Bartending 101 for Your Next Cocktail Party

If you can spin synchronized shakers like Tom Cruise and Brian Brown, you're already too sophisticated for this story. However, here are a few tips for amateurs to both cut booze budgets and look like pros. Whether you're throwing an inaugural fete for your new home, a holiday shindig, or just stocking up for impromptu parties, follow a few simple rules:

1. dedicate space
Commit a small area to your craft. Keeping everything in one place, and keeping thirsty guests out of our kitchen, will help your sanity. Cocktail carts are great for serving and storage, but are hard to bend over. Breakfast bars work well, or even free-standing cheapie bookshelves: towards you for extra storage, away for a literati look. For the frequent entertainers, Cost Plus World Market offers gorgeous carved hardwood home bars for under $500.

2. the right tools for the right job
Though alligator-handled jiggers are stylish, look for function over form in your bar tools. You will need a double-sided jigger, preferably with a handle to keep your sleeves out of the libations. Consistent measures keep you from the expensive habit of free pouring, and once you've figured out your recipes you can duplicate without estimating.