Help me stock up on spirits!

[CFu]

Hi all,

I’m trying to make a little bar area in the new pad and I am in dire need of alcoholic libations to put in it. Got myself all kinds of pappy but I’d like to have some variety for when my drunkard friends come over. Any suggestions? Trying to keep it under $75 as the purposes will mostly be for mixing

1. vodka
2. dark rum
3. tequilla
4. scotch

fill in the blank with whatever else you think I need. Probably buy a total of 10 bottles.

Thanks!!

[Kevin_Lloyd]

1. One regular, one potato - as to the former, I think most of the good ones are comparable, grey goose is what most seem to drink, for the latter luksosova (sp?) or chopin are what my vodka friends seem to drink

2. El Dorado 15, Mount Gay Extra Old or Pyrat - Bacardi Select as a mixer

3. I like Don Julio - but am not much a tequila drinker

4. At that price point, Lagavulin 16 for peaty, Balvanie 12 is a good deal for a non-peaty option (>$40), maybe black label for people who like blended.

[Tyler_Rico]

For Gin I stock 1.75s of Tanqueray and then bottles of Hendrick’s, Leopold’s and No. 209. For scotch it all depends on what you like to drink but on the more woody/caramel side I love the whole Balvenie line. You can get the 12 DW, 15 SB, peated 17 and 14 Caribbean all under the $75. For the other side of the spectrum check out lagavulin and laphroaig 10, quarter cask, cask strength and sometimes the 18 for under $75.

Back to bourbon, the whole BTAC line is right at $75 here in CA.

[Rick_Gregory]

Good suggestions. On the tequila, I think a lot depends on whether you ever see it being sipped or whether it’s going in margaritas and the like. You might want one of each (a sipping tequila and a mixing one).

Scotch… aside from the above think about Oban and Glenmorangie. I’m partial to the Lagavulin myself, but it’s a matter of personal taste. I’d do a blended, something like Black Label, for mixed drinks or people who want it over rocks.

Vodka… Ketel One is fine, so is Belvedere. Again, the issue is whether you’re drinking it almost neat (i.e. martini, etc) or mixed.

[CFu]

@Tyler Rico

For Gin I stock 1.75s of Tanqueray and then bottles of Hendrick’s, Leopold’s and No. 209. For scotch it all depends on what you like to drink but on the more woody/caramel side I love the whole Balvenie line. You can get the 12 DW, 15 SB, peated 17 and 14 Caribbean all under the $75. For the other side of the spectrum check out lagavulin and laphroaig 10, quarter cask, cask strength and sometimes the 18 for under $75.

Back to bourbon, the whole BTAC line is right at $75 here in CA.

Thanks, completely forgot to put down Gin, also an essential.

[CFu]

@Rick Gregory

Good suggestions. On the tequila, I think a lot depends on whether you ever see it being sipped or whether it’s going in margaritas and the like. You might want one of each (a sipping tequila and a mixing one).

Scotch… aside from the above think about Oban and Glenmorangie. I’m partial to the Lagavulin myself, but it’s a matter of personal taste. I’d do a blended, something like Black Label, for mixed drinks or people who want it over rocks.

Vodka… Ketel One is fine, so is Belvedere. Again, the issue is whether you’re drinking it almost neat (i.e. martini, etc) or mixed.

I would say typically the vodka, rum, tequila, gin will be mixed. Whiskey items maybe both.

[David_K_o_l_i_n]

I usually have a bottle of Luksusowa Vodka in the house - a great deal on tater vodka. I also like Tito’s from Austin.

[Rick_Gregory]

@Charlie Fu

@Rick Gregory

Good suggestions. On the tequila, I think a lot depends on whether you ever see it being sipped or whether it’s going in margaritas and the like. You might want one of each (a sipping tequila and a mixing one).

Scotch… aside from the above think about Oban and Glenmorangie. I’m partial to the Lagavulin myself, but it’s a matter of personal taste. I’d do a blended, something like Black Label, for mixed drinks or people who want it over rocks.

Vodka… Ketel One is fine, so is Belvedere. Again, the issue is whether you’re drinking it almost neat (i.e. martini, etc) or mixed.

I would say typically the vodka, rum, tequila, gin will be mixed. Whiskey items maybe both.

In that case I’d go for a midrange brand for mixers… Smirnoff for the vodka, etc. The exception would be mixed drinks where the taste of the liquor shows through (for example, a vodka tonic or an Old Fashioned). But if people are going to do something like a margarita, they’re not usually obsessing about the quality of the tequila in it.

