Ep #103 – Stocking a Home Bar – Bottle Recommendations

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This week Alex & Jordan answer a question we’ve gotten for our entire 2 years, and only ever answered in spurts: what bottle should I pick up? And we try to answer that question with a few of our favorite recurring bottles from our bars. Importantly, we focused on bottles that are for cocktails, not necessarily on their own, and in a price range that will keep them stocked. We also link to recipes for the cocktail we think are the best display of the spirits’ potential.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Our favorite bottles to keep stocked on our personal bars,
  • How to use those bottles,
  • Cocktails that best display the characteristics of the spirit, and
  • What to look for when you hit the liquor store.

BASE SPIRITS

Whiskey

Rye-        

  • Rittenhouse, 100 proof, 4 years, $25 (750ml) (Heaven Hill)
  • Pikesville Straight Rye, 110 proof, 6 year old, $50 (750ml) (Heaven Hill)
  • Old Overholt, 80 proof, 3 years old, $18 (750ml) (Jim Beam)

Bourbon-

  • Old Grand-Dad 114, 114 proof, NAS, $30 (750ml) (Jim Beam)
  • Elijah Craig Small Batch, 94 proof, (formerly 12 yr), $35 (Heaven Hill)
  • Buffalo Trace, 80 proof, NAS, $30 (750ml) (Buffalo Trace – Sazerac Company)

Blended Scotch-

  • Monkey Shoulder (blended), 80 proof, $30 (70cl) (3 distillery blend- Speyside)

Rum

  • Plantation 3 Star White Rum, 82.6 proof, $25 (750ml) (Blend of Jamaican, Trinadad, Barbados rums)
  • El Dorado 8 Year (gold rum), 80 proof, $25 (750ml), (Demarara rum from Guyana)
  • Appleton Estate Rare Blend – 12 Year Old, $35 (750ml), Jamaican
  • Plantation OFTD Rum, 138 proof, $32 (750ml) Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana

Gin

  • London Dry- Beefeater, 80 proof, $17 (750ml), London
  • American Dry- Bluecoat, 94 proof, $35 (750ml), Philadelphia Distilling
    • Quintessential Cocktail: Gin & Tonic (but don’t use below-average tonic!)
  • Genever- Boomsma (jonge), 70 proof, $25, Dutch
  • Old Tom- Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, 80 proof, $25 (750ml), London

Agave

  • Espolon Blanco Tequila, 80 proof, $22 (750ml), Mexico
    • Quintessential Cocktail: Freshly-made Margarita
  • Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, 84 proof, $38 (750ml), Mexico

Brandy

  • Copper and Kings American Craft Brandy, 90 proof, $28 (750ml), Louisville
  • Courvosier VS Cognac, 80 proof, $25 (750ml), France

Vodka

  • Jordan’s opinion: “Still don’t care. Something with nice branding without paying extra for it.”

MODIFIERS

Sweet Vermouth (1)-

  • Dolin
  • Carpano Antica Formula
  • Punt e Mes

Dry Vermouth

  • Dolin Dry

Liqueurs and Amaro

  • Campari/Aperol
  • Ginger Liqueur (Domain De Canton)
  • Amaro Nonino

Bitters

  • Angostura
  • Peychaud’s
  • Regan’s Orange #6
  • Something experimental

Syrups (all homemade)

  • Simple Syrup
  • Turbinado Syrup
  • Rock Candy Syrup: We have a recipe with our Mai Tai recipe
  • Grenadine: Jordan’s recipe is still one of the best

Bar tools

Written by

Tyler is a self-professed cocktail idiot, who prefers a bourbon with a large cube of ice over a mixed drink. What Tyler lacks in cocktail knowledge, he makes up for in his ability to edit podcasts, produce videos, and design websites. Mr. Lloyd’s tech skills help turn Alex and Jordan’s knowledge into the Speaking Easy Podcast.