Bar stock
There is of course no 'initial fix' to a fully stocked bar. It is an ongoing process requiring the addition of certain liquors etc. at a time when there becomes a demand for them.

Most or all of the ingredients below are considered essential bar-stock, and should act only as a foundation to a well stocked bar.


Liquors

Gin,Vodka,Rum (light/dark),Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, Rye/Canadian, Irish Cream, Amaretto (almond),Blue Curacao (orange), Chambord (raspberry), Cointreau (orange), Creme de Banana (banana), Creme de Cacao (chocolate) , Creme de Menthe (mint), Frangelico (hazelnut), Galliano (herb), Godiva (chocolate), Goldschlager (cinnamon), Grand Marnier (orange), Jagermeister (herb), Kahlua (coffee) , Midori (melon), Rumple Minze (peppermint), Sambuca (anise), Schnapps (various flavors), Southern Comfort (peach), Tia Maria (coffee), Triple Sec (orange)

Wine
White (dry), Red (dry), Champagne, Vermouth (dry/sweet)

Tequila
Brandy/Cognac
Beer


Mixers

Angosturas Bitters
Lemonade
Cola
Cream
Eggs
Ginger Ale
Grenadine
Ice Cream
Milk
Orange Bitters
Sour Mix
Sprite/7-Up
Tea/Coffee
Water
- Soda
- Tonic

Christmas gifts

Perhaps your dad would prefer something a little more memorable than a woolly jumper this year? In an age where people are looking for the ultimate gift, more and more are turning away from the traditional Christmas kitsch, and instead giving the gift of memories to friends and families rather than just material possessions.

Gift experiences can cover a vast range of activities, which means that there is a suitable experience for everyone, from toddlers to teenagers, young guys to grannies, mothers and babies; there are even gift experiments tailored especially for couples or for the entire family.

If you're buying for a adrenaline-seeker you have plenty of choice as there are now hundreds of experiences which are bound to suit even the most hardened action man; paintball, white water rafting, a day's go-karting or bob-sleighing; even a microlight flight. The price of gift experiences can cost as little as £25, but can go up to several thousands of pounds for the most unusual and extravagant events.

Basic activities such as paintball are a great value option, but if you're really looking to impress, a complete package can be built that encompass some very special experiences. How about a helicopter tour over London, or hiring a Harley Davidson motorbike for the day? Perhaps you'd prefer to drive a Ferrari or an Apache Off-Road Racer, or take to the sky in a Champagne Baloon flight?

But chtistmas gift experiences aren't just for the boys. Ladies will enjoy spa and pampering days, photo makeovers, even the chance to design your own handbag. And who says that the girls won't enjoy a day on the race track too?

There can also be a potential environmental benefit to giving a gift experience rather than material possessions. With an experience there tends to be no wasted wrapping paper or unwanted packaging, and your gift won't just ending up stuffed into the back of a cupboard, never to see the light of day again. Saying that - a fast and furious driving experience or a ride in a fighter plane is likely to come with a significant carbon footprint, but you can of course select greener experiences if you wish.

So - this Christmas, why not give a memory, (rather than a pair of socks) to your friends and family, and join the growing trend of gifting experiences.

Wine selection

Wine, like coffee, is a beverage that somehow inspires romantic tinge. Not "romantic" in the relational sense, but in that intimate, humane way that brings about affection in the queerest of inanimate objects. Down throughout the ages, wine has inspired all sorts of feelings, touching both culture and lifestyle. At least among those who know how to appreciate it, wine, my dear, is no ordinary drink; Least of all should it be approached ordinarily.

The origin of wine, unlike the origin of coffee, is still in dispute. All that is known is that wine was first alluded to in old Grecian texts and artifacts. It was first thoroughly recorded in ancient Egypt, long after the Greeks. And to the Greeks, wine was a sacrament, represented no less by an actual god, Dionysius. However, no proof has been found of wine being made anywhere else, and vice versa. In time (say around the first millennium), even the Chinese took a liking to wine; though they created their's out of rice and not grapes. But this only goes to show that wine, despite its source, is near-universal, even in the face of culture and geography.

Coffee spread by word-of-mouth.

Yes. Wine conjures images of rich snobs and bored housewives. This is all true, if only because rich snobs and bored housewives also drink the drink along with everybody else. Wine is for anyone with the passion to learn how to drink it. And why learn? Well, here's the thing: for every kind of wine there awaits a soul.

The first step to discovering your ideal bottle is in purchasing it. Be warned: wine is a Veblen good. Thorstein Veblen coined the term to describe how the desirability of a product will go up when its price goes up. In other words, it is expensive because people want it, and people want it because it is expensive. Expensive wines are priced in the similar way of any other brand-name good, for its recognition and reputation. One can argue for miles about the varied qualities of winemakers themselves. Truth is that it all boils down to a matter of personal preference. Bad wines and good wines are still outstanding; and an educated taste is still worth acquiring. What matters is that you simply hit the sweet spot in a connoisseur's refined taste, to know the proverbial difference, all the while having elbow room to retreat into yourself, into your own ultimate definition of "good" wine; be it expensive or cheap.

Oh yes, before I forget. Looking, smelling, tasting, and swirling wine comprise the rest of the wine connoisseur's method of judging. Look through your glass. The wine should be cloudy with sediment, or transparent with little to none. Then smell the wine however you like, from afar or with a deep sniff inside the glass itself. And finally, sip it, lightly, and hold it over your tongue. Breathe in a whiff of air into your mouth, awkwardly, as air allows the wine to get bolder in taste. Swallow. No, it's not over yet. Try to detect any aftertaste, whether on the tongue or the throat. And in the end, was every step pleasurable, according to your own standards?

And as such, wine is not a drink that is simply drunk, consumed, but held on the brink of the soul, and appreciated.