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Attending a Stock the Bar Party: What would be a unique gift?

post #1 of 11
3/2/10 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
One of my groomsmen is getting married in September, and he and his fiance are having a Stock the Bar Party in April which we'll be attending during our vacation to California. What would be a unique bottle or accessory to take? They have relatively simple tastes (she likes Greyhounds and he likes anything with alcohol in it), but have the potential and interest to elevate their tastes. Since I'm from Kentucky I have an obligation to take a bottle of Bourbon, but what would be some other bottle or accessory that nobody else would likely think to provide? Goal cost < $100. Thanks, H_S.
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post #2 of 11
3/2/10 at 1:48pm
Lillet
Junipero gin
Fee Bros bitters
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post #3 of 11
3/2/10 at 2:17pm
Find a variety of bitters and bring those along. There are all sorts of bitters, one of my favorite is blood orange bitters - it makes a Manhattan something special. The beauty of bitters is their versatility, they can be used in so many drinks and flavored ones can make for some really incredible cocktails. You might also want to bring some special olives, you know, with blue cheese or garlic or something. I imagine someone will bring vermouth, but if you decide to do that get a small bottle since more than likely it will go very slowly. Depending on the age and such, a novelty flavored vodka might be really nice - bubble gum/root beer vodka aren't something you want to drink all night, but with soda water they can become a pretty entertaining first drink for people. It might seem hokey but if someone brought that for me I'd be thrilled to have something so silly and fun in my bar, because really, that's what drinking is about - the fun.
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post #4 of 11
3/2/10 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gomestar View Post
Lillet
Junipero gin
Fee Bros bitters

These are good thoughts. Also, maybe a nice piece or two of bar tools? A really nice shaker for instance?
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post #5 of 11
3/2/10 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hopkins_student View Post
One of my groomsmen is getting married in September, and he and his fiance are having a Stock the Bar Party in April which we'll be attending during our vacation to California. What would be a unique bottle or accessory to take? They have relatively simple tastes (she likes Greyhounds and he likes anything with alcohol in it), but have the potential and interest to elevate their tastes. Since I'm from Kentucky I have an obligation to take a bottle of Bourbon, but what would be some other bottle or accessory that nobody else would likely think to provide? Goal cost < $100. Thanks, H_S.
If they have 'potential and interest' but are not yet afficiandos, a single item might not help, because (typically) you need more than two items for a cocktail, and if they don't have them all around it might not get tried. So I would suggest giving them a recipe and all the items required to make it, save the base spirit, which someone else probably will provide. Then you've given them not merely a special bottle, but an experience. Or, at least, the opportunity to have one. Gin:
  • The Aviation
    • Creme de Violette (definitely uncommon) ($35)
    • Luxardo Maraschino ($30)
    • Lemon
    • Simple syrup
    • Fabbri Cherries ($25)
  • Savoy Corpse Reviver #2
    • Lillet Blanc ($20)
    • Cointreau ($30)
    • Absinthe (could be up to $60, but pretty unique)
    • Lemon
    • Simple
Bourbon/Rye:
  • The Manhattan
    • Good, good vermouth -- Vya Sweet ($20)
    • Good Bitters (Fee Brothers Barrel Aged, or Fee Cherry) (10)
    • Fabbri Cherries
    • Splash of simple would help the uninitiated
Ummm....I'm suddenly drawing a blank. The French 75, Alabazam, Ward Eight, would also be good candidates. Can provide recipes if needed. ~ H
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post #6 of 11
3/2/10 at 4:36pm
All kinds of interesting tools, paraphernalia and mixers -- muddlers, zesters, peelers, squeezers, pourers, collars, wine savers, baskets, glasses for different types of drinks, nifty coasters, swizzle sticks... Drinkables/mixers can really be really anything -- far out girly stuff like special liqueurs (Midori watermelon, ginger, the various chocolate liqueurs), things like Angostura, Peychaud's bitters, interesting liquors like Campari, Brennevin, Pernod, cachaca, etc. etc. Or there's stuff they may not yet have like Armagnac or Calvados, Marc de Bourgogne, grappa...
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post #7 of 11
3/2/10 at 4:40pm
I agree with the above posters, and would add maybe a unique bottle of alcohol like a limoncello or something of that sort? Also a good Boston Shaker is requisite for any bar, I'm sure someone will bring them a shaker or something, but I can't stand most of the shakers they sell these days with bult in strainer lids and what not. The flexibility of a boston shaker is unbeatable.
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post #8 of 11
3/2/10 at 6:08pm
Two bottles of absinthe. The first one you share with them, the second one they get to keep.

Although, if they have simple tastes as you say, your surest bet would be to give them a bottle of good tequila.
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post #9 of 11
3/2/10 at 11:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanico View Post
Two bottles of absinthe. The first one you share with them, the second one they get to keep.

Although, if they have simple tastes as you say, your surest bet would be to give them a bottle of good tequila.

+1 - Totally agree with the tequila comment. Patron on the rocks with lime = great taste, no hangover and manly enough to sidle up to a bar and order.
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post #10 of 11
3/3/10 at 12:11am
Port Tongs

100% guarantee you will be the only person (ever) who will think of that.
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post #11 of 11
3/3/10 at 3:15am
Soda siphon, so they can make carbonated gimlets and gin fizzes.
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