Swizzle

A Bar in Every Room? Why Not!

story by Clare Lee

Remember house parties that we all had and attended before Covid? Well, they are back for 2021 and more appreciated than ever. Every party host wants guests to have a good time and one sure way to do that is to make certain the wine, liquor, and beer are always at arm reach. With guests scattered in every room of the house, on the porch, by the pool, maybe dancing in the street -- it becomes a challenge to keep every glass lled without requiring guests to absolve their party real estate. The perfect solution is the bar cart.

Rolling bar carts can make the fun at your party plentiful. They allow the hosts to mingle and the guests to serve themselves at multiple points throughout the house. Now, maybe you are just having a small gathering, but here, too, the bar cart can help your party thrive. Use them as an end table or out by the pool. One party host even set one on the front porch so guests could enter the fray with drink in hand.

Perfect for storing bottles, transporting ice buckets, or displaying serving trays, many bar carts come suited with wheels and will help you deck out your dining room, living area, or any small space. Or, if you are creative you can make your own. Many folks are doing this from everything from vintage suitcases and steamer trunks to console tv’s.

Now, sure, you can just ll your Yeti with ice and pop it out on a table but unless it’s a frat house party, using and styling a bar cart elevates the party experience many times over. Yes, you have to style it to make if fun and functional while showing off your liquor labels. Put your style on display by incorporating fun trays, your favorite glassware, bar tools, ice buckets, small dishes for garnishes and snacks, and it is always good throw on a vase with something live in it. Colorful coasters can help protect your furnishings, and always remember, a good bartender never leaves off the cocktail napkin - up your game with some nice cloth ones.

To make your bar cart functional, play around with bottle placement and make sure the space is useable. Wine labels and liquor bottles provide great depths of color and unique shapes which enhance the look of your setup. You don’t need to ll every inch of the cart with bottles—just focus on the essentials. All you need are a few quality spirits to make the classics, plus, buying less means you can splurge on higher-quality spirits. If you have a surplus of wine or liquor, choose the best-looking bottles and store the rest in the pantry. If there is a local distiller, try to shop local and introduce your guests to the brand - they may nd a new favorite right around the corner.

If you are looking to buy a bar cart - the options are limitless. You can nd them in any design style to meet your décor desire. Wine lovers may want one that incorporates hanging glass racks and wine racks. A lover of spirits may need lots of shelving to display their bourbon collection.

Thankfully, bar carts are back in a big way offering classic style and convenience for crafting your perfect cocktail party. They are mobile and can be used in any room, inside or out. So mix up your next party by mixing drinks at your bar cart. Like the Little Big Town song says - ‘The wine, the beer, the whiskey, are the only things that x me!’