30 Easy Recipes to Create the Ultimate DIY Home Bar (2024)

Updated on 03/15/22

• 01 of 30

  Amaretto Liqueur

  

  Liqueurs are sweetened distilled spirits and some of the easiest alcoholic beverages to make from scratch. Using store-bought liquor (vodka, whiskey, brandy, and rum are common bases), all you need to do is add the flavor and sweetener.

  Amaretto is a brilliant place to start your journey. The recipe simply blends homemade simple syrup with vodka and adds almond and vanilla extracts for flavor.

• 02 of 30

  Orange Liqueur

  

  Using a different approach, this homemade orange liqueur infuses orange peels in vodka. After a couple of weeks, you'll just need to make simple syrup and blend it to taste. The liqueur is very close to commercial triple sec, and a little brandy turns it into a Grand Marnier substitute for half the cost.

• 03 of 30

  Raspberry Liqueur

  

  Looking for a homemade version of Chambord? You can make raspberry liqueur with nothing more than raspberries, sugar, and a bottle of vodka. It's ready to drink and use in co*cktails like the French martini in about 14 days.

• 04 of 30

  Coffee Liqueur

  

  Use rum or vodka for a homemade coffee liqueur that rivals Kahlúa. Sweetened with a vanilla bean-infused coffee syrup, the liqueur makes an excellent white Russian.

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• 05 of 30

  Irish Cream Liqueur

  

  Homemade Irish cream is a great gift for the holidays, and it takes just a few minutes to prepare. With an Irish whiskey base, condensed milk, cream, and a few simple flavorings, it's a fun project to whip up and fabulous in coffee.

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• 06 of 30

  Crème de Menthe

  

  A sweet, fresh minty taste awaits in a bottle of homemade crème de menthe. This recipe begins with a vodka infusion of fresh mint leaves, which is blended with simple syrup. Whether you add green food coloring or keep it clear, it outshines any artificially-flavored option at the liquor store.

• 07 of 30

  Limoncello

  

  A classic Italian limoncello requires the longest time investment in your DIY bar, but the lusciously sweet lemon taste is worth it. Using organic lemons, high-proof grain alcohol, sugar, and water, it takes nearly two months before it's ready to drink.

• 08 of 30

  Cranberry Liqueur

  

  Grab an inexpensive bottle of red wine and some brandy, and you're ready to make cranberry liqueur. It's a fantastic use for fresh cranberries when they come into season during the winter, but works just as well with the frozen fruit.

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• 09 of 30

  Peach Liqueur

  

  In summer, transform those perfectly ripe peaches into a zesty spirit. The peach liqueur recipe combines vodka with brandy for extra dimension and complements the peach with fresh lemon and orange zest.

• 10 of 30

  Vanilla Liqueur

  

  True vanilla liqueurs are not the easiest to find at the liquor store, so this is one you'll definitely want to make yourself. Infused with real vanilla bean, the syrup is blended with vodka and brandy, and your vanilla liqueur is ready within a day.

• 11 of 30

  Campari

  

  Secret recipes for complexly flavored spirits like Campari make replicating it a challenge. However, with a stockpile of dried roots and herbs, along with high-proof vodka, you can come pretty close with this Campari recipe.

• 12 of 30

  Cucumber-Infused Vodka

  

  Straight infusions skip the sweetener, opting instead to steep the raw ingredient in plain liquor. Vodka is a popular choice because its neutral taste is an ideal venue for nearly any flavor. Cucumber-infused vodka is a great introduction to this easy process, and it's fabulous in summertime co*cktails.

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• 13 of 30

  Lavender-Rosemary Infused Vodka

  

  Lavender and rosemary are a match made in herbal heaven. Enjoy their floral taste in lavender-rosemary infused vodka, and use it in your vodka tonics or martinis. It's sure to become a favorite in your DIY bar.

• 14 of 30

  Chamomile-Infused Vodka

  

  Skip the herbal tea, and use chamomile to make vodka instead! The blossoms require a relatively quick infusion of just 12 hours, and you can sweeten the chamomile vodka if you like. Tasty on its own, it's great with a splash of lemon and seltzer.

• 15 of 30

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  Lemongrass-Ginger Infused Tequila

  

  Vodka is not the only option for infusions, and tequila's earthy agave flavor is a wonderful backdrop for fun combinations. The lemongrass-ginger tequila has a bright citrus taste backed by fresh ginger's snappy spice, and it makes an intriguing margarita.

