Author Topic: Help me build a home bar (Read 2205 times)

Rman · « **on:** March 21, 2012, 01:29:50 PM »

I'm more of a wine and beer guy, but I've been getting into mixed drinks. What do I need? What are the best gins, vodkas, ryes, etc? What are the essential glassware and the like?

I already have Tanqueray at home. Gin and Tonic 4 lyfe, but I want to diversity my repertoire.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2012, 01:38:26 PM »

I know its weird but I actually prefer french vodka- a lot smoother. I know its not as MANLY as Russian POTATOZ VODKA but whatever

Brehvolution · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2012, 01:58:23 PM »

Keg of PBR and a bottle of Smirnoff Mojito,

Keep all that good stuff Rygar mentioned hidden in the bar for your own pleasure.

archnemesis · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:13:45 PM »

Bombay Sapphire is probably my favorite gin. Check with a wholesaler if you want to order lots of different types of glasses, otherwise it's going to cost a minor fortune.

Huff · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:25:08 PM »

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:35:43 PM »

Also you need some whiskey so you can make whiskey sours - the drink of men

archnemesis · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:39:41 PM »

Having cucumber in gin & tonic makes it a completely different experience.

Huff · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2012, 03:20:27 PM »

Read up on the Death's Door Gin. Really need to get my hands on some

Eric P · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2012, 03:30:40 PM »

i love Mitchter's Rye personally.
If you want a crazy ass Gin, try The Botanist. It's a gin from a distillery which typically makes (amazing) whiskey.

Robo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2012, 04:14:35 PM »

http://www.amazon.com/Imbibe-Professor-Featuringthe-Selection-Contributed/dp/0399532870/

Mupepe · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2012, 04:17:35 PM »

Some Gentleman's or Single Barrel Jack Daniel's

Just on the rocks and it's godly

mmmmmmmm

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2012, 05:19:10 PM »

Gin: Bluecoat, Citadelle. Though The Botanist sounds amazing. I prefer herbal gins to dry gins quite a bit.
Rum: I like El Dorado and Dos Maderas, anything over 10 years.
Bourbon: Bulleit. Buffalo Trace is okay.
Vodka: It doesn't really matter because good vodka has no taste (and neither do you, you vodka drinker) but you should get Tito's. AVOID Grey Goose, Belvedere, and other "super-premium" brands - you are buying a label.

If you want to be a SUPER BALLER pick up some ROOT, SNAP, or RHUBY: http://www.artintheage.com/our-spirits/

Other things I enjoy keeping on-hand:
- tonic water and soda water (at least until I got my iSi)
- NAVAN (vanilla liqueur, mixes with anything)
- American Honey or equivalent (super-sweet bourbon liqueur, good for mixing or shots)
- sweet tea vodka (Firefly or equivalent)
- a good non-Kahlua coffee liqueur
- a good non-Bailey's Irish Cream
- orange liqueur (Grand Marnier or equivalent)
- a bottle of Johnny Walker Black for friends afraid of sweet drinks

Also keep on hand: lemons (or lemon juice), limes (or lime juice), oranges, maraschino cherries.

Akala · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2012, 06:38:55 PM »

great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff. if you can't whip up a long island, your bar sucks. you also need bourbon and scotch.

base-level bar, IMO:

Jack Daniels
Johnny Black
Smirnoff
Jose Cuervo
Bacardi
Tanqueray (their vodka is actually pretty good as well)

you could open a chilis if you bought some crown.

Robo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2012, 06:41:17 PM »

I just keep a handle of Popov next to the sink. Makes doing the dishes easier too.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2012, 06:59:29 PM »

great suggestions itt

most important stuff is lots of mixers/bitters/shit you add to the alcohol. you don't need premium liquor to have decent drinks, as longs as you have good mixers.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2012, 07:00:30 PM »

hold up i just read akala's suggestions. dont follow that unless youre throwing lots of frat parties.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2012, 07:11:29 PM »

As someone who has drank himself to oblivion and back, I don't really go for mixed drinks when I want to get my drank on. I appreciate simple and straight forward drinks, namely bourbon neat, maybe- MAYBE I said- with some ice, and a shitty beer to chase it with. My bourbon of choice is Bulleit.

I also have come to enjoy a good Scotch, Johnny Walker Black or Blue if you have the money and discerning taste to enjoy it. Glenlivet isn't bad either, preferably a nice 18.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2012, 07:14:41 PM »

I miss my drinking days- I was a superstar

Akala · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2012, 08:10:57 PM »

Quote from: Positive Touch on March 21, 2012, 07:00:30 PM

hold up i just read akala's suggestions. dont follow that unless youre throwing lots of frat parties.

Hey now.

Justification: I drink a lot and have people over a lot. Brands listed are serviceable and you don't feel bad when bottles are killed.

People want to drink they can bring better if they want!

