i've been drinking a bit more liquor these days. Better bourbons, nice gin drinks, and a few other cocktails. mostly to mix it up, but i'm also finishing off some near empty bottles to make room for new additions.

So i just wanted to take a poll and see what types and brands of liquors everyone has in their home bars, liquor cabinets, under their beds at this very moment. I'll start. Let's list brand, type, and then you're preferred drink of choice with that liquor.


Bourbon - Eagle Rare - rocks
Bourbon - Maker's Mark - rocks (old bottle, trying to finish it off)
Vodka - Rain Organics - martini or w/ water and garnish (another almost empty)
Vodka - Absolute Peppar - this is for Bloody Mary's which i hate. So this never gets touched unless a guest requests it.
Gin - Hendricks - Tonic and cucumber. Lovely gin brewed with rose, light on the juniper so a great choice if people have that predisposition that all gins taste like pine trees.
Tequila - 1800 Silver - straight shooter or a Paloma. this is probably my favorite silver tequila.
Irish Whiskey - Kilbeggan - shot or neat. nice alternative to Jameson.


i plan to add another bottle of "everyday bourbon" or Canadian Club Sherry Cask if i can find it in NC, a more standard gin like Plymouth, and the other necessities like Cointreau, Vermouth, and bitters to keep on hand.

6/5/2013 9:55:53 AM

None. Liquor is for sorority girls.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

6/5/2013 10:01:02 AM

1 bottle of each:

tequila
blended scotch
vodka
rum
pisco

that's it

6/5/2013 10:02:07 AM

We've got a half empty handle of gordon's vodka left from my son's 3rd birthday party.

When I am in the mood for liquour I like to have a bottle of bourbon, Irish whiskey or blended scotch on hand.

6/5/2013 10:06:27 AM

Vodka - Ketel One for vodka/sodas and vodka tonics - Svedka for bloody mary's
Gin - Tanqueray for the fiancee and her family
Rum - Mount Gay for my rum and ginger - Myers's Rum for my rum and tonics - Gosling's for the occasional Dark and Stormy - Bacardi for Mojitos
Tequila - Sauza Gold for for house made margaritas - Corralejo Reposado for shots
Whiskey - Jameson for Irish Coffees and the occasional shot

Randoms/liqueurs/infusions:

Amarula - Cream liqueur that we use as a desert drink. Friggin delicious.
Baileys - Just for Irish coffees
Triple Sec - For margaritas
Grand Marnier - For shots and the occasional Cadillac Margarita
Chartreuse - Shots
Rumpleminze and Fireball - in freezer for large gatherings and people want to get stupid
Infusions - Jalapeno infused Svedka for bloody mary's and cucumber infused Hendricks for whatever. Keep a couple cold mason jars of this in the fridge during the summer

Notable Absences:

Bourbon and Whiskey (Jameson exception of course). Never got into them and no one that comes over is a big drinker of bourbon/whiskey. Most of my crowd are beer and wine peeps, but the fiancee's family are big vodka/gin people and I gravitate towards rum if I'm going liquor.



[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:12 AM. Reason : .]

6/5/2013 10:07:28 AM

Personal:
Kahlua, Baileys, a knock off version of Baileys that was gifted to me, Pinnacle vodka, Bacardi Rum (Silver, I think)

But being at home, I have access to my parents', which has a bit of a lot of things (not quite everything), notably that I can recall Frangelico, Amaretto, and Peppermint Schnapps.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:20 AM. Reason : Still building, because young]

6/5/2013 10:13:07 AM

various bourbons/whiskeys (Woodford Reserve, Larceny)
Tito's
Ketel one
Absolut
Patron
Hendrick's
various rums (mostly brought back from Costa Rica)
dry vermouth (vodka martinis!)
sweet vermouth (Manhattans/Boulevardiers)
angostora bitters

6/5/2013 10:15:39 AM

Right now a bottle of Buffalo Trace and Campari.

6/5/2013 10:16:36 AM

jbrick83 why the need for 3 dark rums for 3 different drinks? Just a taste preference you've picked up over the years? I really like Mount Gay. I had a bottle of Ron Barcelo that i really liked too.


that's the kind of list i'm looking for.

6/5/2013 10:17:16 AM

none. b/c we can't handle our liquor.

i'll buy something if i have a hankering or we're hosting a party. like i made nog from scratch over christmas, and we did bloody marys for our bowl game party. i've been contemplating margaritas as of late.

