I thought I made a thread about this before but I couldn't find it. So maybe I thought about making the thread, but never actually did it.
I made an agreement with my husband for us to build, stock, and maintain a real liquor cabinet / bar setup, rather than using the shelf like we've been doing for the last year. I'll buy/build all the hardware, he'll go halvies with me on the initial stock up to the first 5 bottles, and after that I'll add to the liquor collection on a regular basis and he'll take care of buying all the mixers/fruits/juices since they count as "food" under his budgeting rules.
His only rule is that one of the first 5 bottles be some sort of rum.
Our current stock includes a half full bottle of bottom shelf vodka and a great quantity of wines we're slowly going through.
Recommendations of the order in which I acquire liquor? Also, what midshelf brands do you recommend? Due to space constraints, I want to avoid very large bottles, and due to money constraints I want to avoid any particular bottle more expensive than $50.
1. Rum of some sort
2-5 ??? (Initial purchase)
6+ (A bottle once a month or so)
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Why would you spend $50 on a bottle of booze to get you started? If someone wants a $50 of booze, they can bring their own.
You need rum (both white and dark), gin, whisky, tequila and vodka to start. I can't recommend names as I don't know what's available where you live.
You need rum (both white and dark), gin, whisky, tequila and vodka to start. I can't recommend names as I don't know what's available where you live.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Uglysasquatch wrote:
Why would you spend $50 on a bottle of booze to get you started? If someone wants a $50 of booze, they can bring their own.
You need rum (both white and dark), gin, whisky, tequila and vodka to start. I can't recommend names as I don't know what's available where you live.
You need rum (both white and dark), gin, whisky, tequila and vodka to start. I can't recommend names as I don't know what's available where you live.
We are a
So go ahead and toss out a few brand names; what I can't find at the big package store here in town, they can probably order.
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 1:11pm by catwho
My current favorites:
Patron
Crown Royal
Rumchata
If you're going to properly stock a liquor cabinet, you should strive for variety in liquor type. That is to say, don't overload it with whiskey or rum or any specific category of liquor. I'd go for 1-2 whiskey, 1 vodka, 1 rum, and one other, maybe a good gin or specialty like say, a hazelnut liquor. Also, I don't do rum much, but if I had to recommend one, I'd say Bacardi 151 is a good choice. It's got a lot of bang for the buck anyway.
Edit: I can't believe I forgot about the amaretto. Disaronno is a good bet there.
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 12:23pm by BrownDuck
Patron
Crown Royal
Rumchata
If you're going to properly stock a liquor cabinet, you should strive for variety in liquor type. That is to say, don't overload it with whiskey or rum or any specific category of liquor. I'd go for 1-2 whiskey, 1 vodka, 1 rum, and one other, maybe a good gin or specialty like say, a hazelnut liquor. Also, I don't do rum much, but if I had to recommend one, I'd say Bacardi 151 is a good choice. It's got a lot of bang for the buck anyway.
Edit: I can't believe I forgot about the amaretto. Disaronno is a good bet there.
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 12:23pm by BrownDuck
I suppose it depends on what you intend to use them for. If you're always making mixed drinks/cocktails, you can go a little cheaper than normal. Anyway, these are my preferred buys.
Knob Creek is my favorite mid-shelf bourbon. I like Tanqueray for my G&T's as well as the occasional gin martini, and Stoli Razz for vodka tonics. I prefer Ketel One for vodka martinis. Jameson is usually pretty decent. Kraken is my new favorite mid-range spiced rum.
Knob Creek is my favorite mid-shelf bourbon. I like Tanqueray for my G&T's as well as the occasional gin martini, and Stoli Razz for vodka tonics. I prefer Ketel One for vodka martinis. Jameson is usually pretty decent. Kraken is my new favorite mid-range spiced rum.
We love the Kraken :D We killed one of the giant jugs in about three months.
catwho wrote:
So go ahead and toss out a few brand names
Rum-Captain Morgan/Bacardi suffices for both. Many worse, many more far superior, but good start.
Vodka- Smirnoff is the standard here, many others are far better
Whisky- Anything but Jack Daniels and probably Crown Royal. Maybe Seagrams VO. Tough to find a good whisky around here
Gin- Bombay Sapphire
Tequila- Patron I guess, everyone down there seems to swear by it. If you don't get Patron, make sure the tequila is gold.
