# Well stocked home bar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [August 26, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144 "2023-08-26T16:24:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/1 "2023-08-26T16:24:43Z")
There was a previous version of this back in 2016, and a lot of the content will be the same but I figured I’d start a new thread for this decade. I’ve gotten into making cocktails for my wife and I after work, and want to be able to whip up a few items for friends when entertaining. We have bar glasses (although I need a set of coupes) and most of the liquors (rum, vodka, gin, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, tequila), a few liqueurs (Cointreau, Aperol, Campari), and some odds and ends (bitters, ouzo, sweetened lime juice, tonic, ginger beer, cranberry juice). I’ve been making a lot with Cointreau, and we love an Aperol spritz on a hot day. I think I’m looking mainly for additional liqueurs and mixers to let me make a wider variety of common cocktails. Of course, any cocktail suggestions are welcome as well. Also variations on types of liquors that make for a well stocked liquor cabinet. I’ve been making a variety of margaritas, sidecars, negronis which have gone over well. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/2 "2023-08-26T17:38:03Z")
I’m here to hear what gets mentioned. Tomato juice for Bloody Marys and RedEyes (beer and tomato juice) needs considered. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/3 "2023-08-26T17:53:05Z")
I recently got _Noir Bar_ by Eddy Muller who hosts the film noir series on TCM. He used to bartend, so he blended his love of noir movies with paired cocktails. More than just a cocktail recipe book, it’s also beautiful. But he has a section on a well-stocked bar that I found very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/4 "2023-08-26T17:55:39Z")
Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters; sweet and dry vermouths; Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano, if you want to make Vespers; maybe Clamato juice for a Caesar,eh? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/5 "2023-08-26T18:05:15Z")
A good garnish can take your cocktails to the next level. Olives, cherries, citrus peels, those little pickled onions, even the cheesy little paper parasols can turn a good drink into a great one. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/6 "2023-08-26T18:29:14Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > A good garnish can take your cocktails to the next level. Olives, cherries, citrus peels, those little pickled onions, **even the cheesy little paper parasols can turn a good drink into a great one.** - How? Not only do they taste terrible(entirely unlike cheese), they’re near impossible to swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Allthegood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Allthegood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allthegood)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/7 "2023-08-26T18:37:28Z")
Seltzer or soda water, Pimm’s, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth. The full spectrum of rums: light, amber, dark, maybe spiced if you like it. Amaretto. Lemon-lime soda, cane sugar cola. Our current summer favorite alcoholic drink is the Kalimotxo: half red wine, half cola, poured over ice and garnished with a large slice of fresh orange. Another summer favorite is Tinto de Verano: half red wine, half lemon-lime soda, a shot of sweet vermouth, poured over ice and garnished with a slice of orange or lemon. The cider-based, ginger-liqueur type cocktails will have to wait until the end of September. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/8 "2023-08-26T20:33:04Z")
I do have dry and sweet vermouth, and angostura. And I made myself some simply syrup. I’m woefully lacking in garnishes. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/9 "2023-08-26T20:44:32Z")
The only garnish that is essential are Luxardo cherries. Probably need some beer and fine for your bar. When you say you have whiskey, what do you mean? Irish, I’m assuming? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/10 "2023-08-26T22:22:07Z")
Irish, scotch, and I thought I had some rye but apparently not. Fully stocked wine fridge, that’s not a problem. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/11 "2023-08-26T22:25:31Z")
I like to have Crème de cassis on hand at all times. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/12 "2023-08-27T00:25:55Z")
Tonight I made some [Timberpoint Coolers](https://www.liquor.com/timberpoint-cooler-cocktail-recipe-5078567). Very refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/13 "2023-08-27T00:38:54Z")
“Craft Vodka” is a marketing tool. Vodka is supposed to be tasteless, or nearly so, and even $100 vodka tastes the same once mixed. But do NOT get the cheap stuff in the big plastic bottle. Get Smirnoff or something. Not Grey Goose for crikiessake. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/14 "2023-08-27T00:42:41Z")
I’d say that a well stocked home bar would have the following: Base Spirits: - Gin (London Dry) - Rum (amber & white; amber can do most everything white can in a pinch) - Whiskey (bourbon & rye, but bourbon can sub in most drinks) - Tequila (white/plata/silver) - Brandy (cognac is classic, but E&J is just fine and cheap) Liqueurs: - Cointreau - Orange curacao (the Pierre Ferrand dry curacao is _the_ standard by which others are judged) - Maraschino (Luxardo or nothing) Other stuff - Angostura bitters - Orange bitters - Sweet (italian) vermouth. (Carpano Antica is amazing, but pretty much any of Dolin, Noilly Prat or Martini will be fine) - Ginger beer (Fever Tree, Bundaberg, Q are all good) - Simple syrup (make it yourself) - Fresh lemons, limes, and grapefruits. - Club soda That’s the minimum, IMO. It gets you through a whole lot of the old school drinks like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Sidecar, Daiquiri, Margarita, Gin Rickey, Tom Collins, Moscow Mule, and all the other buck-type drinks (spirits, ginger beer, lime juice). You’re also really close to a bunch more - with grapefruit juice, you can do La Floridita daiquiris, with mint, you can do mojitos, with sparkling wine you can do French 75s (gin or brandy). The next things from there that I would get would be to split between bourbon and rye, make some grenadine (POM wonderful juice 1:1 with sugar) get dry vermouth, and probably green Chartreuse (if you can; otherwise try a substitute like Ver). That’ll get you a whole bunch more cocktails, especially if you add a few juices like pineapple or orange. If you get into it, I recommend the books “The New Craft of the Cocktail” by Dale DeGroff, and “The Joy of Mixology” by Gary Regan as basic cocktail books. If you’re interested in Tiki drinks, “Smugglers Cove” by Martin & Rebecca Cate is the best I’ve run across, and if you’re interested in old-timey drinks, 'Imbibe!" by David Wondrich and “Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails” by Ted Haigh are good. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/15 "2023-08-27T00:43:42Z")
We have a bottle of Tito’s that my sister-in-law left with us, we work our way through it slowly. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/16 "2023-08-27T00:47:43Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I recently got _Noir Bar_ by Eddy Muller I ordered it a few days ago. > [@Kropotkin](#): > > Peychaud’s bitters A must-have for View Carré cocktails. Strangely, they’re not ubiquitous and I have to go to Bevmo! to get them. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/17 "2023-08-27T00:58:07Z")
Can folks recommend some cocktails with bitters? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/18 "2023-08-27T01:02:36Z")
And Pechaud’s is necessary for a Sazerac, and you might as well stock Sazerac while you’re at it. We toasted John Le Carré with Vieux Carrés upon his death. And absinthe (or if necessary, Pernod) makes the heart grow fonder. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/19 "2023-08-27T01:06:16Z")
I need to remember to pick up aquavit. They have it down the beach. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144/20 "2023-08-27T01:34:57Z")
Manhattan’s are the main one in my rotation. I really like Fee Brothers for bitters. Old fashioned’s used to be my goto, but have fallen off for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-stocked-home-bar/989144.md?page=2)