6/5/2013 10:21:41 AM

Mount Gay isn't a dark rum, it's a gold rum. There are white rums, gold rums, dark rums, and spiced rums. Bacardi Superior being the go-to example of white, Mount Gay and Bacardi Gold are gold rums, Captain Morgan and Sailor Jerry are spiced rums, and Myers's and Goslings are dark rum examples.

I don't like white rums with the exception of making mojitos. Even then, Bacardi Gold makes an excellent mojitos. Gold rum, IMO, is great with ginger ale. Dark rums, also IMO, are only good with Tonic and Ginger Beer. I've tried Dark rums with regular ginger ale, and did not find it appetizing. When I was younger, I was a spiced rum fan...but now just find them a little too sweet.

I don't drink Myers's that much anymore, but I did go through a dark rum and tonic phase. So basically its just been sitting there for a while. The Gosling's was a bday present from a buddy...and I'm kind of a traditionalist with most drinks. I think Dark and Stormys should be made with Gosling's rum and Gosling's ginger beer...although I do find other ginger beers to be equally as delicious.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:26 AM. Reason : .]

6/5/2013 10:21:45 AM

ahhh, makes perfect sense

6/5/2013 10:26:46 AM

so as a former bartender what would be in your home bar if you had to stick to a limited number of bottles?

6/5/2013 10:34:57 AM

^ related to that: ?topic=625927

6/5/2013 10:36:21 AM

Right now I have 3 Jim Beam decanters with pics of Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven from 1973, a bottle of 3 Buck Chuck Cabernet Sauvignon, and a bottle of Ouzo that I got when I went to Greece about 10 years ago, but it only has about a shot of backwash left in it.



[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:43 AM. Reason : not Bean]

6/5/2013 10:37:26 AM

I need to take the time to try more liquors at some point. I have hardly any preference on any brands or styles really because I have had such small quantities of liquor in my life. I don't even know which brands I have tried or haven't for the most part besides a couple things I keep at home (a dark rum and brandy is all i think). I do know that in general I hate Tequila and am not a fan of nearly all vodkas I have had either.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:42 AM. Reason : ]

6/5/2013 10:39:37 AM

Quote :

"in general I hate Tequila"

ditto...except in margaritas

6/5/2013 10:48:26 AM

Quote :

"so as a former bartender what would be in your home bar if you had to stick to a limited number of bottles?"

I would do mid-shelf of everything...with a cheap bottle of vodka and bourbon for people who like to mix it with heavy mixers that mask the flavor...for example:

Vodka - Ketel One is a good midshelf vodka that pretty much everyone can deal with. Everyone has favorites, but I think everyone likes Ketel.

But keep a bottle of cheap Smirnoff around for the girlies who mix it with pineapple/cranberry juice or to use in your bloody marys.

Gin - I like Hendricks, but it has a distinct taste (cucumber/rose). I say Beefeaters and Tanqueray (or Bombay) are good options.

Rum - Bacardi, Captain, and Mount Gay. I don't think a dark rum is necessary as you don't have a ton of dark rum drinkers.

Tequila - Sauza Gold is a good affordable tequila that is a bit better than Cuervo Gold (IMO). Don Julio is my favorite top shelf.

Bourbon/Whiskey - Beam, Jack, Dewars and Crown are the basics. You can go cheaper and you can go higher...but you can't really go wrong with those to start out.

Liqueurs - Dekuyper's Triple Sec is solid. Cointreau and Grand Marnier if you're going top shelf. And bitches love Baileys...so you should always have a bottle of Baileys around (good for Irish coffees as well)

That's a good start to a solid liquor cabinet. Make sure you have a couple liters of ginger ale/soda/tonic on hand and you're good to go. If you're getting fancy, have some dry and sweet vermouths on hand...olives for martinis and olives/pepperoncinis for bloody marys (can you tell I'm a big brunch guy??)...bitters, etc. Party time calls for cranberry/pineapples/coke/sprites for the ladies.

I think that about covers it.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:50 AM. Reason : .]

6/5/2013 10:49:28 AM

Old Charter bourbon
Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
bitters
New Amsterdam Gin
Cuervo silver

6/5/2013 10:51:11 AM

unless you're drinking them straight, i've always felt that liqueurs can (for the most part) be bottom shelf

it depends on the drink, sure, but i'd argue that bottom shelf irish cream doesn't taste noticeably different in coffee than does something like bailey's

6/5/2013 10:52:01 AM

Did someone say Bailey's?


