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Gifts For Cocktail Lovers
Cocktails

8 Smooth Spirits For the Bartending Dad

If your dad tends to his home bar as if it were his livelihood, then it's hard to go wrong gifting a nice bottle of booze.
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If your dad tends to his home bar as if it were his livelihood, then it's hard to go wrong gifting a nice bottle of booze. It's thoughtful, not too expensive or too cheap, and — unlike a new gadget or a DVD — it's not a problem if he already has one.

Maybe I'm biased: since my dad and I share a love for cocktails, I find myself often shopping for top-shelf spirits that aren't superpricey but also aren't run of the mill. Based on years of research, here are my recommendations for all types of drinking dads. Of course, I'm always looking for new booze to try, so add your own gift ideas in the comments.

For the Old-Fashioned Fan For the Martini Drinker For the Cocktail Adventurer For the Slow Sipper For the Enthusiastic Eater For the Serious Shaker For the Man of Leisure
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How to Stock a Home Bar | Video
Food Video

How-To: Stock Your Home Bar

Want to build your home bar, but don't know where to begin?
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Want to build your home bar, but don't know where to begin? We'll show you how to start from scratch with the cocktail essentials. First, we tackle the must-have liquors and what to make with them, and the mixers that are (and aren't!) staples for tipples both classic and contemporary. Of course, don't forget the garnishes, glassware, and gear — including our go-to cocktail book. Watch our video to become a master behind the bar in no time.

George Clooney's Favorite Drink
POPSUGAR Entertainment

Watch George Clooney Show Off His Home Bar and Kitchen

Last night, George Clooney welcomed CBS News Person to Person into his home, and offered a glimpse at his kitchen and home bar.
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Last night, George Clooney welcomed CBS News Person to Person into his home, and offered a glimpse at his kitchen and home bar. The Descendants star — ever the gracious entertainer, no doubt — revealed the surprising contents of his fridge (even he's riding the juice train) and showed off his gleaming, wood-paneled home bar.

Watch the video to find out George Clooney's drink of choice, and to see what provisions lie behind the bar. Knob Creek bourbon and Moskovskaya vodka? What do you know: he drinks what we drink!

Turn an Ugly Radiator Into a Bar
radiator

DIY a Radiant Cocktail Station

If you read my five ideas for creating a bar at home and you're still stumped as to where to set up a cocktail station in your own digs, look no further than your radiator!
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If you read my five ideas for creating a bar at home and you're still stumped as to where to set up a cocktail station in your own digs, look no further than your radiator! Gap's director of concept, Jane Herman, got creative in her home, which was featured on Refinery29, and turned an unsightly radiator into a pretty tabletop and minibar by setting a basic — or homemade — console table over it. (She can't take all the credit though; Jane says she learned this trick in Domino magazine.)

Whether you have an old iron radiator like this one or an electric one, the trick works the same — assuming it's about hip height. I'd just be careful to make sure your tabletop is thick enough; you wouldn't want your precious liquor bottles overheating. Then accessorize as you see fit, with a tray, a lamp, a family photograph, etc!

Have any of you ever created a bar at home?

 

Tools For the Home Bar
Shopping

8 Essential Tools Every Home Bar Needs

While guest-bartending last week, I not only learned how hard it is to mix drinks, I also realized the importance of proper mixology tools.
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While guest-bartending last week, I not only learned how hard it is to mix drinks, I also realized the importance of proper mixology tools. The first thing you need to invest in is a cocktail shaker. Not a three-piece shaker, but a Boston shaker. It consists of a clear pint glass with a larger mixing tin. The second most crucial utensil is a measuring cup like this one from Oxo. It should have easy-to-read measurements in ounces and tablespoons. A cocktail strainer, citrus juicer, and swivel-edged peeler are items you'll use over and over again. Although there's plenty of fancy bottle openers out there, I prefer the humble waiter's corkscrew — it simply opens wine and beer bottles. Don't overlook good bar towels (I love this set from Crate & Barrel); they'll come in handy for wiping up spills and cleaning glasses. The last thing your home bar needs is a quality pairing knife for slicing fruit and garnishes. These knifes are fun because they come in a variety of colors.

American or OXO Cocktail Strainer Amco 2-in-1 Lemon & Lime Squeezer Silvermark Mini Santoku Knife OXO® Angle Mini Measuring Cup
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Why You Should Eat PBJs, How to Create the Perfect Home Bar, and More Food Links
Link Time

Yummy Links: From PBJ to the Perfect Home Bar

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