Bars: how to stock a home bar in Boston

If you want a bar of your own, The Wild Duck at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston carries the spirits, mixers, beer, wine and snacks to stock one. You can walk in, collect an order, or have it delivered across Boston, Cambridge and Brookline. This page explains what a home bar needs and how to get it from us.

What do you need to stock a home bar?

A home bar needs a few spirits, a few mixers, something for guests who do not want a cocktail, and something to eat. You do not need a full back bar to make good drinks. A small, well chosen set covers most of what people ask for at home.

Start by deciding what you will actually serve. If you mostly pour whiskey over ice, the shelf looks different from one built for margaritas or gin and tonics. Pick two or three drinks you want to make well, then buy for those.

The Wild Duck is a liquor store in Boston, and we have more than 4,500 products in stock across more than 100 categories. That range lets you buy the whole bar in one visit or one order, instead of collecting it from several places.

The sections below follow the order most people build in: spirits first, then mixers, then everything a guest might ask for besides.

Which spirits should a home bar start with?

Most home bars start with one bottle each of whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and tequila. Together they cover the large majority of classic cocktails, and each can also be served on its own.

For whiskey, our bourbon shelf is a good place to begin, since bourbon works in an old fashioned, a whiskey sour and a hot toddy alike. Our wider whiskey section also includes Scotch for those who prefer a smokier, drier style. If you want something harder to find, see our page on rare bourbon in Boston.

For clear spirits, we stock vodka, gin, rum and tequila. A blanco tequila is the usual choice for margaritas, because it is unaged and tastes of the agave. You can browse the blanco tequila page directly.

A liqueur adds range once the basics are in place. CHARTREUSE Yellow Liqueur is an herbal French liqueur that bartenders use in classic and modern cocktails, and the wider liqueur section has other styles to try.

All of these sit under our liquor category, so you can see the full range in one place.

Which mixers does a home bar need?

A home bar needs at least a good tonic, a soda water and a ginger beer, because those three finish a large number of simple drinks. Mixers matter more than most people expect, since they make up most of what is in the glass.

Our mixers section is where to look. The Fever Tree brand page lists the tonics, ginger beers and sodas we carry from that maker.

If you want to make a Moscow mule, we have a guide on what to buy and how to make it. It covers the vodka, the ginger beer and the lime, so you can buy everything in one go.

For drinks beyond the highball, our article on Boston cocktail ingredients covers bitters, vermouth and bourbon, which are the small additions that turn a spirit into a proper cocktail.

If some of your guests do not drink alcohol, our non-alcoholic section gives them something to pour that is not an afterthought.

Should a bar at home also have beer and wine?

Yes, because most guests will ask for beer or wine before they ask for a cocktail. Having both on hand means nobody has to wait while you mix a drink.

Our beer range includes lager and other easy drinking styles, as well as IPA. Brands we carry include Sam Adams, Jacks Abby and Zero Gravity. If you are hosting a larger gathering, we also have a page on kegs in Boston.

For wine, keeping one red, one white and one sparkling bottle covers most occasions. We stock red wine, white wine and sparkling wine, along with rosé. Sparkling wine also works as the base for simple cocktails, and it is the right thing to open when someone arrives with news.

If you want something for a guest who prefers a ready-made option, our seltzers and ready-to-drink shelves hold canned drinks that need no mixing at all, including High Noon style options listed on our brand pages.

Are there ready-made cocktail sets for a home bar?

Yes. A cocktail set bundles what you need for one drink, which is the easiest way to start if you do not want to choose each item yourself.

We carry the Rokz Bloody Mary Lover Set, and we also have a Rokz Whiskey Lover Set and a Rokz Margarita Lover Set. Each is built around one drink, so you can pick the one that matches what you like to serve.

Sets also work as gifts. Our cocktail gift basket ideas article explains how to put one together, and the holiday gift guide lists wine, spirits and beer for giving. If you would rather the recipient choose for themselves, we sell gift cards.

For a note to go with the gift, the Thank You Card is on our shelves too.

What snacks go well at a home bar?

Salty, crunchy and savory snacks go well with most drinks, and a small bowl on the counter matters more than an elaborate spread. Salt makes spirits and beer taste cleaner, and food slows the evening down in a good way.

Our snacks section covers this. The Chica De Gallot Pepper Salsa is one option when you want something with a little heat to serve with chips or alongside a margarita.

If you want more ideas, we have a page on snacks, and our guide to chocolate and drink pairings shows which sweet flavors suit whiskey, red wine and sparkling wine.

Serve water alongside any drinks, and keep food on the table through the evening.

How do you get bar supplies from The Wild Duck?

Walking in, pickup, delivery and shipping are all available from us. You choose whichever suits the day, and the order can include any mix of spirits, mixers, beer, wine and snacks.

For walking in, our shop is at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. We are open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

For pickup, order ahead and collect it at the shop. Pickup runs Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The details are on our in-store pickup page.

For delivery, we deliver Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and on Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. We also offer shipping. Our liquor delivery areas page lists where we go, and our guide to how alcohol delivery works explains the steps from order to doorstep.

Does The Wild Duck deliver bar supplies to Cambridge and Brookline?

Yes. We deliver to Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, and each town has its own page with the details for that area.

You can read about liquor delivery in Boston, liquor delivery in Cambridge and liquor delivery in Brookline. If you mostly want wine, there is also a page on wine delivery in Boston.

When you order for a home bar, it helps to put everything in one order, so the spirits, mixers and snacks arrive together. If you are unsure about a return or a substitution, our return policy and frequently asked questions pages answer the common points.

The Wild Duck is rated above 4.5 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews, and you can read what other customers say before you place an order.