Bar Ideas For Your Home Bar

Naming Your Bar

Sep12
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

What’s in a name? To put it more specifically, what’s in a bar’s name?

Whether opening a bar or re-opening it, it is given that a name plays a significant role. It can make, re-make or unmake a business. This is why choosing the ‘right’ name for your bar is extremely important.

A person-inspired name is common among bars. This is probably the first name that came to you when you started thinking about owning a bar. While many people name the bar after themselves, you could honor a relative instead. Think about using your grandfather or  father’s name as a tribute.  This would give you an opportunity to tell old family stories whenever someone asks about the name of the bar.

Examples are:

  • David’s Place
  • Matthew & Sons
  • Uncle Sam
  • Mr. Shaw
  • St. Paul

 

Of course, another major option is to name the bar after it’s theme. If you have a sports bar, the name should be something that’s related with sports. This could also pull a sports-minded crowd and make them feel like they belong or they belong to the bar. Bar with sporty names such as listed works:

  • The Field
  • Chessboard
  • Cricket
  • The Fishing Net
  • The Pool
  • The Grid Iron
  • Tail Gators

Be careful when choosing a theme related name.  You may have to rename your bar every time you want to change the theme.

For those who really like to mix drinks, bar names could also be names from drinks available on the bar like:

  • Fairy From Hell
  • Stormy Weather
  • Canadian Bloody Mary
  • Blue Whale
  • The Green Fairy
  • Irish Car Bomb

There are many other directions one can take when naming a bar.  The important thing is to choose something that reflects who you are.  This is where you are probably going to spend most of your time.  You should feel at home.

When you have chosen a name though, make it sure to check first whether or not it is available for use. Your local trade institutions can be consulted or better yet, Google it.

So, what’s in a bar’s name? A bar name tells a lot about your bar.
But it says even more about you.

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Don’t Try This At Home (or Anywhere!)

Aug08
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

Three Very Bad Bar Ideas

There are tons of ways were people can have fun at bars or by just drinking. While just hanging out with friends enjoying an adult beverage is a mature and responsible way to enjoy alcohol, there are other ideas that can enhance the fun. Unfortunately, when people start coming up with idea, some of them are going to be bad ideas. It’s up to each of us to stop and consider any suggestions or dares that come our way, whether it’s just a really bad idea. Here are three really bad bar ideas that no one should ever try.

vodka eyeballing Dont Try This At Home (or Anywhere!)Vodka Eyeballing – Alcohol needs to be absorbed in order to have the desired affect. Many people don’t have a really good understanding of anatomy. Some of these people have been convinced that if you take a pour vodka into your open eyeball, you’ll get drunk quicker or experience a better buzz. According to all the experts, you will not get drunk quicker by pouring alcohol over your eyeball. What you will get is scars on your cornea. Repeatedly doing this will result in significant lose of sight in the the damaged eyeball. DO NOT POUR ALCOHOL INTO YOUR EYE.

Alcohol Enemas – This is based on the same principle. There are many pour blood vessels in your rectum than in your stomach. The theory goes that taking an alcohol enema will get you drunk quicker. THIS IS TRUE. In fact, alcohol gets absorbed so quickly that many people have died because of it. You may drink four to six ounces of alcohol in an hour and not be falling down drunk. That’s because the alcohol has to go through many filtering systems before it reaches your blood stream. Shove all this alcohol in your rectum and it almost all of it gets into your system immediately. DO NOT POUR ALCOHOL IN YOUR RECTUM. Some alcoholics believe this is a way for them to get drunk without having alcohol on their breathe. However, they truly are risking their lives doing this.

