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14 Must Have Spirits for a Classic Home Bar
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items We make and test drink recipes for a living. If you're looking to fill that cute bar cart you just bought, this list is for you! By stocking these staple spirits, you can make any style cocktail in a pinch. All of these brands can be substituted, it'...
If you only keep one spirit in the house, this is all you need really! Vodka is so versatile, Tito's is our favorite due to it's smoothness for the price point.
Tito's Handmade Vodka
You'll want to keep gin around for those classic prohibition era cocktail recipes. It lends a spiced, herbaceous, botanical flavor profile that other spirits just don't have! Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire are also good options.
Hendrick's Gin
Don Julio is my go-to. It's a super smooth great quality tequila, better than many top shelf ones IMO. Tequila is a great spirit for collecting. Seek out different artisanal & small batch makers if you can! There are so many excellent brands to d...
Don Julio Blanco Tequila
Builleit is a crowd favorite and what most people will order at the bar when they want their bourbon "neat." Remember, bourbon is a type of whiskey! It's fairly smooth, can't go wrong with this one for the price point.
Bulleit Bourbon
It's not all about their bourbon! Get the rye too. No home bar is complete without two types of whiskey. Recipes distinguish between the two for a reason.
Bulleit Rye Whiskey
White rums are the best in general. The taste is delightfully tropical and slightly sweet. Don Q is surprisingly smooth for the price point! Great for the classic mojito.
Don Q Cristal Rum
Dark rums pack a ton of flavor! Sweet and almost syrupy, with many notes similar to the vast complexity of different wines. It pairs extremely well with fruits, cream, coffee, and cola. My favorite way to use rum is for making pina coladas!
El Dorado 12 Year
White vermouth, also referred to as "dry" which signifies it's flavor profile, is a clear, aromatic, and versatile wine-based cocktail ingredient that's herbaceous and clean. A key ingredient for martinis!
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry
Red vermouth is the sweeter counterpart to white. It's a fortified wine that's sweet, spiced, and herbal; used in cocktails like Manhattans and negronis. We recommend trying it alone over ice!
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Rouge
Since margaritas are the most popular cocktail, this one's a MUST have. You'll find that orange liqueur is called for in a ton of different drink recipes. You can use triple sec, but this brand is just better!
Cointreau Orange Liqueur
This Italian liqueur with low ABV has distinctively vibrant, bitter, and sweet orange notes. It's perfectly delicious. Idk about you, but I'm always craving a refreshing spritz! Swap for Campari if you can't find it at the liquor shop.
Aperol Liqueur
For Old Fashioneds & more, bitters are added to cocktails to balance flavors and add complexity. It's like a secret ingredient you can't quite pinpoint, but can make or break a drink. There are many types, aromatic being the most versatile.
Angostura Bitters
Coffee liqueur is a main ingredient in beloved espresso martinis & white Russians. If you like your cocktails to err on the dessert side, make sure you have this one in stock!
Kahlua
Mezcal is a popular ingredient in mixology. In fact, we prefer it over tequila and will often use it instead. The complex & smoky flavor is unmatched! It's an all natural spirit made using traditional methods in Mexico with a vast range in taste,...
Madre Mezcal Artisanal Ensamble
This spirit is our wild card addition to the classic home bar. Midori is a melon liqueur described as tasting like candy honeydew. It may look nuclear but trust us, it's delicious! Cheap yet good quality and fun to drink.
Bonus Pick! - Midori