Clockwise from top: Ikea’s Flytta cart; a basic juicer; a Dalle Piazza bottle opener and some good straight whisky.

Small but mighty: The Condo Cart
Small spaces can still accommodate a stylish bar, especially if it’s on wheels. Rolling right out of a 1950s bachelor pad and into your pied-a-terre is the bar cart. It should look good enough to be on display and be big enough to store the essentials, with enough space on top for mixing drinks. Two good options are Ikea’s Flytta kitchen cart (shown) or Restoration Hardware’s Duncan bar cart.

The Gadgets The essentials include a good-quality three-piece shaker (the kind with a built-in strainer and cap), bar spoon, jigger, citrus reamer, mesh strainer, sharp knife, corkscrew, bottle opener and ice bucket. The Glassware Must-have vessels are a half-dozen each of cocktail (martini), collins (highball) and rocks (old fashioned) glasses, plus a set of universal-use wineglasses such as Riedel’s Degustation.
The Bottles Stock up on the basics: top-of-the line vodka, gin, cognac, Cointreau, a good blended whisky for mixing (such as Alberta Premium 100-percent rye), as well as whatever juices and mixers you need to make your favourite drink.

The extras Many classic recipes use dry and sweet vermouths, Angostura bitters, lemons and limes, olives, pickled onions, brandied cherries and tonic and soda water. Invest in a comprehensive bartender’s guide, such as Mr. Boston.

Clockwise from top: Ikea’s Billy bookcase; a bar set from Loft; shot glasses from Sham; Fee Bros. bitters.

Sleek and Simple: The Modern Credenza
In the mid-20th century, every fashionable home had a low-lying cabinet with prestige spirits and decanters displayed on top, and glassware, gadgets, spirits and mixers tucked in the cabinet below. Today’s wall units offer even more design flexibility and storage space. You can go low budget with Ikea’s Billy system (shown) or high end with the sleek, chic minimalism of MDF Italia’s Highboard.

The gadgets Graduate to a two-piece Boston shaker and Hawthorn strainer, plus a muddler for fresh botanicals and fruits, a hand-cranked ice crusher and a soda/whipping cream siphon. The glassware Add flutes, snifters, liqueur glasses and varietal-specific wineglasses to your glassware, and fun stuff like swizzle sticks. The bottles An expanded bar adds Scotch, tequila, and white and dark rum to the basic selection. Start building your selection of liqueurs such as amaretto and absinthe, as well as aperitifs such as Campari. If you have space, you can even begin cellaring a few good bottles of wine. The extras An expanded collection of flavourings would include exotic bitters (peach, grapefruit, orange, Peychaud’s), orgeat (almond syrup), grenadine, orange flower water and small-batch artisan sodas like ginger beer.

Clockwise from top: A great bar fridge from KitchenAid; absinthe spoons; top-shelf local vodka.

Top of the Line: The Wet Bar
It’s time to call up an interior designer. Make sure the plans have a sink, storage, workspace and room for appliances.

The gadgets Invest in appliances, including two refrigerators (one for perishable cocktail ingredients and beer, one temperature-controlled for wine) as well as a blender, frother, juicer and even a speedy glass washer. The glassware Vintage julep cups or tiki mugs round out your selection-and, of course, a punch bowl. The bottles This is the interesting stuff: crème de violette, maraschino liqueur, Aperol, cachaca, pisco, calvados, Poire William and small-batch spirits like Schramm potato vodka. The extras Absinthe spoons, plus cream, eggs, homemade bitters and infusions.