21 Shotsbirthdayshot 300x168 Dont Try This At Home (or Anywhere!) On Your 21st Birthday – When someone turns 21 they usually celebrate by having a few drinks. Even if they’ve previously drunk alcohol, they really can’t be considered responsible. They are usually the least knowledgeable about how much alcohol they can handle. They are also anxious to prove to their friends that they aren’t “light weights”. In an effort to have “fun” with the birthday person, it’s not unusual for someone to suggest that they do 21 shots or drinks on their birthday. Even if these drinks or shots are very weak in alcohol, the very real possibility of death is there. If a person who hasn’t built up a tolerance for alcohol gets a BAC of .30 they will be in a coma. Any higher than that and they may die. Please keep in mind that even when someone has passed out and is no longer drinking the alcohol in their system is still being processed. Don’t think that someone will pass out before they’ve drunk so much they die of alcohol poisoning. Some people pass out after drinking four or more drinks that haven’t yet reached their system. Not only could they die from alcohol poisoning but many people drown in their own vomit while they’re passed out. NEVER DO MORE DRINKS THAN YOU KNOW YOU CAN HANDLE.

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Don’t Pay For Your Drinks – Win Them Instead

Jun18
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

Money at bar1 300x233 Dont Pay For Your Drinks Win Them InsteadNo matter how many bars I go into, it seems that if I stay there long enough someone will start telling jokes and someone will start making wagers. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or just the atmosphere but I’ve been on the wrong side of both of those. If someone starts to tell you a bunch of bad jokes, I don’t have any advice except to drink up and hope the alcohol makes them funnier. However, if the guy next to you is one of those who continually say “I bet you…..”, it’s good to have a few sure fire winners up your sleeve. Here’s a few of my favorites.

Bet #1 – I bet you that I can drink from a bottle of wine without opening it. You can also phrase it as “I be you that I can drink from an unopened bottle of wine”. If they take you up on your wager, ask for an unopened bottle of wine and a water chaser. It doesn’t matter if the bottle of wine has a screw cap or a cork. What you’re interested in is the bottom of the bottle and your glass of water. Turn the bottle upside down and pour a little bit of water into the dimple area. That area is called the punt and is on all wine bottles. Then proceed to drink the water from the unopened bottle of wine. Make sure you always same you’ll drink from the bottle not out of the bottle.

Bet #2 – I bet you that my hair is so strong that I can lift an ice cube with my hair. To win this bet, take a long hair from your head and place it across the top of the ice cube. Now pour a little bit of salt over the hair and ice cube. The salt will slightly melt the ice and refreeze around the hair. After just a few moments you’ll be able to lift the ice cube using your hair.

Bet #3 – I bet you I can remove a cork from inside an empty wine bottle without breaking the bottle or the cork. If you’ve ever tried to remove a cork from a bottle of wine only to have it fall into the bottle, you know how hard this can be to remove. What you’ll need to win this bet is either a silk scarf or a clothe napkin. Put most of the napkin/scarf into the wine bottle and shake the cork until it’s inside the clothe. Now work the cork so that the narrow en is facing towards the neck of the bottle. This may take a little bit of work and patience but it can be done. Now give the clothe a firm hard tug. The cork should now be stuck in the top of the bottle. Give another strong tug and the cork should fly out of the bottle. Be aware of what and who is around you when you do this. The cork will fly out with a great deal of force.

In order to increase the amount of fun that everyone has, make sure to give the other patron a chance to solve the bar bet first. Watching them struggle is half the fun. Also, be aware that most people will feel like they were cheated. If you made sure to phrase the bar bets as I described you will not have cheated. Just keep the wagers friendly and offer to buy them a drink later.

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Top Shelf Ideas For Your Bar

May20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

TopShelfWhiskey Top Shelf Ideas For Your BarI’m sure most of everyone has noticed that bars and restaurants like to display their alcohol on shelves. They remind me of carnival games. You go, look at the prizes (alcohol). You say to yourself, they all look good. After you when the game, they reach under the counter and pull out some small prize that you couldn’t see. That small prize under the counter is called “well drinks” at bars and restaurants. It’s the cheap liquor you get when you just say a “rum and coke” or “Vodka and 7”. If you want something better you have to “call it” by ordering the brand name. Most bars and restaurants have a tiered pricing structure. The prices go up until you reach the “top shelf”.

