My favorite bar is in Tom Filicia's house in upstate New York. His house was featured in Domino and the bar is one of the things I remember most about it - rustic and well-stocked.

Setting up a well-stocked bar was a natural focus when my husband and I combined households. My parents entertained frequently, and he grew up in the wine industry. We now have a decently stocked bar, visible behind glass in our dining room, but it's nothing really over the top when compared to many other people we know. So we've both been *quite* surprised (and a bit chagrined) by the reactions we've gotten from neighbors or visitors who don't know us well, always something akin to, "Geez, do a little drinking?!"

I take this as rather insulting - we have the occasional drink or cocktail, and when we have friends over, there's usually either a signature cocktail for the evening, an aperitif, or we do a small tasting flight of liqueurs that are exotic to our guests. If we were just getting bombed regularly, we'd have 2 or 3 bottles of bourbon and call it good! But the reaction sometimes makes me wonder if we should swap the liquor with the dishes currently hidden away in the sideboard. Boring!

We have the basics (gin, bourbon, vodka, tequila, raki/ouzo), with both top-shelf and "for mixing" options. We also have most of your typical cocktail add-ons: French and Italian vermouth, high quality amaretto, creme de cassis, Chambord, Cointreau, St. Germaine, Kahlua, Bailey's, mini bottles of kirsch and various pear brandies, sake, wine, port, ginger wine...and there are many others I'd like to keep on hand but simply don't have the space (limoncello, Campari/Ramazotti, curacao, creme de menthe), not to mention the exotic new spirits that are always turning up!

There is nothing like pulling a surprise out of a well-stocked bar. Its something we love...especially during the holidays.

These are two of my favorite lil bars we carry, which are kind of modest in comparison to some we have designed. But, fun nonetheless!

http://eclecticlifestyle.bigcartel.com/product/svete-bar-table

http://eclecticlifestyle.bigcartel.com/product/philmore-wine-bar

@dimsum: I think this might be a cultural thing. I've always raised my eyebrows (but never said anything to my host!) when I walk in to someone's house and see a bar. I don't assume they are alcoholics, but it does make me think that they probably party a lot. My parents are both immigrants and in their countries the only time you would ever have hard liquor at home is for a special occasion (weddings, Christmas, etc). So, just take it as a compliment when people make a comment--you have a lot to celebrate!

Yeah, I'd agree with Dimsum. Most people who keep fine spirits and nice barware and whatnot around seem to drink responsibly, and most people who just drink to get trashed are going to have jugs of cheap stuff, beer in cans, etc. There's of course middle ground, but there's definitely quite a different style between people who drink to enjoy and people who drink to get drunk.

In terms of actual alcoholics, they're a pretty diverse bunch, but it's nonetheless quite common to prefer the same drink or type of each time, hence no need for a full bar. Most are doing it as a self-soothing thing, so they might have this compulsion where as soon as they get home they start with the martinis or screwdrivers or whatever does it for them.

We have our alcohol and glassware in a glass-doored tall, narrow BILLY shelf.

I'd say if someone I visit gets defensive about their drinking, or starts explaining why they have so much alcohol at home, then I certainly raise my eyebrows. It's not really about how refined their booze/wine collection is. If they're making excuses, they feel like they have to make excuses.

Meanwhile, what alcohol we have is in an ordinary sideboard, away from light that supposedly hurts wine and whisky and such. We have a ragtag collection, the liquor largely leftovers from parties, so it's nothing to display proudly. I'd prefer it at a better height for actually getting a bottle out to serve to people.

I have a vintage chrome bar cart for sale on craigslist if anyone is interested: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/fuo/2057274790.html

WEll a nicely stocked bar is great but I have noticed that people just seem to migrate toward wine and beer. I liked to make cocktails but people just seem to want the ordinary stuff.