• 16 of 30

  Coffee-Infused Bourbon

  

  Whiskey is best with darker flavorings that can stand up to its bold taste. It's a natural pairing for coffee, and the coffee-infused bourbon recipe requires nothing more than a bottle of whiskey, coffee beans, and two days.

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• 17 of 30

  Cocoa-Infused Rye Whiskey

  

  Chocolate-infused rye whiskey is the key ingredient in the cocoa old-fashioned co*cktail. You won't find that flavored whiskey at the store, but the good news is that the cacao nib infusion is all set to drink in just a few days.

• 18 of 30

  Aromatic co*cktail Bitters

  

  Bitters are the finishing touch that can turn a mediocre drink into a spectacular co*cktail. Infused with an array of botanicals, it may take 20 days for a batch of homemade aromatic bitters, but your patience will be rewarded with the first sip of your next martini.

• 19 of 30

  Chocolate Bitters

  

  Once you perfect the basic bitters recipe, try chocolate bitters. Along with a handful of essential botanicals, roasted cacao nibs are infused into strong bourbon, and a few dashes will perk up your favorite whiskey co*cktails.

• 20 of 30

  Orange Simple Syrup

  

  Whether you want to bypass liquor infusions for the moment or create a versatile sweetener for mocktails, coffee, and tea, simple syrup is, well, beyond simple! It takes the headache out of dissolving granular sugar into cold drinks, and is made with nothing more than sugar and water. Adding flavor can be as simple as a few orange peels, like those used in this orange syrup recipe.

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• 21 of 30

  Lemon Simple Syrup

  

  Switch to lemon zest and add the citrus fruit's juice to your syrup to create a brightly flavored lemon simple syrup. This is a great alternative to sour mix in co*cktails and an ideal base for fresh lemonade (just add water!).

• 22 of 30

  Jalapeño Simple Syrup

  

  Give your drinks a spicy kick with jalapeño simple syrup. It's a fantastic sweetener for anyone who loves a dash of heat in their co*cktails and is ready within an hour.

• 23 of 30

  Ginger Simple Syrup

  

  Ginger simple syrup is more versatile than you might expect. Sure, it works in co*cktails like the vodka ginger, but it's also the base for homemade ginger ale and ginger lemonade. And, ginger pairs well with vanilla and lemon if you want a slightly more complex syrup.

• 24 of 30

  Coffee Syrup

  

  For a nonalcoholic alternative to coffee liqueur, you're going to love coffee syrup. Instead of simple syrup's water, you'll use the strongest coffee you can brew. Like all of these syrups, it has massive drink potential but is also divine when drizzled over desserts.

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• 25 of 30

  Keto Simple Syrup

  

  Simple syrup relies on sugar, and that just won't work if you're trying to avoid it. You can easily transform any simple syrup recipe into a sugar-free delight by using this keto simple syrup recipe. Add any flavoring you like...the secret is to choose the right sugar-free sweetener, and we found the one that actually works without a bitter aftertaste.

• 26 of 30

  Maraschino Cherries

  

  Garnishes dress up co*cktails and add flavor, but they're often overlooked at home, which is a shame. Some of the blame may lie on those brightly colored, artificially flavored jars of maraschino cherries. Step up your garnish game and discover how easy maraschino cherries are to make from scratch.

• 27 of 30

  Citrus-Flavored Margarita Salt

  

  Love a salty rim on your margarita glass? It's a fantastic contrast in flavor, and easy to do. Sure, you can buy flavored salts, or you can make citrus margarita salt at home for a fraction of the cost.

• 28 of 30

  Pickled Okra

  

  Bloody Mary garnishes can get quite crazy because anything savory works well with spiked tomato juice. Skip the pickles and celery, and try pickled okra or pickled green beans instead. These canning recipes work for pearl onions, so you can make co*cktail onions for the Gibson, too.

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• 29 of 30

  Quinine-Free Tonic Water

  

  Homemade sodas are simple; top a flavored syrup with carbonated water. Tonic water is a bit more complicated because the syrup is flavored with several botanicals, and cinchona bark (a key ingredient from which quinine is derived) can be toxic if you don't have lab equipment to properly test it. To get around that, switching out a few botanicals makes a wonderful (and safe) homemade tonic water to drink straight, and it's great with gin or vodka.

• 30 of 30

  Ice

  

  What's the one thing that you use for almost every co*cktail? Ice! True, making ice simply requires freezing water, but there are several steps that you can take to improve this vital ingredient and make every drink better.