If you’re stocking a home bar, I suggest you do something a little different. I believe that everyone should stock some good but inexpensive alcohol to serve your guests mixed drinks. When you’re making a strawberry daiquiri no one will appreciate or notice top shelf rum in the drink. You’d be wasting your money. I also think that everyone should stock some of the “good stuff”. This is the top shelf liquor you see at bars. Unfortunately, if you display these people will ask you to make them a rum and coke using the expensive rum. This is true even when they couldn’t tell the difference.

My advise is to hide the expensive bottles in the back. They’ll be there if you have a special occasion or someone who would appreciate the higher quality. When you finish the bottle, clean it out and feel free to display the empties. An empty bottle of Johnny Walker Blue sells for $30 on Ebay.

Just as many to 10 lists for the best movies are different, so will people’s idea of what are the best (yet affordable) top shelf liquors. Here’s my suggestions to kick start your private stock. Prices are listed for a 750ml bottle.

Vodka – Grey Goose Vodka $25 This is a very clean and popular vodka. I personally don’t notice a great deal of difference in the taste of vodkas. I do notice a difference in the morning after. Grey Goose never strikes back the next morning. Bonus points awarded for having an interesting bottle.

Bourbon – Bakers 7 Year Old Bourbon $47 This award winning bourbon is made in small batches and you can taste the old western recipe. Please note that this is 107 proof so is stronger than most people are accustomed. However, if you have a bourbon drinker among your friends, off them a small glass of this. They’ll love it.

Tequila – Patron Anejo Tequila $55 If you’re going to have a top shelf tequila, it needs to be dark and not silver. The excellent bottle along with the oversized cork make a great addition to your dead soldier shelf. Oh yeah, it’s also smooth and delicious.

Rum – Santa Teresa 1796 Ron Antiguo Solera $40 This dark rum is aged 15 years and has a complex aroma, taste and finish. I don’t even like to think of this as drinking rum. I think of this as sipping rum. It’s smooth enough to drink quickly, but then you’d miss out on the experience. Take the time to smell, taste and enjoy the finish.

Scotch – Johnny Walker Black $27 This 12 year scotch is a favorite of both my father-in-law as well as brother-in-law. Since they are the Scotch drinkers I defer to them on this one. However if you really want to impress a scotch drinker buy a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue. JW Blue has a different taste and is very smooth. What sets it apart in my opinion is the price. At $140+ a bottle, your special guest will recognize that you don’t serve that to everyone.

Gin – Magellan Gin $35 This 88 proof gin comes in a clear bottle. Most people think the bottle is blue but actually it’s the gin. This gin is triple distilled in Cognac, France and follows the French Gin style. This means that it will have a sharper taste than your average bar gin. Serve this only to someone who truly loves gin. To someone willing to experience the taste and aroma, this is an excellent gin.

Cognac – Hennessy Cognac VS $25 Make sure you have a snifter glass to server this in. The color and aroma are part of the experience drinking cognac. This is also an excellent drink to have if you don’t want to drink quickly. Swirling the cognac within the snifter and sniffing helps you enjoy the drink while making it last.

Irish Whiskey – Bushmills Black Bush $30 While a blended Irish Whiskey, this is made up mostly of a single malt whiskey. This is my favorite whiskey.

Canadian Whiskey – Canadian Club Classic 12 $20 The extra 6 years of aging makes this a darker and richer experience that the normal Canadian Club. Because Canadian whiskeys don’t have as strong a taste or smell as most others, many people don’t drink this straight. If you’re interested in introducing someone to drinking their whiskey straight, this is an excellent starter drink. It’s also a great mixer for manhattans and other whiskey drinks.

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Alcohol and Weight Control

Apr23
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

Will drinking alcohol cause you to gain weight or stop you from losing weight? While many people believe that a calorie is a calorie regardless of the source, there is more to the story than just calories. It is true that a calorie of protein gives the same amount of energy as a calorie of fat. The difference is how much energy our body needs to use in order to deal with that calorie. Our bodies need to work hard to turn a calorie of protein into fat. On the other hand, all our bodies really have to do to the fat calorie is move it into position.

