Home Bar Starter Advice Wanted - Page 3

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Isn't the "basic" Jameson's aged twelve year? Did you mean Jameson's and Jameson's 18?

Originally Posted by Tarmac

It really goes bad? What does it turn into?

Originally Posted by JohnnyLaw

I would be more than happy to have a "modest" home bar like this. I vaguely remember seeing some pictures of your personal selection and it was pretty epic. Having Calvados on hand is great for a trou normand if you have friends over for dinner.

Originally Posted by goodlife

Great list Huntsman. It reminded me I need to break away from Woodford and cheap 1.75s of Knob and Makers to experiment in bourbonland. Also, have you tried Redbreast 12 Irish Whiskey? It has been a while since I had Jameson 12, but if memory serves, and it may not, the Redbreast is higher quality and more interesting.

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

A year and a half after I started this thread, I've finally gotten around to starting my home bar. I don't have the money or the space for an extensive bar, so my selection is tightly edited. Here's what I have:

Black Maple Hill bourbon
Aviation gin
LiV vodka (new potato vodka from Long Island)
El Dorado 3-year cask rum
Dolin dry vermouth
Dolin sweet vermouth
Angostura aromatic bitters
Regan's orange bitters
simple syrup
maraschino cherries
olives

I plan to pick up Cointreau and an Islay single malt scotch. And some juices and citrus fruits of course. I figure the final result will give me the ingredients to make 95% of the drinks I and any guest could want.

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

A year and a half after I started this thread, I've finally gotten around to starting my home bar. I don't have the money or the space for an extensive bar, so my selection is tightly edited. Here's what I have: Black Maple Hill bourbon Aviation gin LiV vodka (new potato vodka from Long Island) El Dorado 3-year cask rum Dolin dry vermouth Dolin sweet vermouth Angostura aromatic bitters Regan's orange bitters simple syrup maraschino cherries olives I plan to pick up Cointreau and an Islay single malt scotch. And some juices and citrus fruits of course. I figure the final result will give me the ingredients to make 95% of the drinks I and any guest could want.

Originally Posted by Huntsman

You have the right idea, AC -- a 'decent' and an 'excellent' example of the primary spirits is a great way to start. My recommendations are from the perspective of one who prefers the classic cocktails, as well as superb spirits alone and for their own sake. The cheap follows precedes the premium.

Vodka:
Smirnoff's Red Label
Chopin

Gin:
Plymouth
Martin Miller (or Junipero)

Brandy:
Christian Brothers
Courvoisier VSOP

Rum:
Cruzan or Gosling's
Ron Zacapa 23

Bourbon:
Evan Williams or Wild Turkey
Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, or Bulleit, or Basil Hayden's

Scotch:
Johnny Walker Black
Cragganmore 12 (though Macallan 12 is more ubiquitous)

Tequila:
-- I have very limited tequila knowledge, and though I could make sugestions, I'll leave it to another.

Those are the major spirits. Other spirits you ought to have at some point, at least one of each of the two options I present:

American Rye:
Wild Turkey Rye (surprisingly good for $18)
Sazerac 18 ($70)

Canadian rye (smoother, sweeter, and less violent than the American)
Canadian Club
Crown Royal

Irish whisky:
Jameson's
Jameson's 12

Cognac:
Pierre Ferrand Ambre (decent, around $60)
Pierre Ferrand Ancestrale or Tesseron Lot 90 (Over $100)

Secondary mixers that are pretty much required:

• Cointreau -- needed for many classic cocktails, including the Sidecar

• Sweet and Dry Vermouth -- I use Vya. The worst thing anyone has said about it is that it is hard to find.
  
• Campari -- if you, say, prefer dark chocolate to milk, the many campari cocktails will be to your liking

Other spirits and liquors to add later on:

• Kahlua
  
• Luxard Maraschino (for very old-school cocktails)
  
• Pernod
  
• Grand Marnier
  
• Benedictine
  
• Amaretto

Again, this is skewed towards the classic -- no flavored vodkas here.

~ Huntsman

Originally Posted by Huntsman

I applaud you for having all quality ingredients. And of course the Cointreau is essential.

Three comments:

1) Need you an Isaly malt? JW Black is, perhaps, a little more versatile, unless you want the exclusivity. If you are set on an Islay, I'd pull back from the hardcore Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg trio and go with a lighter Caol Ila. The 12 is easily found, very reasonable, and good value for its price.

2) I notice that you have no brandy/Cognac. If this is by design, you'll get no squabble from me, just wanted you to be aware you are missing a major spirit.

3) if the Maraschinos are the kind you can get at the grocery, that unnatural sickly red, please throw them away. Honestly! Proper Amarena Fabbri cherries (available from Amazon, W&S, and probably Dean & Deluca in NYC) actually become part of your cocktail, not merely a tawdry garnish. I am passionate about the cherries, so forgive me, but I truly think they matter.

Best and Enjoy!!

Huntsman