It's cocktail hour somewhere.

this looks great! Cherry Caipirissima. These colors (and the ice) speak to me.
photo by Andrew Scrivani for the New York Times
NYT Summer Drinks article

It was 90 today. Icy summer drinks and cocktail hour. What a great combination.

Mixing cocktails is fun and if you do it well your guests will be impressed (if not immediately, certainly after the second round).

Gin and tonic. Classic. I love these flowers.

But it does require tools, various spirits and interesting ingredients. Inevitably, a few years into mixing and you will have a nice collection of bourbon, whisky, gin, vodka, vermouth, rum, tequila --- lots of bottles, plus a whole bunch of tools, an ice bucket, a cool soda siphon, appropriate sized and stemmed glassware, etc.

Before you know it, you need a "bar". An old school cart is always nice, seems very British (to me), has the advantage of mobility but everything is so out in the open.

A "drinks cabinet" is just the thing.

Parker Spirits Cabinet

Crate and Barrel has two nice options, the Parker and the Marin. Parker would be great in an apartment or where space is limited. Not too big, not too small. Good storage for wine and liquor. And reasonably priced at $379. I did the Marin earlier this year for one of my clients. It has more capacity, glassware storage, and a drawer. $990.

Marin Bar

Bolier's Japanese inspired Kinkou Dry Bar in cerused ash or wrapped in linen is bigger and has everything. A smoked mirror backing the inside of the cabinet, LED lighting, stepped shelves with room for what looks like 20 or so bottles, a pull out shelf, a drawer for tools, fitted doors that hold glassware or more bottles. Style, quality, excellent craftsmanship, $7350. Something you could hand down to your grandchildren...

Kinkou Dry Bar from Bolier

Linen wrapped Kinkou Dry Bar.

This bar from Jonathan Charles is Art Deco inspired. The sunburst effect of the book matched veneer is an interesting element. Graceful ebony legs. $4485. This bar looks great with the doors open.

Santos Rosewood Drinks Cabinet, Jonathan Charles

Ample bottle and stemware storage, couple drawers, and lovely legs.

Barring a bar, or while saving up for one, use a tray and your best glassware. And the fresh flowers never hurt.

Jim Aman's and John Meeks' bar via NY Social Diary

Here's the recipe for the Cherry Caipirissima. Adapted from Meaghan Dorman, Raines Law Room, Manhattan, via NYTimes.

3/4 ounce simple syrup
3 cherries, pitted and halved
half a lime, cut into quarters
2 ounces white rum

In a cocktail shaker, press and mix the simple syrup, cherries and lime quarters with a muddler or wooden spoon. Add the rum and 6 ice cubes. Shake hard and pour everything into a rocks glass. Yield: 1 drink.

If you'd like further info on the Kinkou Dry Bar or Santos Rosewood Drinks Cabinet, email me.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

if you'd love to have a home you love coming home to, with or without a bar, contact me!

This post was not sponsored by Jonathan Charles, Bolier, Crate and Barrell or The New York Times.