The calories we get from alcohol are broken down into acetate. Our bodies love acetate. We easily turn acetate into energy. Because of this, our bodies will use acetate before anything else. Our bodies however have a hard time turning acetate into fat. That’s what makes alcohol and weight management so difficult. If all we did was take in 3000 calories of alcohol, we may die of malnutrition but we wouldn’t die fat. Those 3000 calories would be burned as energy and in trying to convert the excess into fat. However, if we drink 2000 calories from alcohol and eat 1000 calories we may die fat and be malnourished. The 2000 calories from alcohol would be used as energy and the 1000 calories from food would be turned into fat.

How many calories are in alcohol? The short answer is about 80 calories per serving plus additives. A shot of 80 proof whiskey typically has 80 calories from the “proof” and about 17 calories from the additives. A can of beer has about 97 calories. A glass of wine about 120 calories. Be careful when ordering “diet alcohol”. There are light rums and “skinny Margaritas” on the market claiming to be half the calories of their regular counterparts. If you look closely, you will find that it also contains half the calories. There is no such thing as diet alcohol. They can only give less alcohol or less additives.

I suppose two of the biggest issues with drinking and dieting are binging and additives. My wife loves frozen drinks in the summer. These frozen drinks are usually made with lots of sugars, fruits, creams and garnish. It’s not the alcohol that makes these fattening but everything else added to it. If it tastes really good but doesn’t taste like alcohol, you can be sure that it is high in calories. The other issue is binge eating. I know that when I start drinking heavily, I get hungry. I think it’s my bodies way of trying to get me to slow down. Whatever, the reason, I find myself seeking out pizza, fried food and chips. These hurt my diet much more than the Irish Whiskey I am drinking straight.

If you’re trying to lose weight and like to drink, be careful of what you consume. That means choose the drinks carefully and watch the extra eating you may do. Like most things, if you do them in moderation they won’t hurt your efforts.

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How To Make Clear Ice

Apr06
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

Did you ever wonder why the ice cubes you get at bars and restaurants are so much clearer than the ice cube you make at home? Well, I did and now that I have found the answer my ice cubes can be just as clear. Notice I said can be and not are just as clear. While it is possible to make clear ice cubes at home, it is more work than most people are willing to do unless they’re having a very special event with just a few people. The only time I would go through the amount of work required is if I were bringing a date back to my apartment for the first time.

Just look to nature to discover the key to making clear ice cubes. If you look at icicles you’ll notice that they are clear. They are also made from melting snow made up of pure water. The icicles get cloudy only when they are mixed with dirt from a roof. Icicles are also formed in layers. As the snow melts it flows over the ice and solidifies. If a large body of water freezes all at once, air gets trapped inside and clouds the ice.

To make clear ice cubes at home, start with distilled water. This is as close to pure water as you can buy. Now bring the distilled water to boil. This will help remove some of the minerals that remain from the distilling process. Let the water cool and then boil it again. Yes, you need to boil it twice. Let the water cool down again. While you’re doing this, make sure that you clean your ice cube trays with distilled water and let dry. Now you have pure water and a dirt free environment to form your cubes. You’re half way done icon smile How To Make Clear Ice

Now fill the clean ice cube trays about a third of the way full and put it in the freezer for a couple of hours. Once that’s frozen, add another third and freeze again. Finally, you can add fill the remainder of the tray and leave in the freezer.

If everything worked out, you’ll have clear, pure ice cubes. Just make sure not to wast these in a blended drink.

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Starting A Bar

Mar31
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

I’ve never kept track of how much time I’ve spent around a bar. However, I can imagine the number being rather high. I spent several years being a bartender so you have to count the hours I worked. I’ve spent a lot of time as a customer. Finally, I have my home bar. My friends and I like to hang around the bar because it is in the rec room. Since it is something I know, I’ve been considering opening up a bar as business.

The first decision I need to make is whether or not I am going to be working full time at the bar. Will I be a manager, bartender, both or something else? If I am not willing to work 60 hours a week at the bar, then I will not only have to pay someone to do this, but will have to find someone I can trust.

