The Home Bar: Back-Bar Design, Glassware, Ice and Light

The home bar is the one zone of the cave that performs for an audience. Friends gather there before the film, after the match and long after dinner. That is why it pays to borrow from professional bars: everything within reach, a clear workflow and nothing on the counter that does not need to be there. The result looks better, and it makes the host look as if he knows exactly what he is doing.

Heights, depth and the back bar

• Bar height: about 107 cm (42 in), with stools around 76 cm (30 in) to the seat.
• Counter height: about 91 cm (36 in), with stools of 61–66 cm (24–26 in).
• Allow roughly 60 cm of counter length per guest and a 25–30 cm overhang for knees.
• Back bar: shallow shelves for bottles, a closed base for refrigeration and a mirror or lit panel behind.
• Keep about 90 cm of working space behind the counter for whoever is pouring.

Glassware: six shapes

You do not need forty types. A rocks glass for whisky and old fashioneds, a highball for long drinks, a coupe or Nick & Nora for stirred and shaken cocktails, a Glencairn or copita for nosing spirits, an all-purpose wine glass and a flute or tulip for sparkling wine cover almost everything. Buy six to eight of each in the styles you actually drink, and store them upright on mats away from strong smells.

Good ice and good glasses do more for a drink than an expensive bottle.

Cold: fridge, wine and ice

• An under-counter fridge for mixers, beer and garnishes.
• A separate wine cabinet that holds a stable cellar temperature and humidity.
• A dedicated ice maker, or freezer space kept only for ice so it does not absorb food odours.
• Large clear cubes melt more slowly and dilute less; directional-freezing moulds make them at home.
• Plan a sink and drainage if you can; it changes how the whole bar works.

Light that flatters

Light the bottles, not the guests' faces. LED strips under shelves or behind a frosted panel make the back bar glow, and a warm, dimmable pendant over the counter sets the mood. Aim for warm white around 2700 K, high colour rendering so whisky and wine look like themselves, and a scene button that takes the room from cocktail hour to late night. Drink responsibly, and keep a few excellent alcohol-free options on the shelf for guests who are driving.