All hail the return of the drinks trolley. Not only does it mean you can make yourself a great drink in the comfort of your own home, but it’s also a guaranteed chance to show off when you’re next entertaining. Crafting the perfect one has become a fine art, seemingly only achievable by Pinterest bloggers and lifestyle magazines. But fear not. We’re here with a step by step guide to achieving a seamless blend of function and flair that will have you questioning why it took you this long to jump on the bandwagon.

Start with the booze

Ideally, you’ll want a range of different spirits, liqueurs & vermouths so you can knock up whatever you fancy without leaving the house. Let’s get started with the basics first. A great gin (Tanqueray London Dry) and vodka (Ketel One please) are essential for most of your classic cocktails like our Espresso Martini, Spritzers, Gin Martini, Bloody Mary. If margs are the flavour of the week then you’ll need a quality tequila (Don Julio Blanco) and then, of course, a bottle of rum and whisky won’t go amiss.

Ice, Ice Baby

Whether you’re chilling champagne or scooping out ice cubes for cocktails, an ice bucket is essential. Polishing up an old one or finding one at vintage shops and markets can create an old world feel to match the classic cocktail theme of the trolley, and they won't break the bank.

Essential glassware

When stocking a drinks trolley, it’s important to know the difference between the “must haves” and “nice to haves”. If you enjoy a range of different cocktails we recommend a selection of rocks glasses (short ones), highballs (tall ones), coupettes or martini glasses. Go for two or four of a kind so that you can enjoy them with friends.

Cocktail Equipment

A cocktail kit not only looks great on your drinks trolley – it also makes having a drink easier too! Complete Cocktail Kits can be purchased via our website (and include everything you need to look and feel like a pro.) BUT remember never deprive yourself of a cocktail for lack of a shaker! Check out our home hacks kit-less cocktails here.

Simple Mixers

What you stock up on will completely depend on what you like to drink but we find some useful things to have on hand are tonic water, soda water, simple syrup, Belvoir elderflower cordial and Angostura bitters.

Bringing it all together #styleme

You’ve stocked up. You’re ready to go. Now it’s just a case of bringing it all together. Think about adding some flowers or plants, a fruit bowl, tray or quirky objects to inject your own personality into your masterpiece. Summed up perfectly below…thank you pintrest.