Drinks

Stock Your Bar Cart Like a Pro

Five of Vancouver's top bartenders help you create a home bar that will make you feel like a pro

By BC Living /

Credit: Adam Blasberg

Bar cart

Want to take your bar cart to the next level? We asked five of Vancouver’s top bartenders for their must-have bitters, mixers, tools and, of course, booze. Add these upgrades to your standard supplies and get mixing like an expert.

*All glassware, bitters, mixers, juices, garnishes (except as noted) from Modern Bartender in Chinatown

Glassware

  1. Vintage highball glass
  2. Vintage crystal carafe
  3. Cocktail bowl from Wildebeest
  4. Vintage shot glass
  5. Glencairn Whiskey glass, $11.50
  6. Yarai mixing glass, $29.95
  7. Nick & Nora glass, $10
  8. Classic sling glass, $13.95
  9. Collins highball glass, $8.50

Bitters & Garnishes

  • Bittered Sling Kensington Dry Aromatic Bitters, $36.50
  • Bittered Sling Cascade Celery Bitters, $29
  • Bittered Sling Moondog Bitters, $29
  • Angostura Aromatic Bitters, $21.95
  • Angostura Orange Bitters, $15.95
  • Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, $16.50

Mixers

  • Kabosu Juice (lemon, cucumberand melon), $24.95
  • Sudachi Juice (lime, pepper and cumin), $24.95
  • Fentimans Tonic Water, $2.95
  • Fentimans Ginger Beer, $2.95

Tools

  • Dauville porcelain gold-glazed ice bucket available at The Cross Decor & Design in Yaletown, $108
  • Glass martini shaker

Alcohol

  • Rittenhouse Rye, $56
  • Maker’s Mark Bourbon, $48.20
  • Citadelle Gin, $45.15
  • Plymouth Dry Gin, $57.65
  • Aperol, $24.70
  • Lillet, $21.30

*All alcohol available at Legacy Liquor Store in Olympic Village

Bar Cart
Foxed Mirror Bar Cart available at West Elm on South Granville, $479

Additional Bar Cart Must-Have Items from the Bartending Experts

(Not pictured)

Must-have Bar Tools

  • A good jigger
  • A good shaker
  • A soda siphon
  • A teardrop bar spoon
  • A julep strainer
  • A Parisian shaker
  • A proper mixing glass

Must-have Glassware

  • A versatile coupe-style cocktail glass
  • A champagne coupe
  • A set of sexy rocks glasses

Must-have Bitters

  • The Bitter Truth decanter bitters
  • Scrappy’s orange bitters

Must-have Syrups

  • B.G. Reynolds’ Orgeat almond flower syrup for Mai Tais
  • Giffard passion fruit syrup

Must-have Mixers and Garnishes

  • Griotte cherries
  • Fee Brothers rose water
  • Cerignola olives

  • Fresh citrus

Must-have Bottles of Liquor