When shopping for liquor always buy the best brand that you can reasonably afford.  Quality ingredients can make a huge difference, especially for cocktails served straight up or on the rocks.  

People don't expect you to provide the same broad selection of alcohol as your favorite upscale bar.  

The following is a list of items you will need for a basic home bar.  Increase the amount of any items that you think will be the most popular at your particular event.  For example, vodka is a popular alcohol served either alone or with almost any mix.


Shopping List 


Liquor, Beer and Wine
2 bottles vodka
1 bottle dry gin 
1 bottle scotch
1 bottle American whiskey
1 bottle rum
1 bottle tequila
1 small bottle dry vermouth
1 small bottle sweet vermouth
2 bottles white wine
2 bottles re wine
1 or 2 cases of beer (preferably a mix of regular beer and light beer)
3 or 4 bottles of your favorite liqueurs (coffee liqueur, amaretto and creme de cacao are ingredients in many popular drinks)


Mixers 
5 or 6 bottles club soda
5 or 6 bottles tonic water
4 or 5 bottles cola
2 or 3 bottles diet cola
2 or 3 bottles lemon lime soda
3 bottles orange juice 
2 bottles tomato juice 
2 bottles grapefruit juice
2 bottles pineapple juice
3 or 4 bottles cranberry juice
4 quarts sweet and sour mix
1 bottle lime juice
4 bottles fresh spring water


Garnishes
1 jar olives
1 jar maraschino cherries
limes 
lemons
oranges


Supplies
cocktail napkins
straws
stirrers/swizzle sticks
glassware


Equipment
blender
shaker set
ice bucket
tongs