(sorry)

6/5/2013 10:54:06 AM

tullamore dew irish whiskey
gordons gin
corralejo blanco tequila
myers dark rum
zubrowka vodka
cointreau
baileys

not a big liquor drinker but like to have stuff on hand just in case, love me some g&t's though so the gin gets replaced often enough...

oops, forgot i've also got a bottle of sweet tea vodka recently imported by a friend who visited me from charlotte -- it's sweet carolina brand

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 11:02 AM. Reason : sweet tea]

6/5/2013 10:57:07 AM

Quote :

"it depends on the drink, sure, but i'd argue that bottom shelf irish cream doesn't taste noticeably different in coffee than does something like bailey's"

While true...it does taste noticeably different when drinking straight. I went the cheap route once when taking Baileys/Jameson/Guinness cans to a weekend Riverhouse getaway...and surprisingly the cheap shit made the car bombs taste "off" (I normally find car bombs delicious).

Now I'm not going to blame the cheap cream liqueur on my puking all night...but I don't think it helped.

Either way...I feel like you have to go Baileys regardless. Cheap cream liqueur screams, "college kid trying to stretch a few dollars but still has to have this around in case there's a girl he's trying to bang who doesn't like the taste of liquor"

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 10:59 AM. Reason : .]

6/5/2013 10:58:04 AM

Jim beam
Crown Royal
Sky
Kettle one
Captain Morgan
Sake

6/5/2013 11:12:05 AM

Quote :

"We've got a half empty handle of gordon's vodka left from my son's 3rd birthday party."

your son is such a lightweight.

6/5/2013 11:12:58 AM

I've been thinkng about mojitos for like two weeks now. I got this mint. I'm gonna go to the jar store today.

6/5/2013 11:31:33 AM

I want to buy an alcohol cabnit; something made or from somewhere else. Has to be able to store alcohol/wine bottles, etc. Let me know

6/5/2013 11:31:47 AM

A big bottle of Grey Goose and a couple of bottles of Patron.

6/5/2013 11:36:43 AM

I don't store liquor. if i buy it it gets consumed the same weekend i do so.

6/5/2013 11:51:36 AM

i like having stuff on hand. i always get random cravings, like for a pina colada thus having white rum and a couple cans of pineapple juice and cream of cocunt on hand. i need to make a trip to Froogle MacDoogle and restock. making a list now.

6/5/2013 11:57:59 AM

Not Enough.

6/5/2013 12:49:01 PM

Captain Morgan Coconut Rum
Cruzan Rum -- variety of flavors
Hypnotiq
Sparkletini Wine
Mike's Hard Lemonade
Disaronno Amaretto
Some cheap Brandy
Triple Sec
Strawberry Daiquiri mix
Midori
Pina Colada Mix
Sweet and Sour Mix



oh lawd.....what a pussy mix of alcohol

6/5/2013 1:42:54 PM

i need to build a cider cabinet...some crispin honey crisp, angry orchard elderflower, JK Scrumpy, and Redds and ill be set for life

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 1:45 PM. Reason : d]

6/5/2013 1:45:04 PM

Quote :

"Captain Morgan Coconut Rum Cruzan Rum -- variety of flavors Hypnotiq Sparkletini Wine Mike's Hard Lemonade Disaronno Amaretto Some cheap Brandy Triple Sec Strawberry Daiquiri mix Midori Pina Colada Mix Sweet and Sour Mix"

Jesus H Christ...you must get some terrible hangovers with all of that sugar.

6/5/2013 1:49:01 PM

water

6/5/2013 1:49:41 PM

Quote :

"cream of cocunt on hand"

6/5/2013 2:00:47 PM

6/5/2013 2:06:01 PM

Bourbon - Eagle Rare - manhattan or rocks. Occasionally w/ginger (Dr. Brown's).
Campari - negronis (perhaps my favorite cocktail, equal parts campari, gin, & sweet vermouth)
Gin - Bombay Sapphire - classic martinis, gin & tonic, negronis
Scotch - Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year - rocks
Tequila - Lunazul Blanco - margaritas.
Vermouth, dry - Martini & Rossi - classic martinis, occasionally gets used in recipes.
Vermouth, sweet - Martini & Rossi - negronis & manhattans.
Vodka - Belvedere - various. bloody marys, vodka tonics, wife uses it for cosmpolitans.
Vodka - Firefly Sweet Tea - tom arnolds.

Triple Sec - forget what brand - margaritas.
Angostura Bitters - manhattans.