When you extend past the basic well liquors, you're going to want to start adding some liqueurs. Such as things like Coffee-Kahlua/Tia Maria/Sheridan's, Cream Liqueurs-Bailey's Irish Cream/Amarula/, Chambords, Creme Liqueurs- Banane/menthe/melon/cacao, Peach and Peppermint Schnapps, Southern Comfort, Ouzo/Sambucca, Amaretto.
I'd start that lsit with Amaretto, coffee cream (Kahlua) and Cream liqueur (Bailey's). Maybe Sambucca, because drunken flaming Sambuccas are fun.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
My bad. Contreau is a starter liqueur necessity.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Appleton Estate makes some good rum. The Reserve was nice and smooth, I'll probably try the Extra (12yrs+) next weekend.
Ugly just an inquiry, why do you say no JD?
Tyrrant wrote:
Ugly just an inquiry, why do you say no JD?
I added Crown in there because I got disgustingly sick off it once and can't enjoy the taste anymore.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Uglysasquatch wrote:
Vodka- Smirnoff is the standard here, many others also taste exactly like rubbing alcohol.
Spoonless wrote:
I like Tanqueray for my G&T's
Uglysasquatch wrote:
I added Crown in there because I got disgustingly sick off it once and can't enjoy the taste anymore.
I still can't drink Southern Comfort for similar reasons.
I dislike SC myself, but a lot of people seem to like it, so that's why I added it as something to have.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Jack Daniels has a sweetness to it that is fine for shots but tends to wreck most mixed drinks (I personally don't even like it for shots).
First:
Rum - Captain Morgans/Bacardi as mentioned
Whisky - most people like Crown Royal, I prefer Canadian Club 12 yr for mixed drinks but you probably won't have that available. Whiskey drinkers tend to be picky so you want something decent. 40 Creek is a good one.
Vodka - as mentioned Smirnoff is the standard up here, there are much better options but vodka drinkers aren't typically picky.
Tequila - I'm not a fan, at all. You want something clean here it's typically for shots so stick with "Gold" options.
Gin - I'm not a big Gin drinker, it all tastes the same to me and has a nasty aftertaste so I'm not going to recommend a brand but you will want to have this in your selection.
Gran Marnier
Baileys - Do not substitute this for another brand
Kahlua
Amaretto - Disaronno
Could go on forever of course but those are the staples.
One thing to keep in mind, you should have cheap versions of the various types of alchohol. If you buy a $50 bottle of whiskey also get the lower shelf equivalent. Use the cheaper stuff for mixed drinks when you have a larger than normal crowd (they aren't going to taste it anyway) and use the mid/high range stuff for when you have a couple guests over (when the pocket book won't feel it as much). Treat it the same way you do food, when you have lots of people over it's burgers and hotdogs, when it's just a couple you spring for the steaks.
Buy your mix in cans where applicable (tonic water, coke etc) keeps the drinks fizzy :).
First:
Rum - Captain Morgans/Bacardi as mentioned
Whisky - most people like Crown Royal, I prefer Canadian Club 12 yr for mixed drinks but you probably won't have that available. Whiskey drinkers tend to be picky so you want something decent. 40 Creek is a good one.
Vodka - as mentioned Smirnoff is the standard up here, there are much better options but vodka drinkers aren't typically picky.
Tequila - I'm not a fan, at all. You want something clean here it's typically for shots so stick with "Gold" options.
Gin - I'm not a big Gin drinker, it all tastes the same to me and has a nasty aftertaste so I'm not going to recommend a brand but you will want to have this in your selection.
Gran Marnier
Baileys - Do not substitute this for another brand
Kahlua
Amaretto - Disaronno
Could go on forever of course but those are the staples.
One thing to keep in mind, you should have cheap versions of the various types of alchohol. If you buy a $50 bottle of whiskey also get the lower shelf equivalent. Use the cheaper stuff for mixed drinks when you have a larger than normal crowd (they aren't going to taste it anyway) and use the mid/high range stuff for when you have a couple guests over (when the pocket book won't feel it as much). Treat it the same way you do food, when you have lots of people over it's burgers and hotdogs, when it's just a couple you spring for the steaks.
