Summer entertaining just got sophisticated.
Here’s all you need to know to set up your own home
bar for stylish soirees over the holiday period.
Once considered a bit passé, the home bar is making a big comeback. If you want to incorporate one into your home, choose a style that complements your current decor. Or get inspired by one of these three great looks.
V I N T A G E G L A M
A well-stocked home bar is a sign there’s a grown-up in the house − one who knows their Cognac from their Cointreau and can make a mean martini. If you’re going for the glam look, opt for reflective finishes and ornate accessories like mirrors, vases and decadent lighting. Crystal glasses and whisky decanters are essential and one key element, such as the bar cabinet, must be refined and elegant. You can take inspiration from different visual styles like Art Deco or Old Hollywood.
GLAM COCKTAILS
Vesper Martini (James Bond’s favourite)
INGREDIENTS
- 40ml Four Pillars Rare Gin
- 20ml Archie Rose Vodka
- 10ml Lillet Blanc
METHOD
- Shake and fine strain into a chilled coupette
- Garnish with a large orange peel
French 75
INGREDIENTS
- 20ml Tanqueray 10 gin
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- 10ml sugar syrup
METHOD
- Shake and strain into a flute
- Top with champagne
- Garnish with a large lemon peel
G E T T H E L O O K
NACHTMANN | Aspen Whisky 3-Piece Set
GEORG JENSEN | Manhattan Cocktail Shaker
MORAN | 'Celeste' Chair in Oslo Frost Fabric
C L A S S I C S I X T I E S
If your preference is for mid-century styling, channel Mad Men to create a cool, relaxed home bar. Understatement is essential and all details should be considered carefully. Timber tones, moody lighting and a subdued colour palette are important. Go for low-back mid-century sofas or chairs and feel free to add some cultural references too − perhaps a retro-style turntable or vintage phone. As architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, “Less is more.” When dressing the table or yourself, a tailored look is mandatory.
MAD MEN COCKTAIL | Old Fashioned
INGREDIENTS
- 2 x orange zest
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Dash soda water
- 50ml Buffalo Trace Bourbon whiskey
- Maraschino cherry
METHOD
- Squeeze 1 zest to produce oil and spray into
- a double old-fashioned glass. Discard zest
- Add sugar, bitters, soda water, 30ml bourbon and
- 4 ice cubes and stir for 30 seconds
- Add remaining bourbon and 4 more ice cubes and stir again
- Garnish with remaining orange zest and cherry
G E T T H E L O O K
WATERFORD CRYSTAL | Lismore Classic Heritage Tumblers
GEORG JENSEN | Urquiola Tray
TONY PARKER | 'Nowra' Fabric Footstool
Embrace the vibes of summer and create a tropical-inspired bar. But forgo the usual suspects and think more Bahamas than Bondi. Take your style cues from the likes of designer India Hicks who has perfected the mix of British Colonial elements and island luxe finishes. Consider materials such as cane, leather and pewter alongside freshly picked hibiscus, ornate coral and lots of ferns. Make it fun and have a deck of cards or a backgammon board within reach. As for everything else − from furnishings to fashion − aim to keep them neutral.
TROPICAL COCKTAILS
Tommy’s Margarita
INGREDIENTS
- 20ml lime juice
- 50ml Blanco tequila
- 10ml agave syrup
METHOD
- Shake and strain over ice into an
- old-fashioned glass with a 1/2 salt rim
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Mojito
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Havana Club 3 y.o.
- 20ml fresh lime juice
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 6 mint leaves
- Soda water to top
METHOD
- Put rum, lime juice, sugar syrup
- and mint leaves in a highball glass
- Add ice and stir vigorously
- Add more ice and top with soda water
- Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig dusted with icing sugar, or add fresh raspberries to take this classic to another level.
G E T T H E L O O K
VILLEROY & BOCH | Miss Desiree Tumbler
TED BAKER | Ted Baker Woodpeck Rug
Photography by Brett Stevens
Styling by Kirsten Bookallil
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