What kind of budget will I have? I need to not only consider the cost necessary to get a building, a liquor license, design/construction work, equipment and inventory, but also how long can I operate at a loss. One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is that they assume that customers will come through the door. If I’m not willing or able to operate at a loss for a full year, I will not be giving myself much of a chance to succeed. I may need to seek additional investors or reluctantly take on a partner or two.

What kind of bar do I want to own? While I may prefer a popular sports bar, am I opening a business or a hang out? If I am opening a business I need to determine what the community wants in a new bar. Do I want to compete with other establishments or do I want to be the only bar nearby. If I am going to open a night club, being near other night clubs will probably be a benefit.

A business plan will be required. I don’t have much experience in creating or running a business. I have managed several businesses and managed people, but I have never had to worry about “making payroll”. Do I need to hire a business person or should I take a few courses?

Of course I also need to determine not only how much does a liquor license cost but also is it even possible to get one. There are a limit to the number of liquor licenses a town is willing to give out. Will I need to wait for another establishment to give up their license.

Finally, do I really want to make this kind of investment in time, money and worry? Maybe I should just stick with having friends over for drinks and just dream about opening a bar while sitting behind mine relaxing.

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The Green Fairy

Mar20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

“Whiskey and beer are for fools; absinthe for poets;
absinthe has the power of the magicians; it can wipe out
or renew the past, and annul or foretell the future.” – Ernst Dowson

31wgBm40CxL. SS400 300x300 The Green Fairy

Absinthe has an allure all it’s own. I know of no other drink with such ceremony, fantasy and experience that belongs to Absinthe. Also known as The Green Fairy, absinthe was until recently banned from the United States. It was accused of making you not only act criminally but cause you to be literally insane.

Fortunately, absinthe is once again able to be imported or produced in the United States. It’s important to note that unlike, Scotches, Brandy and Gin; Absinthe has no legal definition in many countries. Because of that, one needs to be aware of what one is actually purchasing. One way to tell if you’re getting a good version of absinthe is to see how it was produced. If it is referred to as distilled Absinthe then it was made closer to the original recipes. This involves distilling the alcohol several times with herbal ingredients. This produces a clear alcohol. Absinthe gets it’s green color from chlorophyll which is present in some of the herbs. Chlorophyll remains chemically active and is an important ingredient for the aging process.

On the other hand, if the Absinthe was made using a “cold mix” method, you’re not going to get a true absinthe experience. The cold method is forbidden in countries that have a legal definition of Absinthe. This is manufactured by mixing flavoring essences and artificial coloring in high-proof alcohol, and is similar to a flavored vodka. Some of these brands are known to be as high as 180 proof. While you will get drunk, you won’t be feeling “The Green Fairy”.

549191195163173 154x300 The Green Fairy

Absinthe is not something you drink as a shot, nor carry around with you at a dance party. Absinthe is made to experience in a quiet location. The method of serving absinthe is part of the experience. Special glasses, spoons and decanters are made just for Absinthe. The proper method of serving absinthe is to place a shot of the green absinthe into a glass and place a special slotted spoon on top. On top of the spoon is placed a small sugar cube. From the Absinthe decanter cold water is slowly dripped over the sugar cube. The end result of the cold water mixed with sugar is to turn the green absinthe into a while cloudy drink. This process is called the louche.

The room will fill with herbal aroma stronger than any air freshener you’ve ever owned. The taste has a definite anise flavor. While the affect is pleasant, don’t expect to go mad or experience the desire to commit crimes. These were probably caused by the other drugs done during the times these stories were told

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I’d Rather Make Moonshine, But The Gov’t Says No

Mar14
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

People who drink light “beer” don’t like the taste of beer; they just like to pee a lot.
–Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI

I drink beer. What kind of beer, depends on the situation. If it’s a hot summer day and I’m working in the yard or watching a ball game, then I’ll drink a light beer. No, it’s not because I like to pee a lot. It’s because I find it refreshing and the lower calories is a good thing. If however, I’m visiting a micro-brewery, I’ll drink whatever they’re brewing. If I’m sitting with a bunch of friends just talking then I’ll drink an IPA. Most of my friends prefer a Stout.

