WHY should you cut down on the variety and quantity of drinks you offer your guests at home when all you really have to do is think ahead a little? Home bars needn't take up lots of space - unless your lifestyle demands they do.
Advance preparation and proper organisation are the key to entertaining people at home, says the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild, whose latest publication, The International Guide To Drinks has just reached Hong Kong.
Few people are fortunate enough to have professional bartending facilities, they add. But that doesn't mean your friends have to be subjected to 'a single concoction, prepared long in advance, which is topped up from time to time (this can cause wild and sometimes treacherous fluctuations in its content)'.
If you are having a party, start your preparation with plenty of ice, kept in the bath or a spare sink to avoid the mess when it melts. Always have at least some ice in your freezer, so that you are never caught unprepared.
Slice oranges and lemons for garnishing ahead of time. Cover them with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and refrigerate. This will keep them fresh. Fresh fruit juice can also be squeezed in advance.
If you are planning drinks containing sugar, make up a sugar syrup with one cup of sugar to one cup of water. Boil until the sugar is dissolved, bottle and refrigerate. The mixture will keep indefinitely.