The Well Stocked Bar

There’s no foolproof way to stock a bar because there is no reliable way to predict what any guest might ask for. Even if you’re not prepared to whip up a Pink Squirrel or Fuzzy Navel, you can still have a respectably well-stocked bar by stocking everything on this list.

Purchasing everything at once will be an expensive investment, so you might start with the most frequently requested beverages and fill in from there. This list is arranged in order of popularity to help you plan your purchases. (See “Rules of Thumb for Food and Drink,” above, for advice on quantities.)

1. Hard liquor

• Vodka. Vodka accounts for one out of every four bottles of liquor consumed in the United States. It outsells Scotch, Canadian, and Irish whiskeys combined.

• Scotch.

• Gin.

• Bourbon.

• Rum (especially popular in the summer).

• Vermouth (dry for mixing martinis, sweet over the rocks as an aperitif).

• Tequila. Unless you’re making margaritas, there isn’t much call for tequila. (Tequila + Cointreau or triple sec + lime juice = margarita. You can also purchase margarita mixes at grocery or liquor stores.)

2. Beer remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in this country. Its sales easily eclipse those of all other “adult” beverages.

• Premium domestic

• Premium imported

• Non-alcoholic

3. Wines

• White. Offer one or two crowd-pleasing varieties. Chardonnay is a white wine on the fruity side; Pinot Grigio is a drier white, and is gaining on Chardonnay in popularity.

• Red. Merlot is roughly the red-wine equivalent to Chardonnay, popular for parties or as a drink before dinner.

• Brandy.

• Champagne. You may not serve it at every party, but having a bottle or two on hand can make for memorable last-minute celebrations.

4. Cordials and liqueurs are either generic, such as sambuca, triple sec, and peppermint schnapps, or brands, such as Kahlúa, Grand Marnier, Drambuie, and Cointreau. If you intend to have a full-service bar, you’ll want to stock whichever are necessary ingredients in your favorite mixed drinks. Cordials and liqueurs are, of course, also offered with (or after) coffee at dinner parties.

5. Nonalcoholic beverages and mixers.

• Juices. Tomato, cranberry, and orange juices are popular alone or as drink mixers.

• Bottled water. Offer both sparkling and still.

• Ginger ale.

• Tonic water and club soda.

• Coke or Pepsi.

• 7UP or other noncaffeinated soda.

• Diet soda.

• Iced tea or lemonade (for daytime parties).

6. Condiments and drink accessories

• Lemons and limes.

• Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces.

• Olives and cocktail onions.

• Rock salt (for margaritas).

• Bitters for making manhattans.

• Ice, bucket, and tongs.