It was during one of those sit around my home bar and just talk and laugh occasions that someone suggested I make my own booze. I’ve always joked about my “Prison wine” and enjoy experimenting with things like Skittles Vodka and Drunken Gummie Bears. I looked into making my own vodka or whiskey. It turns out that the slogan “Land of the Free” doesn’t quite live up to its billing. The US Government will not allow it’s citizens to distill any amount of alcohol without paying for licenses and paperwork. It would be OK if this were a reasonable amount. However, they have set it up that unless you are a business or want to be an illegal moonshiner, distilling your own booze isn’t an option.

Fortunately we are allowed to legally brew beer for personal consumption. That brings me to my newest project. I’ve just ordered the MR. Beer Brewmasters Ultimate Kit. I could have gone ahead and started with their cheaper starter kit but I decided against it. The starter kit has cheap plastic bottle and only a starter beer that did not get good reviews. Once you add in a few refill kits to discover which flavors you like, you’re not saving any money. With the Ultimate, I’ll have 6 batches of different beers, 8 bottles with caps, labels and all kinds of goodies.

While waiting for the kit to arrive, I have started reading some instructions online. The biggest downside is that I’ll have to wait about two weeks before I can taste the beer. It also means that unless I buy a second cheaper kit, I’ll only have one flavor to serve my friends. I’m pretty excited. This could be a cool new hobby. I also found a book that gives you instructions to replicate commercial beers. I’ll let you know how it works out.

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
–Benjamin Franklin

744 REG Id Rather Make Moonshine, But The Govt Says No

MR.BEER Brewmaster’s Ultimate Beer Kit

MR.BEER Home Microbrewery – Beer Making Kit.

Id Rather Make Moonshine, But The Govt Says No

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Designated Driver Drinks

Mar02
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Phil

Whenever you throw a party it’s important to realize that not everyone will be drinking alcohol. Some of your guests may not be of legal drinking age, while others may be a designated driver. Then there are also the people who are trying to quit drinking but still want to go to parties. There was 10 year period where I didn’t drink. One of the hardest things to do was go to a party, not drink and have to answer questions all night. If you don’t smoke, no one asks you why you don’t smoke or try to convince you to have just one cigarette. However, if you don’t drink people will ask you why and try to convince you to have just one.

If you’re hosting a party, I assume you want all of your guests to have a good. This would include those who choose not to drink alcohol. Now these people are used to drinks Colas or water during the party. However, I recommend that you go the extra mile and treat these non-alcoholic drinks with more care than the alcoholic ones.

First, if you’re going to have beer on hand, please make sure that you have a six pack of a non-alcoholic beer on hand as well. People will still notice those who aren’t drinking “real beer”, but they won’t stand out as much. Plus, I know that I felt more natural at parties holding a fake beer rather than a real Cola.

Second, suggest mocktails or virgin drinks. Here’s a few general rules.

Always garnish a non-alcoholic drink. If you’re serving children or women, they tend to love the presentation. Garnishes would include fruit, little umbrellas or just a fancy swizzle stick.

Always use a bar glass for these drinks. Don’t just open a can of cola and hand it to someone with a coke glass. Pour some cola in a rocks glass with ice and top it off with a lime. This looks just like a rum and coke.

Grenadine is your friend. Add grenadine to a glass of cola, drop in a couple of cherries and you’ve got yourself a cherry coke. Think of this as an Amaretto and coke but it’s called a Roy Rogers. Pretend to make a screwdriver but instead of adding vodka, drizzle some grenadine over the top. This looks like a tequila sunrise. And of course, the Shirley Temple which is either ginger ale or sprite with grenadine.

Finally, remember that almost any blended drink can be made without the alcohol. Served in the same glass with the same garnish and no one can tell the difference. After the first strawberry daiquiri, most people wouldn’t even notice if you served them the virgin daiquiri instead the one with rum

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