Help me put together a bar of epic proportions

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve searched & found many fine recommendations on many different liquors around the boards & I’m planning on doing much tasting. But, if y’all could answer my little poll & give me a little extra detail, I’d appreciate it greatly

I’m looking to put together a bar with at least scotch, american whiskey, rye, vodka, rum, gin, and tequila. I’m looking for 3 recommendations for each:

  1. The best. Don’t factor price into it - just whatever is damned good.
  2. The best for no more than $75US / 750 ml
  3. The best for no more than $25US / 750 ml

I’m sure this stuff varies, so just use the going rate in your area :wink:

As of right now, I’ve found I really like The Glenlivet 18-year-old scotch, and Rhum Barbancourt 5-star (8-year-old, I think) rum.

I’mefinitely looking for more recommendations. And also, if there’s something not on my list that an Epic Bar should have (like Tuaca or something), please suggest it.

Thanks in advance!

2

Bourbon - The best, period is Old Weller Antique. It also has the benefit of being $17.89 at my local grocery store. 107 proof at that.

Scotch gets much more subjective. The “price is no object” bottle should be Macallan 25 year old. For the under $75 I’d go for a Bowmore 17. For the cheap bottle I’d pick Cragganmore 12.

3

I’d suggest a lot of vodka. Flavored vodkas are the rage today, so I’d have several round.

Not sure where you live, but if you’re in a hot climate, I’d have some cheap stuff for blended drinks in summer. In Dallas, I keep a bottle of cheap tequila that I can use for blended margaritas.

4

You must have mead!

The drink of Viking Hero-Kings!

In case, you know, any Viking Hero-Kings drop in.

5

Due to a tragic drinking accident in college, I can no longer stomach the stuff. I haven’t touched a drop of Vodka in…damn, in 13 years. And even then, it was Travellers Club (do they still make that stuff?)

I’ve read good things about Grey Goose - is that a good sippin’ vodka?

I’m up in New Hampster where we’ve got 4 seasons - winter, summer, winter, and winter.

silenus - Holy shit! At $500 a bottle, I’m thinking that Macallan is just too damn expensive to drink. That’s the kind of bottle you just keep around for show :wink: IIRC you’re the SDMB resident scotch expert - in your opinion, how does Glenlivet 18-year-old compare to the Bowmore 17 you linked to?

Bosda - Can you get mead?? (Seriously - I wouldn’t mind trying it, if not actively stocking it :slight_smile: )

6

Under $75:

Vodka - Grey Goose, Stolichnaya Gold, Chopin, Belvedere, Ketel One
Scotch - Johnny Walker Black, Laphroig 10 yr, McCallan 12, Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 12, Talisker 12
Whiskey - Crown Royal
Bourbon - Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Wild Turkey
Gin - Bombay Saphire, Tanqueray
Tequila - Patron Silver, Chinaco Anejo, Don Julio

Under $25:

Vodka - Smirnoff
Scotch - Johnny Walker Red, Dewars White
Whiskey - Jack Daniels
Bourbon - Jim Beam, Souther Comfort
Gin - Beefeater
Tequila - Jose Cuervo
Rum - Bacardi, Captain Morgan, Malibu
Misc - Southern Comfort, Jagermeister, Kahlúa, Vermouth

7

Well, you did say price is no object!

The Glenlivet 18 is quite a nice tipple. Not as extreme as the Bowmore, but then, it isn’t a Islay either! :smiley:

Actually, the 17 is the only Bowmore expression I really like. Something about just that age that makes it appealing as opposed to a challenge. I have a bottle of 20 year old Glenlivet in the bar right now, a Gordon & McPhail bottling I believe. Smooth, supple, and wonderful. All honey and heather and spice. If you like the Glenlivet, but want to try something different that isn’t seaweed and smoke, try Talisker.

8

I forgot to include Frangelica, Sambuca, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and a nice Mezcal. But i think that’s 90% of what my ideal bar would be stocked with.

9

Try Carolans as opposed to Bailey’s. Personal taste, but I like it a bit better.

10

Your epic bar should contain Triple Sec. So many fun mixed drinks require it.

My dad set me up with an epic bar a few years ago. He gave me some good advice. He said that it’s good to have some top notch vodka, but you should also have a decent but inexpensive vodka. You probably don’t want to pour your Grey Goose into a Cape Codder. And even if you don’t mind, your guests will feel weird about it.

And make sure you have some good mixers. Rose’s Lime Juice is a must.

11

Can’t help you on any pricing questions here, because I’m not in 'merica.

