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)
- Quintessential Cocktail: Manhattan
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)
- Quintessential Cocktail: Old Fashioned
Blended Scotch-
- Monkey Shoulder (blended), 80 proof, $30 (70cl) (3 distillery blend- Speyside)
- Quintessential Cocktail: Rusty Nail
Rum
- Plantation 3 Star White Rum, 82.6 proof, $25 (750ml) (Blend of Jamaican, Trinadad, Barbados rums)
- Quintessential Cocktail: Daiquiri
- El Dorado 8 Year (gold rum), 80 proof, $25 (750ml), (Demarara rum from Guyana)
- Appleton Estate Rare Blend – 12 Year Old, $35 (750ml), Jamaican
- Quintessential Cocktail: Mai Tai
- Plantation OFTD Rum, 138 proof, $32 (750ml) Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana
Gin
- London Dry- Beefeater, 80 proof, $17 (750ml), London
- Quintessential Cocktail: Martini
- 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
- Quintessential Cocktail: La Vida Mezcal (a smoky Negroni variation)
Brandy
- Copper and Kings American Craft Brandy, 90 proof, $28 (750ml), Louisville
- Courvosier VS Cognac, 80 proof, $25 (750ml), France
- Quintessential Cocktail: Brandy Cobbler
Vodka
- Jordan’s opinion: “Still don’t care. Something with nice branding without paying extra for it.”
- Quintessential Cocktail: Moscow Mule
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
- Shaker: OXO makes a fiiiiiine shaker
- Strainers (Hawthorne & mesh)
- Jigger
- Citrus peeler
- Muddler
- Bar spoon: Something that’s sturdy with nice balance like this one from Hiware
- Mixing glass: A yarai is a worthwhile investment for those who stir their drinks regularly
- Hand juicer: Stainless steel is easiest to clean (and very durable)
- Ice molds