When “Mad Men” won its Emmy on Sunday our love of 60s modern style – which never really waned – was officially reignited. We got to thinking about handsome men in tailored suits pouring cocktails at the office, and decided, mid-ceremony, that our next project would most definitely be to create a well-stocked home bar (and to meet some men that looked like Jon Hamm). Our plan also involves memorizing the recipe to a signature cocktail (say, a Sidecar or an Old Fashioned), and offering it up to our guests at entirely inappropriate times of day.
 
One can aspire.

 
Chances are you are serving most of your cocktails after dark, but to do so with an air of Mad Men authority you’ll still need that well-stocked bar part. And that means having more than light beers and cheap wine on hand. So, budding bartender, here’s a cheat sheet to stocking up, courtesy of Good Housekeeping. With holiday season approaching, trust us -- it’s a swanky, sound investment.
 
Alcohol

Beer
Blended whiskey
Bourbon
Brandy
Champagne
Gin
Liqueurs (coffee, orange, and herbal)
Rum
Scotch
Sherry (dry and sweet)
Sour mash whiskey
Tequila
Vermouth (dry and sweet)
Vodka
Wine (red, white, and sparkling)

Mixers

Club soda
Fruit juice
Soft drinks
Sparkling and still waters (flavored and plain)
Tomato or seasoned vegetable juice
Tonic water

Garnishes and Flavorings

Bitters, for old-fashioneds
Citrus (lemon, lime, and orange) whole, slices, wedges, or peels
Coarse salt, for margaritas
Cocktail onions, for Gibsons
Cream of coconut, for piña coladas
Hot-pepper sauce, for Bloody Marys
Ice (preferably coarsely crushed)
Maraschino cherries, for Manhattans and old-fashioneds
Olives, for martinis
Simple syrup, for sweet cocktails and punches
Worcestershire, for Bloody Marys

[Image: HellaBella via Flickr]