Where do you keep the booze? In my house it has had several homes over the years. The pantry, a pull out drawer in the kitchen, and finally a bar cart. Now let’s TALK home bar.

Home Bar Rule #1: Pick alcohol you actually enjoy drinking. Liquor is expensive. Let’s be honest- while you’ll use your home bar for entertaining, don’t forget that a home bar’s main customer is you. This is your chance to share your personal tastes with your friends and neighbors.

Home Bar Rule #2: Mixers: The best place to buy mixers is Cost-Plus World Market. The possibilities are endless (plus we have all tried tonic water, pineapple juice, and ginger ale- boring). How about some Blackberry Pomegranate Soda, Mango Acai Berry  Soda  Orange Sparkling Water or Nesbitt’s Honey Lemonade.  This is also a great place to stock up for those friends who do not drink. Shouldn’t they feel the love of a tasty beverage on ice?

Home Bar Rule #3: Garnishes: They give you something to nibble on as you sip your drink. I have an amazing garden and will cut fresh mint, rosemary, or thyme; or pick a fresh cucumber, tomatoes, and sugar peas for cocktail time. This is also a great way to get friends outside on your patio and show off your green thumb and citrus trees.

Remember Home Bar Rule #4: You’ll need the proper tools for your apothecary of invigorating elixirs. You can get pretty specific, but here’s the basic list: shaker, muddler, shot glass, zester, wine key, straws. You will also need glassware. I love the Impression collection at Crate and Barrel and the Olivia Pope wine glass. Though, real life moment, these items can get pricey. You can find most items at your local dollar store, favorite thrift store, or summer yard sale.

Looking for a few good drinks? Try these:

1. Watermelon Meets Liquor
2. Blood Oranges meet Liquor
3. Rhubarb Meets Liquor
4. Basil meets Liquor
5. Rum Meets Coke
6. Tracing Abby Blackberry Mint Mule
7. How to Be Myself Eye Candy
8. How to Be Myself Strawberry Sunset

or this new summer berry delight

• 1/4 cup of fresh of blueberries
• 1/4 cup of fresh blackberries
• 1 Jones Soda Fufu Berry 12oz
• 3 ounces of vodka
• Ice cubes
• 1 lime
• 8 sprigs of mint

Methodology: Add berries, mint, and lime to shaker. Muddle together to extract the flavor of the berries and mint. Add vodka, and ice. Shake well and serve in a rocks glass or juice glass over ice topped with Jones Soda Fufu Berry. Cheers to summer!