Start small and build up bottle by bottle. Better yet, buy smaller bottles of booze to avoid having to make too much of an upfront investment.

Mid-range alcohol is the way to get started; you don’t need to be extravagant but cheap bottom-shelf booze should be avoided too.

Buy staples: whisky, gin, rum, vodka and tequila provide the base ingredients for many of the classics.

Vermouth should also be on your shopping list, especially if you’re planning to impress with Manhattans or Martinis.

Liqueurs should be bought according to the cocktails you enjoy. Love White Russians? You need Kahlua. French Martinis? Chambord.

Bitters and syrups are prerequisite for many whisky-based cocktails. Gomme or simple syrup is very easy to make at home.

Mixers like soda and tonic water can easily be stored away. Buy fresh fruit juices when required, or, better still, squeeze your own.

Garnishes like lemons, oranges, mint and olives are key components of many cocktails and shouldn’t be an afterthought. Where would a Mojito be without mint?

Barware doesn’t need to be elaborate. A simple cocktail shaker, strainer and muddler will allow you to make most cocktails. Jiggers are optional, especially if free pouring is more your style.

Glassware: shot glasses, highballs and stemmed glasses will be more than adequate to begin with. The hurricane glass can wait for another day.

Odds and ends like toothpicks, napkins and straws provide the finishing touches. Why not throw a cocktail umbrella in there too?

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