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Kara Grumoli
Dan King, Curator at Butchertown Hall
Dream Bar Cart: Fermob Luxembourg Bar Cart in cactus, $1,178; 2modern.com
“This backyard/poolside bar cart would totally be my pick. It looks super solid and the bottom shelf would be perfect for a small ice chest. Its whole vibe is like, ‘take me to the beach in Mexico!’”
No Cart Should Be Without: “Everyone needs an ice crusher, especially for an outdoor bar cart on a hot summer day. Think fresh mojitos, tiki drinks or anything really. I have a Victoria cast-iron ice shaver that is awesome for snow cones, granitas and Mexican-style shaved ice drinks. Highly recommend.”
Pro Tip: “I think the best drinking is either done in the daylight or on a hot summer night, so I love the lighter stuff. Juices of all sorts are key, but I love to keep soursop juice as a little secret weapon. It can add a lot of richness and texture to a drink without making it feel too heavy. With most of my drinks, I like to keep them tart, salty, sweet and even a little bubbly.”
Must-Haves:
- Fresh-Squeezed Lime Juice
- Topo Chico
- Plantation Double Dark Rum
- Plantation Pineapple Rum
- Rhum Clement Mahina
- Coconut
- Blanco Tequila (Espolon)
- Aperol
- Cynar
- Soursop Juice
- Orgeat
- Miller Lites
- Salt
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Ryan Holtsford, Manager and Chief Mixologist at Cafe Intermezzo
Dream Bar Cart: Felicita Bar with Wine Storage, $430; wayfair.com
“My dream bar cart would probably have to be a handmade multi-level cart crafted from cedarwood to give it that nice burnt orange color that really pops against almost any setting. I’ve always been tremendously impressed with the ability to craft something of great quality by hand, perhaps due to a complete lack of ability to do so.”
No Cart Should Be Without: “My favorite thing to add to any bar cart is a cocktail smoker. Whether it be a simple handheld smoker or a full-on cocktail smoker box, they always make for a great addition. A smoked cocktail may not be everyone’s cup of tea; however, it can give the proper aesthetic for a relaxing and flavorful evening.”
Pro Tip: “St. Germain is the perfect liqueur for mixing in with any light or perhaps even moderately dark spirit. It’s light enough to work in a vodka or gin cocktail and versatile enough to be a part of a summery old fashioned as well. You also can’t go wrong with a high quality, long stemmed muddler as well. I’ve busted my knuckles many times attempting to muddle mint or any fruit in a shaker. Do yourself a favor and shell out a couple extra bucks for the long one. Your knuckles will thank you.”
Must-Haves:
- St. Germain
- Eagle Rare Ten-Year-Aged Bourbon
- High quality, long stemmed muddler
- Buchanan Double Old Fashion Glasses
- Cocktail Smoker
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Melissa Laskin, General Manager and Mixologist at STK
Dream Bar Cart: Marisol Bar Cart, $926; mgbwhome.com
No Cart Should Be Without: “Any bourbon-based drink is my specialty. My bourbon bar cart must would have to be Woodford Reserve. I love a bourbon that is smooth with bold flavors. Woodford is so rich in flavor with hints of citrus, cinnamon, cocoa, caramel, and spice. It makes a perfect addition to any Old Fashioned.”
Pro Tip: “A muddler is a must when it comes to making the perfect drink. Some additional things I would need to make a killer cocktail include a bar spoon, strainer, and a citrus peeler.”
Must-Haves:
- Orange
- Angostura Bitters
- Simple Syrup with Brown Sugar
- Woodford Reserve
- Old Fashioned Glass
- Large Ice Cube
- Muddler
- Bar spoon
- Strainer
- Citrus Peeler
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Natia Cinco
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Scott Baird, Owner and Mixologist at Zeppelin
Dream Bar Cart: West Charcoal Cane Bar Cabinet, $2,0000; crateandbarrel.com
“First and foremost, functionality is the key feature to any bar cart. You want a form that is as a gorgeous as you can afford it to be. I personally like spacious bar carts because it provides you with more room to work with when you display your curations. It needs to be ‘the piece’ in the room. If you’re going to have a bar cart, it better be looking very cool.”
No Cart Should Be Without: “Highland Park 18 is a must on any bar cart. It’s my favorite desert island bottle.”
Pro Tip: “Highland Park 18 is my favorite bottle, and vintage Campari would be a next favorite. If you can get your hands on some pre-1980 or so, do it; you will not regret it. Lastly, any good bar cart needs a good mezcal. My personal choice would be Real Minero or La Locura mezcal. If you want to turn up a party, this is a go-to drink.”
Must-Haves:
- Highland Park 18
- Vintage Campari
- Real Minero or La Locurto Mezcal