I prefer Vox or Stoli as far as vodka goes, but Belevedere certainly isn't bad. I'd probably also do well to keep a cheaper bottle around, perhaps with a black pepper flavoring, as we drink quite a few bloody marys and that's a waste of a better vodka. Also need to get a bottle of light rum as summer usually brings mojitos with it. We drink a fair amount of margaritas as well--fresh lime juice, simple syrup, triple sec, tequila. I really like Lunazul--100% de agave at a price point similar to Cuervo.

A co-worker recommended I try an Islay scotch, namely Laphroaig or Ardbeg, and I've looked at them the last few times I've been to the liquor store but I have a hard time dropping $50+ on a bottle.

6/5/2013 2:14:54 PM

mmmm Vox

I'm slowly getting a collection of liquor...I am searching for an old school bar cart to add to my apartment so I can put it all there. I don't have much room in my place so I haven't been keeping bottles around.

Don't remember what I have..except I know I have some cointreau

6/5/2013 2:21:03 PM

^ I had been wanting a bar cart too, but the my parents gave me a random small cabinet thing that we have our stuff in now. I miss the days of our large, stocked cabinet that had pretty much anything anyone wanted in it.

Now we have Crown, amaretto, Glenlivet, amagnac, coffee liqueur, creme de cacao, triple sec, melon liqueur, Goldschlager (can't remember where that came from as I don't like it), lemon, lime and orangecellos, Tanqueray, sloe gin and I think a couple airplane bottles of stuff I impulse bought to taste. Oh, and some apple pie moonshine and some kind of weird tasting ABC store "moonshine" that isn't really.

Usually we'd have also have vodka, rum and tequila at least, but we've been slacking lately.

I don't feel like listing preferred drinks. The stuff we have now, other than Crown and Glenlivet, isn't really anything we drink regularly.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 2:39 PM. Reason : how did I forget triple sec?]

6/5/2013 2:34:24 PM

how available is Ginger Beer? and where can i get it?

6/5/2013 2:36:40 PM

Quote :

"richthofen: Campari - negronis (perhaps my favorite cocktail, equal parts campari, gin, & sweet vermouth)"

You should try a negroni with bourbon/rye. I love Manhattans, and I drink these all the time now.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 2:41 PM. Reason : .]

6/5/2013 2:40:51 PM

Quote :

"I miss the days of our large, stocked cabinet that had pretty much anything anyone wanted in it."

Damn, I miss those days, too.

My supply is minimal, but I plan to be able to entertain a lot more and should probably start stocking up. I currently have Knob Creek, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve, Svedka, Bacardi, and lots of random half-empty liqueurs from making jello shots.

I'm all out of Lunazul because I drank it all. I need to get more.

6/5/2013 2:47:38 PM

Quote :

"how available is Ginger Beer? and where can i get it?"

I want to say its pretty easy to find...but I think I've had a tough time locating in the past. The nicer grocery stores (the good Harris Teeters and new Bi-los) probably have them. You can get non-Gosling's brand at Whole Foods (Reeds is delicious).

6/5/2013 3:02:54 PM

^It's pretty easy to find Blenheim's and such at HT.

6/5/2013 3:03:39 PM

Lagavulin

Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.

6/5/2013 3:19:27 PM

scotch is a spirit i have not been able to get into. price point is also a factor.

6/5/2013 3:21:38 PM

i used to be like that with scotch, now i like it better than whiskey, bourbon & gin

6/5/2013 3:25:39 PM

Quote :

"I want to buy an alcohol cabnit; something made or from somewhere else. Has to be able to store alcohol/wine bottles, etc. Let me know"

i came here looking for this post. was not disappointed.

6/5/2013 5:06:54 PM

Quote :

"^It's pretty easy to find Blenheim's and such at HT."

Dude. What the fuck HT are you shopping at? When I lived in Raleigh, I used to be able to find Blenheim's at the Fresh Market, sometimes, if I was lucky. Then they stopped carrying it. I've never seen it at a Teeter in my life that I can recall.

Trying to find it this far north (Richmond) is even more of a joke. I'm thinking of trying to order some. Dr. Brown's is a good substitute for some things (super dry) but it's not spicy at all so it doesn't work for something like a Dark & Stormy.

Also I would still consider Blenheim a ginger ale, not a ginger beer.

Quote :

"I want to say its pretty easy to find...but I think I've had a tough time locating in the past. The nicer grocery stores (the good Harris Teeters and new Bi-los) probably have them. You can get non-Gosling's brand at Whole Foods (Reeds is delicious). "

Now Reed's I have seen regularly at HT.

[Edited on June 5, 2013 at 5:13 PM. Reason : d]

6/5/2013 5:11:28 PM