So it seams the traditional home bars were banned from the living room by architects and decorators. With the idea of personalizing and optimizing space, every room of houses, lofts, and apartments designed with the intent of functionality have made a natural selection saying goodbye to some of the classics. Every man wanted to have a beautiful bar in the living to enjoy a nice time with his friends and even show off his 18 years old scotch bottles, famous liquors, and genuine crystals. The truth is the desire never faded, it was simply replaced by the fascination over plasma TVs, laptops and gorgeous white leather chairs. The bottles will certainly be well placed on a glass table, surrounded by citric color glasses and a perfect bucket for the Proseco. But how do you put together your own personal bar? If you already have yours, you must know a true connoisseur likes to serve the drinks in his own parties or receptions. So, he surely knows well the traditional cocktails, the proper way to pour a fine Cognac and the precise temperature to serve a good Merlot. It seams easy to go to a good licker store and buy lots of fine beverages without really knowing any of them. First thing, you have to know what drink goes with what kind of food. Everyone knows the basics: beer is for watching football with friends, a fine white wine goes with seafood, champagne for special occasions and scotch for business meetings. There is plenty more, though, and many drinks have their on rituals that should be respected. Don´t worry; we´ll let you ask for vodka and Red bull when you´re out clubbing, that one passes. The American bar is very practical and can be built with a small shelf on the wall where the counter is. Less used bottles stay on the shelf behind the counter, always following a classification: more expensive liquors at the top. The idea of this kind of bar is always facing the guests. Most important thing is the bar having some essential elements: a minibar, shelves for the bottles, a place where you can prepare the drinks, and useful tools as a fruit knife, ice picker, mixer, etc. In case you don´t have enough space for a proper bar, use a table to put the tray in which you put your bottles and some glasses. But here are some rules to be followed so that the act of drinking does not become too frugal: - The Cognac is served after dinner, since it´s a heavy drink, ideal for those who like to appreciate a good cigar after a nice meal; - Watch out for wine glasses: for white wine, long hastes to avoid the heat from the hands and elongated narrow cups to maintain the right temperature; for red, short haste and round cup, proper for being held. The right overture for the wine to breath; - Sweet and bodied liquors must be poured in small doses and, therefore, small glasses; dry liquors, on the other hand, may be served on bigger glasses, maybe even with ice cubes; - White wine, dry sherries, and vodka are served cold and must be kept on the refrigerator, as they never solidify; - An olive goes well with Dry Martini, giving some of its flavors to the drink; - Mineral water for neat whisky; - Just for a nice touch on your cocktails, keep the glasses on the fridge. Most important tip of them all, drinking too much is the tackiest thing you can do. Enjoy your drinks without going overboard. Cheers! Mariana Goulart goulart_mari@hotmail.com 08/06/2007