Big Country Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 So, in the margarita thread in the Tailgate, I mentioned the housewarming party and the start of my liquor cabinet. So, it appears I will get the green light to actually incorparate a "bar' of sorts into where I am going to set up the components for the TV in our family room. So, looking for what I need for basics in terms of liquor/mixers for a properly stocked bar. I don;t drink that often, but now that we have a larger house we may be hosting more often, and I want to be able to be sure to provide my guests with whatever they would like. Any specific liquors/brands I should consider? What key mixers do I need to keep in stock? Anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) Baileys Bourbon* (Kentucky) (only one bottle? Wild Turkey; alt -Knob Creek or Makers Mark) Brandy Cognac Canadian whiskey Jack Daniels Gin* (only one bottleTanqueray; alt - none) Kahlua Rum* (light and dark) Scotch* (only 1 bottle? Johhny Walker Black Label; alt - Aberlour 10 year, if you want single malt) Tequila* Vodka* (only 1 bottle? Smirnoff; alt - Stolichnaya) Cointreau Grand Marnier Dry Vermouth The ones marked with the * I'd consider getting at least 2 brands - a cheap one for mixing and a decent one for tasting. Also: Angostura Bitters Bar sugar Black pepper Olives Lemons Limes Oranges Tabasco Sauce Worchestshire sauce Cocktail Shaker Bottle Opener Corkscrew Measuring cup Paring knife Coke Cranberry Juice Ginger Ale Lemon Juice Lime Juice Orange Juice Club Soda Tomato Juice Tonic Water Edited August 18, 2009 by Furd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 BaileysBourbon* (Kentucky) (only one bottle? Wild Turkey; alt -Knob Creek or Makers Mark) Brandy Cognac Canadian whiskey Jack Daniels Gin* (only one bottleTanqueray; alt - none) Kahlua Rum* (light and dark) Scotch* (only 1 bottle? Johhny Walker Black Label; alt - Aberlour 10 year, if you want single malt) Tequila* Vodka* (only 1 bottle? Smirnoff; alt - Stolichnaya) Cointreau Grand Marnier Dry Vermouth The ones marked with the * I'd consider getting at least 2 brands - a cheap one for mixing and a decent one for tasting. Also: Angostura Bitters Bar sugar Black pepper Olives Lemons Limes Oranges Tabasco Sauce Worchestshire sauce Cocktail Shaker Bottle Opener Corkscrew Measuring cup Paring knife Coke Cranberry Juice Ginger Ale Lemon Juice Lime Juice Orange Juice Club Soda Tomato Juice Tonic Water He said he's stocking a bar, not opening one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 BaileysBourbon* (Kentucky) (only one bottle? Wild Turkey; alt -Knob Creek or Makers Mark) Brandy Cognac Canadian whiskey Jack Daniels Gin* (only one bottleTanqueray; alt - none) Kahlua Rum* (light and dark) Scotch* (only 1 bottle? Johhny Walker Black Label; alt - Aberlour 10 year, if you want single malt) Tequila* Vodka* (only 1 bottle? Smirnoff; alt - Stolichnaya) Cointreau Grand Marnier Dry Vermouth The ones marked with the * I'd consider getting at least 2 brands - a cheap one for mixing and a decent one for tasting. Also: Angostura Bitters Bar sugar Black pepper Olives Lemons Limes Oranges Tabasco Sauce Worchestshire sauce Cocktail Shaker Bottle Opener Corkscrew Measuring cup Paring knife Coke Cranberry Juice Ginger Ale Lemon Juice Lime Juice Orange Juice Club Soda Tomato Juice Tonic Water I think you could get away with less than what Furd suggests. Those his is a fine list. I would imagine either brandy or cognac but not both (just make sure it's a decent bottle) Evan Williams makes a great bourbon and it's nice and cheap. I would do a bottle of that, a bottle of Rye (Jim Beam), and skip the JD. Specifically for the Tequilla, if you go with 2, I'd pick Sauza Blanco for the mixer and Don Julio Anejo for the sipper. That way you get two distinct styles and the Sauza is goon enough to shoot if someone prefers a plata. Cointreau on it's own is actually pretty tasty, so I wouldn't think you'd both Grand Marnier and that. Now, if I was stocking a bar from scratch, one place that I certainly wouldn't skimp was the vermouths and bitters. We did a taste test making martinis, manhattans, etc. One each with premium booze and cheap vermouth, the other with decent booze and premium vermouth. The ones that had the better vermouths tasted way, way better. It wasn't even close. Now, these may cost 2x the price of the cheap stuff but when you consider how little you use, it's by far the most bang for the buck in terms of improving your cocktail. My vermouth of choice is Vya. They make both a dry and a sweet. For bitters, Regans Orange #6 and peychaud are essential. Funny story about Regans. Because bitters is considered a grocery item rather than booze (like extracts), the FDA tests it to make sure it's nasty enough that you wouldn't want to drink it by itself. They turned down his first several recipe submissions because it was "too potable". Finally, he made it nasty enough to qualify as bitters. One important tool missing from Furd's list is a twist knife (or whatever they're called). A pairing knife will do in a pinch but the tool for digging twists out of citrus makes the job much easier and we've found that so many drinks are greatly improved by the inclusion of a twist. You're also going to want a jigger. Even among pros, there's a movement towards using them rather than counts because people are starting to take great pride in their recipes. Also, I wouldn't bother with too many canned juices. Maybe cranberry and pineapple but if you're going to use citrus juice, use fresh. If you've got lemons, limes, and oranges around, you can always juice enough to get you through an impromptu cocktail hour. If you know you're going to have a party, then you can always stock up on the fresh stuff for the night. In fact, when we're having a party, I typically tend to decide upon a particular cocktail that we're going to "push". Of course, you're going to want to be able to get someone something else, but it's sort of fun to have a themed drink of the night. You'll find that most will end up wanting that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Well, I like to drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Don't forget glassware: Beer mug Beer pint Beer pilsner (overkill maybe) Brandy snifter Cocktail glass (martini) Highball glass Margarita glass Old-fashioned glass You don't want to pour a decent drink into a water glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Grenadine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Fancy umbrellas for all the flavored margaritas you will be mixing . