We love a good cocktail, but most of us are clueless when it comes getting ready to make one. The typical goop staffer “bar cart” consists of a random assortment of bottles: three tequilas, one vodka stashed in the freezer, and five different bitters we bought in a fit of excitement, used once, then left to languish in a corner and collect dust.
So we asked Lauren Johnson, Marissa Mandel and Ryan Frick, the owners of Bar & Garden (one of our favorite wine and spirits shops in Los Angeles), to Kon-Mari the at-home bar cart for us: Here, they’ve put together a spirit shopping list, no matter your level cocktail nerdom. And because a good cocktail is made so, so much better with the right tools, we’ve added our favorite glassware, shakers, strainers and jiggers to the goop Home Shop.
THE BAR CART BUILDING BLOCKS
Serax Copper Chemistry Carafe, goop, $45; Nude Glass Mirage Whiskey Glass set of four, goop, $49; Nude Glass Mirage Highball Set of 4, goop, $49; Nude Glass Dimple Martini Set of Two, goop, $65; Be Home Gold Bar Set of 3 with Wood Handles, goop, $65; Mud Australia Porcelain Pebble Bowl, goop, $38; Mud Australia Porcelain Dipping Bowl, goop, $38; TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA, Tito’s; Chris Earl Custom Bar Cart, goop, $1,800
For Starters…
The Booze Basics:
- Vodka (The goop team likes Tito’s)
- Gin
- Bourbon
- Blended Scotch
- Rum
- Tequila
- Sweet Vermouth
- Dry Vermouth
- Aromatic Bitters
As Your Mixology Skills Improve, Add:
- Single Malt Scotch
- Mezcal
- Grenadine
- A Bitter Liqueur (St. George Bruto Americano)
- An Orange Liqueur or Triple Sec (Ferrand Dry Curacao)
- A Basic Cocktail Syrup (Cocktail & Sons Spiced Demerara)
To Achieve Dad’s Liquor-Cabinet Status, Invest In:
- 2nd Single Malt Scotch
- Orgeat (A necessity for Tiki drinks)
- Chartreuse
- Chareau Aloe Liqueur
- Bloody Mary Mix (Middlebar does a great one)
- A Variety of Shrubs (Nostrum sells a seasonal 5-pack)
The Glassware…
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![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Richard Brendon
Diamond Double
Old Fashioned goop, $115 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Nude Glass
Mirage Highball
Set of FOUR goop, $49 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Richard Brendon
DIAMOND SHOT GLASSES
SET OF 2 goop, $140 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Nude Glass
Dimple Martini
Set of Two goop, $65 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Richard Brendon
FLUTED SMALL COUPE goop, $128 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Nude Glass
MIRAGE WHISKEY
GLASS SET OF 4 goop, $49 -
![How to Assemble the Perfect Bar Cart]()
Richard Brendon
FLUTED HIGHBALL goop, $114
