DIY Home Bar: What Every Girl Needs

Photo by: Courtesy of Fever-Tree

MIXERS

You're going to need tonic water for those bracing gin and tonics. While Schweppes is the go-to brand for many bartenders, Brodeur says if you're concerned about its high sugar content it might be worth investing in some fancier artisanal tonic waters: Q Tonic and Fever-Tree are two coveted brands.

Club soda is also a must. If you're going to mix fruit juice into a cocktail, "juice the fruit as you

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Photo by: Courtesy of Fever-Tree

MIXERS

You're going to need tonic water for those bracing gin and tonics. While Schweppes is the go-to brand for many bartenders, Brodeur says if you're concerned about its high sugar content it might be worth investing in some fancier artisanal tonic waters: Q Tonic and Fever-Tree are two coveted brands.

Club soda is also a must. If you're going to mix fruit juice into a cocktail, "juice the fruit as you go" says Seider. "You'll get much better-tasting cocktails by squeezing your oranges, lemons and grapefruit fresh." (Hence the requisite handheld or manual juicer.)

Ginger beer is a must for the Dark and Stormy and other retro cocktails. DeGroff says having a bottle of pomegranate juice on hand is also nice to flavor a martini or margarita. You are also going to have to learn how to make your own simple syrup (not hard: one part water to one part sugar, warmed on a stove.) Eventually, you can infuse your simple syrups with ginger, cranberries or lavender.

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