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Fancy umbrellas for all the flavored margaritas you will be mixing . . . Don't forget the blender!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I like Furd's suggestions, and of course Taz, but I'm picky about my vodka, only get Polish potato vodka, like Belvedere or Chopin---who was 1/2 Polish btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Fancy umbrellas for all the flavored margaritas you will be mixing . . . Don't forget the blender!! Just make sure your guests know there drinking an inferior drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 drill out baseball bat fill with lead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Pimms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Walker black over Glenfidditch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Clan MacGregor (scotch)Mad Dog 20/20 (wine) Tequila Rose (all I drink) Smirnoff Ice (beer-ish) If one of those five doesn't appeal, do you really want them as a friend? Fixed for accuracy . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 No bar is complete without Busch Light. I'd keep it cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 He said he's stocking a bar, not opening one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) in addition to Furds list. Roses lime juice, grenadine, Amaretto, Triple sec (cheaper than cointreu and a mixer used in a lot of drinks. Frangelico. Sweet vermouth for those that might want a manhattan or rob roy Edited August 20, 2009 by whomper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Sour mix Eventually some flavored vodkas Citron Orange Vanilla Many others. Obviously you want get all the stuffe we list but its good to see what people suggest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Disagree on the lime juice. Just use fresh as the color in a bottole of Rose will change over time and resukt in an unsightly appearance. Unless all your guests drink Gimlets, it will just go to waste . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) Obviously depends on how much you want to spend. Furd's list (with a few additions) is bitchin', but that would cost you an arm and a leg. Off the top of my head, here's what I would at least start out with, with budget in mind. - A good bottle of tequila, for shots of course. - A decent bottle of tequila, for margaritas - A good bottle of whiskey, for the occasional shot - A decent bottle of whiskey (Jack, I'd guess) since I know you like Jack n' Cokes - A good bottle of vodka (Goose, Level, etc.) - Baileys and Kahlua - Good bottle of gin (Tanq, I'd guess... I'm not a gin drinker but some are, obviously) - Good bottle of scotch (Glenfiddich is advisable) - Good, but not too expensive bottles of light and dark rum - If you have martini drinkers around, you'll need dry vermouth - Some lemons, limes, olives, margarita salt... and Furd nailed all the mixers Edited August 20, 2009 by darin3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Disagree on the lime juice. Just use fresh as the color in a bottole of Rose will change over time and resukt in an unsightly appearance. Unless all your guests drink Gimlets, it will just go to waste . . Fresh lime juice has a shorter shelf life than Roses but isnt terribly expensive so I guess you can go either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I highly suggest Pinch for your Scotch drinking friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Walker black over Glenfidditch? Yep. Its just a good, all around, inexpensive scotch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billay Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 IMO, if you want to have a functioning bar, you need the mixers, not the booze. You will buy what you want in that regard. But if you already have vermouth (sweet and dry), bitters, triple sec (you could go cointreau or grand marnier - particularly if you might use those from time to time for cooking as well. Same goes for port, sherry or maderia) , simple syrup (make it yourself) and fresh juices (no excuse for anything else) then a bottle of whiskey goes from being able to be served 2 ways (up or on the rocks) to being able to be served in any way whiskey can be served, as does every other liquor. As for the booze, if you are mixing drinks, middle of the road should suffice (particularly if you take Detlef's suggestion and get nice mixers.) There are a handful though that IMO, there's just no substitute for high end, like tequila for example. True, you may not be a big tequila drinker, but the bottle will last that much longer, and you'll look classy when you pull it out. If you are going to be drinking it straight up, get the good stuff. The glassware isn't a bad idea either if you have the dough. A highball can be served in any kind of glass, but a up-martini served in a rocks glass just lacks that certain asthetic, as would brandy or port in a wine glass. Buy based on what you like to drink. If you don't ever drink brandy or cognac, there's no need to spring for snifters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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