A good home bar isn't about having the most bottles. It's about having the right bottles, the right tools, and the knowledge to use them. Here's our guide to building a bar that you'll actually use — and that your guests will actually remember.

The Foundation: Six Bottles

Start here and you can make 80% of classic cocktails: a quality bourbon (Buffalo Trace), a London dry gin (Beefeater), a blanco tequila (Espolon), a light rum (Plantation 3 Stars), a rye whiskey (Rittenhouse), and sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica). That's it. Six bottles, under $200 total.