Home Bar Liquor List - What To Buy?

[Snake Hips]

Brandy - Cardinal Mendoza is a great popular Spanish brandy. Should be just for sipping though; I don't know much about brandy, but I don't want to know anything other than this one! J&M would be an idea for a cheap selection to add.

Bourbon - Woodford Reserve will please anyone from the bourbon drinker to the occasional or inexperienced imbiber. Not too expensive either. Good old Wild Turkey is a must on a shelf too - mixing, sipping, whatever; it's good, inexpensive, recognizable bourbon. I would suggest Jim Beam if I didn't hate it.

Gin - Bombay Sapphire and Plymouth are excellent gins for most if not all gin cocktails. A bottle of Beefeater's is an icon on a bar shelf though if you want a 'generic' one.

Vodka - Not much experience here, but the Russians drink Russian Standard. Very decent and well-priced. Tito's and Chopin are great too. Stoli is cheap and good for mixing.

Flavored Vodka(s) - Really whatever works. Anything but Absolut.

Whiskey - Most people are easily satisfied with Crown Royal and Jack Daniel's. No bar should be without a good rye for Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, etc., and Rittenhouse Rye is an excellent, cheap rye. Wild Turkey makes a good rye at a fair price as well.

Scotch - Not a lot of experience here, but The Balvenie Doublewood is good for beginners and experienced drinkers in the single-malt area. Johnny Walker Black is a bar staple, really, and the Red would be good for mixing.

Rum (Have this one covered )

Sherry - Don't know much about sherry. Go for Spanish.

Tequila - El Jimador and Herradura. The end Patron seems to be pretty popular these days too, so that would be a crowd-pleaser. 1800 is good for mixing. I would never be seen with Cuervo or Sauza in my house, haha.

[glassjapan]

Brandy
Bourbon
Gin
Vodka
Flavored Vodka(s)?
Whiskey
Scotch
Sherry
Tequila

What kind of money are you looking to spend for 9 bottles? That pretty much decides what types of suggestions to give. And you might think about scratching flavored vodka, or sherry in favor of getting at least two types of tequila.

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by shilala

I . . .
A marguerita party could break out at any moment.
I haven't drank in six or seven years, so the details are pretty much lost.

My wife does that Margarita thing - she has her own little cabinet in the kitchen so she has that covered!

Originally Posted by tobii3

First things first -

You want to serve most people? Make sure you have the correct glassware! Presentation is EVERYTHING.

As for the liquors, a good rule of thumb is one top shelf, one middle of the road, and one for mixing.

That way you don't go broke by mixing all your good liquor!

Ummm yep - currently they can have a small glass or a large glass -

Seriously though - once I actually get around to remodeling the basement and get an actual bar area set up - I'll work on the glassware then.

Originally Posted by Snake Hips

. . . and Rittenhouse Rye is an excellent, cheap rye. Wild Turkey makes a good rye at a fair price as well. . . .

Rye huh - people actually drink that stuff??? Added to the list!



Ron

[yourchoice]

Gin - Hendricks. Love it!
Scotch - sooo many good ones. Ardbeg 10yo has a great $/ ratio for me.

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by yourchoice

Gin - Hendricks. Love it!
Scotch - sooo many good ones. Ardbeg 10yo has a great $/ ratio for me.

Thanks Joel. And the ABC does carry the Ardbeg 10 year. Correct me here - most people are not going to mix Scotch but sip it? The only Scotch drinker I know is my brother-in-law and I have never seen him mix it.


Ron

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by RGD.

Thanks Joel. And the ABC does carry the Ardbeg 10 year. Correct me here - most people are not going to mix Scotch but sip it? The only Scotch drinker I know is my brother-in-law and I have never seen him mix it.


Ron

That's correct Ron. The only thing most people would mix Scotch with would be ice or a tiny bit (wee bit ) of water to open it up.

[Snake Hips]

Originally Posted by RGD.

Rye huh - people actually drink that stuff??? Added to the list!

Yep, it's good stuff. The iconic cocktails like the ones I mentioned already (Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac...) are rye-based, so it'd be a disservice not to have some

Originally Posted by RGD.

Correct me here - most people are not going to mix Scotch but sip it? The only Scotch drinker I know is my brother-in-law and I have never seen him mix it.

True, most Scotch drinkers will sip it, but I know my fair share of Scotch n' soda drinkers. There's the odd Scotch sour and Hot Toddy also.