It’s interesting, the concept of home bars. Growing up, it was always something we’d see at our Afrikaans friends’ homes. Often close to an indoor braai area, generally clad in bright orange face brick. Not my scene.

I never had a bar in my home until a few months ago. We didn’t get into it for a couple of weeks – constantly giving it a wide berth – waiting for that special moment to use it. Now that we’ve ‘broken the seal’, as it were, we can’t get enough of it.

You know that old story of everyone ending up drinking in the kitchen at the end of the night? That happens in homes without bars. Bars are awesome and everyone should have one.

And you don’t need to have a party or extra people to use the bar – it should be used on a daily basis for everything from grabbing a glass of ice water, to a quick beer slider between sessions of amazingness.

I thought I’d run you through a few choice highlights from All Bar Seth.

Some highlights include this Montecristo “A” which I was given by my brother-in-law Mike on the birth of my first masculine child.

The Monty “A”

According to Cuba Journal:

This isn’t a cigar you see often in even the finest Casas del Habano around the world. It isn’t an everyday cigar. It is something momentous.

It’s 23,5cm long, or about 9.25 inches, with a ring gauge of 47 — a whole evening of smoking in one cigar.

While it’s a large stick, it isn’t overwhelmingly powerful — it’s strong but never too strong.

It begins with earthy, leathery flavors [sic] that open up into a creamy smoke with strong notes of cacao. The aroma is intoxicating – notes of caramel, leather, butterscotch, cocoa powder, vanilla and milk chocolate.

The draw? Perfect. The burn? Perfect.

The verdict? Out of this world.

This is an all-time classic, and a bucket list cigar.

Cuba Journal Rating: 96 points.

You’ll be pleased to note standards aren’t slipping.

That’s obviously the star of the show in the humidor. The rest of the contents shift and change depending on consumption.

That’s the Montecristo “A” dominating at the bottom

So let’s chat booze.

It’s important to have the big four spirits available in one’s home bar – two dark and two white spirits. You’ll find gin, vodka, brandy and whizzo at All Bar Seth

GIN

Gin has become a complex environment in which to participate. It’s reached a point where people don’t really know their arse from their elbow. With ‘fynbos extracts’, ‘essence of elderflower’ and God knows what else, the craft aspect really has got ahead of itself. To have a G&T has become an experimental rollercoaster, rather than simply reliable and enjoyable. Not that one should settle for rubbish.

Cape Town Gin Company’s wares are reassuringly expensive – not silly – with suitable complexity to satisfy hipsters, snobs and those who don’t know any better (we applaud you).

They offer three options; the Classic Dry, the Pink Lady, and the Rooibos Red. I love them all, but it should be noted that the Pink Lady was the best selling alcohol on Takealot for a spell.

Not too shabby.

Cape Town Gin – Rooibos Red, The Pink Lady, Classic Dry

To complement such a quality selection, one needs to have the tastiest bespoke mixers.

I keep the full range of Fitch & Leedes on hand, which includes a pink tonic and a sugar-free pink tonic for my sugar-conscious mates. I left Schweppes after they confused me (and everyone else) by making their soda waters look like tonic. I can’t rely on a brand like that.

Sis.

Fitch & Leedes – quietly

Black Bush, Pastis de Marseilles, Stoli, Boekenhoutskloof Journeyman, Jack Parow brandy

VODKA (top right)

I don’t know anyone who still drinks vodka, but I keep a bottle of Stoli on hand. I have no loyalty when it comes to vodka and keep Stolichnaya purely because Stevie says I should. I guess a vodka, lime and soda can be quite ‘refreshing’ from time to time.

WHISKEY (top left)

I chop and change, to be honest. It’s either Bushmills ‘Black Bush‘ or Johnny Walker Black. I think if you’re operating at this level you need to have a black whisk(e)y available at your bar. We strive for blue, but black will do.

We’ve grown out of Jamesons, J&B and Bells. ‘Black Bush’ is definitely my go to at the moment.

BRANDY (bottom right)

I’m not going to pretend to know anything about brandy. My mates climb into it when things get carried away. I pulled out a bottle Jack Parow gave me the other night and can confirm it’s a winner. How can it not be, with the words ‘Karate Water’ inscribed on the label? Get yours here.

SURPRISE ADDITION – Pastis (top left)

You need a surprise act in your bar. Something foreign, that your guests might not be used to. Something with a story. We served shots of Pastis to all of my wedding guests, as they walked out of the chapel of Menerbes, a medieval hilltop village in the South of France.

The effects of Pastis are oft compared to absinthe. I get quite into it when in France, and can confirm that I am yet to cut off my ear. Although I have broken a rib during a highly energetic game of multi-terrace garden boules. I’m not sure how that happened.

At home, I drink Ricard Pastis de Marseilles.

Per Wikipedia :

Pastis was first commercialized by Paul Ricard in 1932 and enjoys substantial popularity in France, especially in the southeastern regions of the country, mostly Marseille, (Bouches-du-Rhône) and the Var department.[1] Pastis emerged some 17 years after the ban on absinthe, during a time when the French nation was still apprehensive of high-proof anise drinks in the wake of the absinthe debacle.[2] The popularity of pastis may be attributable to a penchant for anise drinks that was cultivated by absinthe decades earlier, but is also part of an old tradition of Mediterranean anise liquors that includes sambuca, ouzo, arak, rakı, and mastika. The name “pastis” comes from Occitan pastís which means mash-up.

Sol is Seth’s house beer (above left) and Cape Town Gin to the right

My house beer at home is Sol. It also happens to be the only beer available at Cafe du Cap and Cabine du Cap. Be sure to check out Cafe du Cap’s (113 Loop Street) 2-for-1 special here.

It’s risky business serving an exclusive beer (or any alcohol, for that matter), but I am yet to hand over an ice-cold Sol without a pair of glad-eyes on the receiving end.

The same goes for Boekenhoutskloof. It’s essential to have a bottle of their top shelves. Journeyman is a shoo-in to impress any wine snob that totters in. That’s if you can find a bottle.

Chocolate Block is such a crowd pleaser, with Wolftrap and Porcupine Ridge. On summer afternoons the rosé flows like the salmon of Capistrano.

A special mention goes to the bottle of 1977 Overgaauw I am yet to open. It was a gift from Evan. I’d tell you the significance of the year, but you wouldn’t believe me. I’m sure we’ll open it soon.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the new Cannador. This model keeps two strains fresh for today’s urban (and suburban) Connosieur. You can read more about that (and see where to get one) here.

Nobody said living in Constantia was easy, but we do our best to make it work.

And so ends my tour – cheers, friends.