Top 20 Necessary Ingredients for Your Home Bar

Vodka is a staple for any bar. It's the backbone of so many drinks, it's probably best to have at least two bottles on hand. While Russian vodka is best, there are plenty of other vodkas that will work well also. Some of the best brands are: Stolichnaya, Smirnoff, Absolut, Greygoose, & Kettel One.

You can't have a martini without gin, so it's essential that you always have at least one bottle. And of course, there are many situations in which call for a gin and tonic. Best gins include: Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, and Tanqueray.

It's best to have one white rum and one dark rum, but if you're in a pinch you could settle for one or the other. Many of the fruitier cocktails require rum, so if you're serious amount mixing drinks you might want to splurge on both. Cuba Libre, Mai Tai, Sea Breeze, Planters Punch, etc are just a few of the classic rum drinks. Not all rums are created equal though, Havana Club, Bacardi, and Captain Morgan's are definitely top of the list.

Although rather harsh when drinking it straight up, tequila makes its way into a lot of drinks. Tequila is one of those alcohols though that you really can't skimp out on with a cheaper brand. Buy Cuervo, El Jimador, Don Julio or Patron for best results.

If you've ever looked through a cocktail book trying to find something to make, time and again you'll realize that the one ingredient you're missing is triple sec. Not only is it essential for cosmos and margaritas, but it's the secret ingredient in about a dozen other drinks.

You can't be without ice in a bar ! Use plenty