Buy your mix in cans where applicable (tonic water, coke etc) keeps the drinks fizzy :).
Make your own Bloody Mary mix. The premade stuff is ****, IMO.
Do you mean Bloody Caesars?
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
The good thing about patron and even the higher quality tequilas, you don't need to go gold because silver is smooth enough for shots, and great for mixing.
People don't like to be meddled with. We tell them what to do, what to think, don't run, don't walk. We're in their homes and in their heads and we haven't the right. We're meddlesome. ~River Tam
Sedao
Sedao
Uglysasquatch wrote:
Do you mean Bloody Caesars?
Anyway, it's easier to just make Bloody Mary mix, and add clam juice to the individual drinks for those who prefer it. Apparantly it's more popular in Canada with clamato, but I think I'm the only one of my friends who drinks it that way.
So I love the vodka. I'll try many brands, as I'm always looking for the cheap stuff that is also smooth.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
Sandinmygum the Stupendous wrote:
So I love the vodka. I'll try many brands, as I'm always looking for the cheap stuff that is also smooth.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
As far as vodka goes, Smirnoff is about as bottom shelf as you'll want to go. It's ok, but not really great for any application. If you're looking for a mixing vodka, a better choice is Skyy. It's specifically formulated for mixing. If you want flavored vodkas, most brands will work well. Oddly, I tend to prefer the Smirnoff flavored stuff over Skyy. Although lately, I've been buying cherry Svedka vodka. It mixes amazingly well with orange juice. I wouldn't recommend Svedka for anything non-flavored though.
If you want a more top shelf vodka (for straight or rocks drinking), my preference is Ketel 1. Some more fufi drinkers like some French crap that's out there, but I suspect that may be a mental disorder on their part.
Definitely go with an assortment of liqueurs as well. You don't have to go as top shelf on those, and it'll pad pretty much any bar nicely. As others have noted, when it comes to the alcohols themselves, go with a medium-low brand for mixing, with a smaller amount of higher shelf stuff for drinking straight. Also, if you're building out a proper bar, make sure it includes all the accoutrements. Ice bucket and tongs, assortment of glasses, shot glasses for drinking and shot glasses for measuring, shakers/strainers, pour spouts, etc. And get yourself one of those bartenders bible/guide/whatever books so you can make an assortment of drinks (or experiment!).
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 7:04pm by gbaji
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
gbaji wrote:
Sandinmygum the Stupendous wrote:
So I love the vodka. I'll try many brands, as I'm always looking for the cheap stuff that is also smooth.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
Kru 82 is what I have a lot of right now. I bought it in a 1.75 liter metal can. When I finally drink it all I'll have a nice water jg for work.
I paid $25 for it at Sam's club. Not a bad price and so far it taste good and has mixed well in drinks.
As far as vodka goes, Smirnoff is about as bottom shelf as you'll want to go. It's ok, but not really great for any application. If you're looking for a mixing vodka, a better choice is Skyy. It's specifically formulated for mixing. If you want flavored vodkas, most brands will work well. Oddly, I tend to prefer the Smirnoff flavored stuff over Skyy. Although lately, I've been buying cherry [...] vodka. It mixes amazingly well with orange juice. I wouldn't recommend Svedka for anything non-flavored though.
Mix that with Coke/Pepsi (and other sodas) and it is pretty awesome as well.
rum - Kraken, absolutely.
gin - I'm a fan of the botanist. Hendrick's is also very good.
I don't really drink vodka, but Belvedere is all right.
I'd stock some kind of single malt. I'd throw Lagavulin into the ring.
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 9:32pm by Xsarus
gin - I'm a fan of the botanist. Hendrick's is also very good.
I don't really drink vodka, but Belvedere is all right.
I'd stock some kind of single malt. I'd throw Lagavulin into the ring.
Edited, Feb 21st 2012 9:32pm by Xsarus
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Quick list:
McCallan
Amarulo
Hendricks (if you like gin, I don't)
Any decent vodka
Gosling
It's not quite the proper balance for a utility kit, but it has a decent spread and does a couple things very well.
McCallan
Amarulo
Hendricks (if you like gin, I don't)
Any decent vodka
Gosling
It's not quite the proper balance for a utility kit, but it has a decent spread and does a couple things very well.
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