Of course you need a full complement of these just for the name… http://deathsdoorspirits.com/home.php

[ToddFrench]

@Rick Gregory

@Charlie Fu

@Rick Gregory

Good suggestions. On the tequila, I think a lot depends on whether you ever see it being sipped or whether it’s going in margaritas and the like. You might want one of each (a sipping tequila and a mixing one).

Scotch… aside from the above think about Oban and Glenmorangie. I’m partial to the Lagavulin myself, but it’s a matter of personal taste. I’d do a blended, something like Black Label, for mixed drinks or people who want it over rocks.

Vodka… Ketel One is fine, so is Belvedere. Again, the issue is whether you’re drinking it almost neat (i.e. martini, etc) or mixed.

I would say typically the vodka, rum, tequila, gin will be mixed. Whiskey items maybe both.

In that case I’d go for a midrange brand for mixers… Smirnoff for the vodka, etc. The exception would be mixed drinks where the taste of the liquor shows through (for example, a vodka tonic or an Old Fashioned). But if people are going to do something like a margarita, they’re not usually obsessing about the quality of the tequila in it.

Of course you need a full complement of these just for the name… http://deathsdoorspirits.com/home.php

If you are stocking the cabinet, when it comes to vodka, you need to have at least one potato vodka as well - have a grain and a potato vodka on hand. Those who are into vodka are pretty particular. Chopin was one of my favorites when I was into vodka.

Have Hendricks or go home. Wait…you are home. Well, have Hendricks or your Hendricks fans will go home.

[Rick_Gregory]

Yeah, you’re basically stocking for two audiences as I see it… the aficionados of a particular spirit and the “let’s have a drink” crowd. The latter will be fine with something good but midrange. The snobs… er the aficionados will want something nice.

[Z_Hu]

Just use old bottles and fill them with cheap booze. That grey goose you loved was popov and that patron tequila you drank was actually Cuervo silver. That van winkle you drank was actually Jim beam.

Haha jk but I bet people won’t know…I should try this…

[CFu]

@Z. Hu

Just use old bottles and fill them with cheap booze. That grey goose you loved was popov and that patron tequila you drank was actually Cuervo silver. That van winkle you drank was actually Jim beam.

Haha jk but I bet people won’t know…I should try this…

I did something similar in law school. We had this huge party and someone I didn’t really know that well kept bugging me to bring Dom Perignon. So I had a few empties lying around and I filled it with whatever crap sparkler I could find at costo. I brought 3 bottles, put them on ice and let people have at it.

It was fun watching ppl beg me for some Dom P

[Otto_Dobre]

For vodka, I think that Svedka is the best QPR at $20 for a 1.75L. For gin, I really like Citadelle. Don’t forget a silver rum for mohitos, maybe Appleton Silver. Don’t forget, dry and sweet vermouth, a bottle of Campari, Gran Gala for orange liqueur, maybe a bottle of absinthe.

[William_Segui]

I’m pretty sure you have a Costco card, so I’d do the bulk of my shopping there.

Vodka – If mixing, Ketel One. If going up, Chopin.
Gin – Hendricks?, my preferred top shelf is Junipero, but it is an acquired taste.
Tequila – Casadores for margies, Tequila Ocho for sipping.
Bourbon – rye for Manhattan, I like Rittenhouse or the Willett 3-yr single barrels. Non-mixing/sipping bourbon – the BTAC’s are stellar, although you could easily get away with Knob Creek or Gentleman Jack.

[Tyler_Rico]

@William Segui

I’m pretty sure you have a Costco card, so I’d do the bulk of my shopping there.

a little trick…

You dont need a costco membership to buy booze from them. I think it has something to do with ca abc laws?

[Barry_L_i_p_t_o_n]

Don Julio anejo is my favorite, but I don’t mix. If mixing, then maybe something much cheaper like Cuervo 1800.

I’m a huge fan of A’bundah scotch (cask strength, should cut it with water a little), around $55 at Total Wines and more.

[Michael_S_Meyer]

Bitters anyone?

[John_Liotta]

Charlie, and everyone else, here is a relevant thread:

Home Bar Question

[Rick_Smith]

For vodka, I’ve been drinking and buying Beluga.

If mixing, I generally use Vox.

[Scott_Butler]

My local store carries Belvedere for $19.99 and it is hard to beat for that price. I have become quite a fan of it.