation station,” he says. And that way, you’re free to mingle among your guests. When your bar cart’s not on duty, just nudge it into a corner that could use a little something. Since a bar cart’s height is usually three or four feet, the wall above it is “a prime location to showcase a favorite piece of wall art, or a mirror], that can help open up the space and keep things feeling light.” We’ll drink to that!
1. Start with a statement base. Anthropologie's Senior Brand Stylist Tom Magill, who spent more than eight years as a stylist at our New York City stores, says bar carts are popular there because they pack a lot of punch for their size. “It can really liven up a room without overtaking it,” he says. “It’s low-profile, but an amazing way to add glamour to an evening.” A bar cart can be fashioned from brass, lucite, glass, or even marble.
2. Incorporate sparkling glassware. While a cart such as the Juneau Bar Cabinet is certainly luxurious on its own, its charm is only amplified by what's in it. Like Steve, Tom recommends glasses suited to a range of drinks. But beyond functionality, he says, glasses are also a great excuse to add style. “I love clear glasses, but in a variety of textures,” says Tom. “Cut crystal, etched glass…they’ll all catch the light a little differently.” (We especially love the way our iridescent lustered glasses reflect a hint of the rainbow.) Plus, says Tom, a clear vessel helps to showcase the colors of the drink itself.
3. Show off your prized possessions. When it comes to bar cart styling, if you’re lucky enough to have inherited a set of tinted brandy snifters or Murano wine goblets, by all means show them off. “In that case, I’d play up the color palette with cocktail napkins and coasters on top of the cart,” says Tom. Speaking of which: You’ll need both, regardless of your glassware.
4. Bring in a personal touch. “My favorite part about styling a home bar is adding something personal,” offers Tom. That could be coasters monogrammed with your family's initial, a vase of faux plants, or perhaps for the holidays, sprigs of holly, juniper, or pine. You could even weave holiday lights throughout the bar cart’s legs. Or, we love this idea: Print out a menu of the specialty drinks you’re serving, or a few ingredient lists, and frame them in beautiful picture frames.
5. Add some reading material. Tom also suggests stacking a few small cocktail books: “They add color and pattern to your bar cart, and provide inspiration when you're in the mood for something new.”
6. Consider location. During a party, you can park the cart in a corner and field friends’ orders yourself, if you'd like. But Tom also encourages wheeling it to the center of the action and inviting guests to try their hand at DIY-ing drinks. “It’s a fantastic mobile libation station,” he says. And that way, you’re free to mingle among your guests. When your bar cart’s not on duty, just nudge it into a corner that could use a little something. Since a bar cart’s height is usually three or four feet, the wall above it is “a prime location to showcase a favorite piece of wall art, or a mirror], that can help open up the space and keep things feeling light.” We’ll drink to that!