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Part of having a successful bar setup is great liquor storage cabinets and shelves. You could have the best Scotch in the world, but if your customers can’t see it they won’t order it. There are plenty of beverage storage ideas out there for how to liquor bottle display. From tall cabinets to wall-mounted shelves to trays and tables, there's something for every bar.
What works best for your bar will depend on what you serve and what kind of space you’re working with. Learning about all kinds of liquor storage cabinets and shelves will help find what works best to display liquor in your bar. It'll also give you something fun to focus on while you learn how to get a liquor license and wait for your license application to be approved.
How to Display Liquor Bottles: Liquor Storage Ideas
Before you decide how to display the different liquor bottle sizes in opening a bar, it’s good to know the best general practices for displaying and storing bottles.
Some best practices for liquor bottles display are:
- Keep your bottles in a moderate temperature space, without direct sunlight.
- Organize by liquor type, for visual appeal and ease of use.
- Make sure the labels are visible if your display is front and center.
- If you have a specialty drink or liquor, make it stand out.
- Outside of visuals, make sure your display is well organized (a barcode scanner app for inventory can also help).
Overall, the most important part of how to display liquor in a bar is all about visual appeal and organization.
How to Display Liquor in a Bar
Now for the question of how to display liquor in a bar. Whether you choose shelves, cabinets, tables, or carts, organization and aesthetics are the most important things to keep in mind. As you’re reading these options keep your liquor collection in mind, to make the right decision for your bar.
You may find these ideas spark another way of displaying your bottles, or you may find something simple that works best for you. Either way, this list is the place to start. From creative ideas to cheap Ikea options, you’re sure to find liquor cabinet ideas that suit your liquor display needs.
Liquor Storage Cabinet
A liquor storage cabinet is a classic way to hold a large amount of liquor in an organized, aesthetically pleasing way. The options range from cabinets made specifically for liquor, to standard bookcases and shelves, to custom options.
If you have a small selection of liquor you want to display, a unique liquor storage cabinet is the best way to go. Perhaps something with glass doors for display purposes, or an accent cabinet. If you have a large selection, it might be a better idea to go with a cheap liquor storage cabinet to save some money. Good places to search are furniture stores, secondhand shops, or online shops like Etsy or eBay.
Liquor Cabinet Ideas
Where you choose to buy your liquor display cabinets is all about what your options are and what you like. For finding the right style, this list of liquor cabinet ideas to look into is a good place to start:
- Glass-front cabinets, for security and classic elegance.
- Standard bookshelves, to decorate any way you like, even as a space for your bar books.
- Open-front wall cabinets, for floor space and visual appeal.
- Mobile cabinet trays, to make it easy to rearrange.
- Glass-front locker-style cabinets, for a retro feel.
You can also find some really creative choices in specialty shops. Etsy is always a safe bet for purchasing or finding inspiration. The whole world of cabinetry is open to you, as long as it can hold liquor bottles safely and fit in with your bar.
Cheap Liquor Cabinet
If you’re buying on a budget, there’s nothing wrong with a cheap liquor cabinet that will suit your needs. With options from Ikea furniture to thrift store finds, you'll be able to find something that suits you. Good places to shop are:
- Ikea
- Costco
- Thrift stores
- Flea markets
- Target
- Wayfair
- Home goods stores
- Garage sales
- Estate sales
- Home Depot or Lowe’s
Since anything can work, any place you’d normally look for cheap furniture in your location is a good choice. Some of these places may offer free shipping for bulk orders when you’re stocking your bar. You can even use a TV stand or something you might find in a living room or home office. A quality office shelf without the office supplies makes for a great whiskey storage rack, or a place for wine glasses outside of your wine cabinets.
Liquor Storage Shelves
If you’d like an option with a few more space-saving attributes, shelves might be for you. While there are shelves out there designed specifically for liquor, the whole world of shelving is open to you. Since the goal is shelving to support liquor bottles, shelving that would support books will work. Anything that will fit wine bottle displays is a good idea. For that matter, a wine rack, wine bar cabinet, or an adjustable shelf for wine storage will be a safe and efficient choice.
Similar to liquor cabinets, there are plenty of options. You can choose shelves from a standard shop, you can go online, or you can build your own.
The places you can go to find good shelving are pretty similar to where you’ll want to search for cabinetry. Of course, you can always look at shelving for liquor in particular, but any sturdy shelving is a safe bet.
How to Build a Liquor Display Shelf
If you decide you want to learn how to build a liquor display shelf, check out building websites to get started. You could also talk to people in your area who build shelving. There are some great ideas online, but the most important thing is that what you build is suitable for holding liquor bottles.
If you choose to create your own shelving, you can make whatever you’d like. Just be sure it’s stable, to keep all your liquor safe.
Liquor Table
A truly unique option for a small, intimate space is a liquor table. As home bars have become more popular, small bar carts or tables have expanded. While storage cabinets and shelves are efficient, a table or cart will boost your bar vibe. You can even hang a glass rack over the top to increase storage and enhance the design.
While it’s less efficient for displaying liquor in a bar, a bar cart or table is a good choice to display some prize bottles. You can find them at nearly any store that sells furniture for a good price. If you want a second option for a small selection of liquor, a liquor table or cart is excellent.
Great Liquor Storage Cabinets and Shelves: An Overview
Your choice of liquor cabinets and shelves is all about what you have to display, and your bar (the best bars all have a personal touch in their storage systems, including the oldest bars in America). With the whole world of cabinets and shelves available to you, you can make the display situation of your bar whatever you want. When it comes down to it, the best liquor storage cabinets and shelves are the ones that make your bar even better.