But without a doubt, the nicest Irish whiskey I’ve ever tasted us Bushmills 25 year malt. In fact, though not a regular whiskey/whisky* drinker, it’s the best whiskey/whisky I’ve ever tasted.

For single malt Scotch, I’d recommend Laphroaig.

I also rate Gentleman Jack Tennessee sippin’ whisky very highly.

(No offense intended to cainxinth, but IMO Johnny Walker anything is cheap-ass shit that should be flushed rather than drunk, to save time.)

Will your bar serve beer?

*In case you’re confused, in Europe “whisky” is the Scots spelling, and “whiskey” is the Irish spelling.

12

Still collecting the final bits but this is my bar:

Vodka - Grey Goose, Stolichnaya Vanil, Absolute Kurant
Rum - Captain Morgan Private Stock (Awesome), Bacardi
Scotch - Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 12
Whiskey - Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Jack Daniel’s
Bourbon - Bookers (the absolute best bourbon), Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Gin - Tanqueray
Tequila - Patron Silver
Cognac - Hennessy Cognac

Misc. - Triple Sec, Rose’s Lime, DeKuyper Peachtree schnapps, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, Golden Grain, Grand Marnier, Benedictine, Creme de Cacao and Creme de Menthe, Amaretto (preferably Disarrono), Vermouth

13

There will be beer, but I’ve got that under control - I know what I like & what my friends like, so there’s no problems there. I haven’t had much experience with liquor - the occasional bacardi & coke, jack & coke, or tanqueray & tonic, but that’s about it. I want to get some pointers to good sipping liquors, go out & sample, and stock from there. The goal is to have a couple of bottles each of the really good liquors, and a bottle of inexpensive-yet-still-good liquors for mixing.

If I’ve done my homework correctly, Laphroaig is some of the “seaweed & smoke” that was alluded to earlier. I’m working my way up to that :wink: I’ve decided my next scotch is going to be a Talisker (thanks silenus!)

Is Captain Morgan Private Stock a vanilla-y rum like the standard CM?

14

You’re getting taken if you’re spending that much on Sapphire or Tanqueray. I typically get Sapphire at $18/750ml (just did last night as a matter of fact) and both Tanqueray and Beefeater can be had at about $16/750ml.

For straight sipping, I’ll take the Sapphire. It’s full of flavor, but not as much alcoholic bite as the Tanq. I’ve yet to try Beefeater, but have heard it’s closer to the Tanq in profile.

A few further recommendations:
For a mixing vodka, there’s a lesser known brand called Three Olives that is smooth enough to drink on its own (with a slight aftertaste) and mixes beautifully. I believe it should run you about $15/750ml. I used to buy Grey Goose, but after giving Three Olives a try, I can take the very slight impurity for half the price. They also have a wide selection of flavored vodkas (Raspberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Cherry, Grape*, Green Apple, Orange), to which I can’t personally attest.

For anything outside gin and vodka, I really can’t help you much. I get on well enough with Bacardi and Jamesons being the only other bar staples. That and a bottle of Baileys. Heaven is sipping a Baileys on the rocks.

Oh, and do not neglect your non-alcoholic ingredients in the ultimate bar. Tonic, simple syrup, various juices (but especially cranberry, orange, lemon, lime), grenadine, sour (though you can just combine a bit of orange, lemon, and lime juices with a dash of simple syrup for that one), and of course a bottle each of cocktail olives, cherries, possibly cocktail onions, and a whole lemon and lime or two.

*saw the grape in my local store last night, but it’s not shown on their website.

15

A bar without Wild Turkey, is less than a bar…

16

Mead can be had, from commercial bottlers. Ask at any better liquor store.

Also, homebrew mead can be made. A possible source would be a local SCA meet.

17

Don’t skimp on the mixers, either. Cheap tonic tastes like crap. Get good mixers. If you decide to get Wild Turkey, try the differing expressions: Russell’s Reserve, Rare Breed, Kentucky Spirit.

Laphroaig isn’t like salt and seaweed and smoke…it is salt and seaweed and smoke! Not a single- malt for the beginner. Talisker you will like, I think.

As for mead…there really aren’t any wonderful commercial varieties out there. Make your own, or follow Unca Bosda’s advice and make friends with a brewer. :smiley:

18

Can’t really say since I haven’t had the standard in forever, but I notice a very subtle vanilla flavor in the private stock (very subtle). The thing about this rum is that is just so damned smooth. You can pretty much just pour it over shaved ice and eat it, it’s that good.

Again, I also cannot recommend the Bookers enough. It’s single barrel and absolutely uncut. No water or anything else. It’s about 132 proof!