Suave men in tuxedos, women dripping with jewels, as the piano player in the corner starts the chorus with a snappy jazz number. The cocktails are flowing freely while some discerning member sips their third glass of wine, all covered in a haze of cigar smoke because smoking indoors hadn’t been outlawed yet.

This is the mental image you form when we say the word “speakeasy”, right?

It takes you back to a bygone era where alcohol might have been prohibited, but the fun never stopped—sometimes, it was, and that was at great expense. We live in easier times now. In fact, we live in a time where we can build a cellar in our basements with custom wine racks and enjoy our collection of fine wines and liquor!

So, for your next intimate party (a birthday, anniversary or 4th of July maybe), make it into a speakeasy! In this blog, we will share the various tips you can use in your wine cellar as the space for a speakeasy-themed party.

Key Elements of a Speakeasy

If your custom wine cellar resides in the basement of your house, you already have half of the elements of a speakeasy readymade! 

The next thing you would need is a “hidden” entrance since the 1920s Prohibition Era is all about combining the vintage charm with mystery. The other elements that make it perfect are dark wood furniture, leather upholstery, vintage decor, and dim lighting. This party theme thrills guests due to the “forbidden” factor of it. Sounds strange but remember, even with serious legalities, people in that era were still partying!

So, are you now ready to decorate your custom wood wine racks to host the most awesome speakeasy party?

Tips to Dress Up Your Luxury Wine Racks For The Party

• Design the Secret Entrance

No, you don’t need to carve out a whole new door to make a secret entrance. All you need is some materials and a lot of creativity!

Simply set up a poster on the basement door. You will find a lot of Art Deco inspiration online, especially on Pinterest. The Art Deco theme is all about geometric shapes and gilded designs, so use plenty of sharp lines and gold paint. 

Or if you can hire a graphic designer to do this for you, do it!

After the poster is done, just stick it on the basement door. Add some fairy lights around the doorframe and place some empty food packets around the gate to give it a rundown appearance. 

• Set The Bar 

Now that the entrance is taken care of, it’s time to set up your makeshift bar.

You already have the ambiance and the secrecy of a basement. Wine cellars are usually temperature-controlled, so it will be cool enough for your guests. You can either drag a table from another room down to the basement or use folding tables for the same effect. Just make sure to cover it with cloth. Or if you’re feeling extra crafty, you can paint it too!

If your cellar has wrought iron wine racks, then your decorating efforts are easily halved. Nothing screams vintage more than wrought iron! 

By the way, if you want to upgrade your old wine racks, you should check out Wine Cellars of Houston. They have some stellar wrought iron designs!

Store Everything In Your Wine Racking System

A wine cellar is not just great for storing wines. It holds space for a variety of things, including other liquors, cheese, and cured meats. So, if you want to set up a makeshift bar and start making martinis, you totally can!

The wine racking in Houston can become a part of your bar. You can store all your other alcohol bottles there for easy access. You can also keep glasses handy by stashing them away on these racks. And if your drink needs a lemon twist or an olive garnish, yes, you can store them in the racks until you need them for the cocktails.

The Fun Part

Now that the decor is out of the way, you can focus on food, dress code, and invites. If it’s a party of 8 to 10 people, we suggest ordering takeout. A caterer that specializes in finger food would be a better option. 

The dress code is obviously inspired by 1920s fashion! Think dresses with frills, and elaborate headbands for the women and tuxedos for the men. The invite should reflect the dress code as well.

The invites are sent, the food is ordered, and the custom wine cabinets are all decked up. Remember to play some swing and jazz music, and dance!

We hope these tips for a speakeasy party serve you well!