Positive Touch · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:27:29 PM »

i'm polishing off a bottle of del maguey right now. i've had it for over a year and yes, it truly is beautiful. so long, old friend. i'm sorry i can't afford another one of you :'(

but hey, if i can get my fucking tax return fixed so i actually get some real money back, then it's back to the liquor store for round 2!

Positive Touch · « **Reply #20 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:28:18 PM »

shitballs i just spilled it all over my face

Positive Touch · « **Reply #21 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:15:21 PM »

smokey tequila

so good

Freyj · « **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:45:41 PM »

The 18.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #23 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:05:28 PM »

Glenfidditch is serviceable.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:21:24 PM »

I got this book for Xmas because I am a classier drunk than all y'all:

It is all about the time he was traveling through Saudi Arabia and met the Crown Prince in the hotel lounge and they played cards until the wee hours of the evening until he accidentally offended his honor, resulting in a duel outside at the foot of the Sphinx also how to make a Pimm's Cup?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:22:30 PM »

SO MANY vintage cocktails require raw eggs. SO MANY.

Freyj · « **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:22:55 PM »

Quote from: Billy Rygar on March 21, 2012, 11:15:51 PM

Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on March 21, 2012, 11:05:28 PM
Glenfidditch is serviceable.
That's about all you can say about it.

Get some cask strength scotch (I like Ardbeg, but tastes for scotch are wildly different) and some low mineral water.

Snow Phoenix was a little more interesting for sure, but I'm not paying the going price for it these days.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:27:01 PM »

Here's a simple mnemonic, based on what type of shops carry the liquor you're recommending:

Safeway? Tastes gay.
BevMo? So-so...
Specialty? GIVE TO ME.

Another good test is, "Does my booze have a cartoon drawing of a pirate on it?"

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #28 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:30:18 PM »

North Carolina is a festering hellhole and only allows state run liquor stores. $:-\$

We can have specialty wine/beer stores, but no hard stuff is allowed in there. SADNESS. I am so looking forward to my Atlanta trip this weekend, gonna come back with at least 2 bottles of Bulleit Rye, can't find that anywhere up here.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #29 on:** March 21, 2012, 11:50:13 PM »

Quote from: Akala on March 21, 2012, 06:38:55 PM

great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff. if you can't whip up a long island, your bar sucks. you also need bourbon and scotch.

base-level bar, IMO:

Jack Daniels
Johnny Black
Smirnoff
Jose Cuervo
Bacardi
Tanqueray (their vodka is actually pretty good as well)

you could open a chilis if you bought some crown.

Jack Daniels is... Jack Daniels.

Johnny Walker is rubbish, there are many better whiskeys at that price range

Smirnoff is shit, Absolut doesn't cost much more and miles better.

Bacardi is shit, Havana Club is better and around the same price

Jose Cuervo is SHIT

Tanqueray is decent

overall your suggestions are horrible, sorry

Eric P · « **Reply #30 on:** March 22, 2012, 06:26:51 AM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on March 21, 2012, 05:19:10 PM

- a good non-Bailey's Irish Cream

http://www.cooleswan.com/age-verification?return=home

COOLE SWAN
NAOW

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #31 on:** March 22, 2012, 11:30:49 AM »

Quote from: The Sceneman on March 21, 2012, 11:50:13 PM

Quote from: Akala on March 21, 2012, 06:38:55 PM
great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff. if you can't whip up a long island, your bar sucks. you also need bourbon and scotch.

base-level bar, IMO:

Jack Daniels
Johnny Black
Smirnoff
Jose Cuervo
Bacardi
Tanqueray (their vodka is actually pretty good as well)

you could open a chilis if you bought some crown.

overall your suggestions are horrible, sorry

Wait, I just noticed: "great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff"

Akala is giving us a great list of decoy liquor so we can keep the good stuff for ourselves

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #32 on:** March 22, 2012, 12:25:42 PM »

Quote from: Billy Rygar on March 21, 2012, 11:15:51 PM

Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on March 21, 2012, 11:05:28 PM
Glenfidditch is serviceable.
That's about all you can say about it.

Get some cask strength scotch (I like Ardbeg, but tastes for scotch are wildly different) and some low mineral water.

I kinda miss the scotch phase of The Bore.

Akala · « **Reply #33 on:** March 22, 2012, 08:52:11 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on March 22, 2012, 11:30:49 AM

Quote from: The Sceneman on March 21, 2012, 11:50:13 PM
Quote from: Akala on March 21, 2012, 06:38:55 PM
great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff. if you can't whip up a long island, your bar sucks. you also need bourbon and scotch.

base-level bar, IMO:

Jack Daniels
Johnny Black
Smirnoff
Jose Cuervo
Bacardi
Tanqueray (their vodka is actually pretty good as well)

you could open a chilis if you bought some crown.

overall your suggestions are horrible, sorry

Wait, I just noticed: "great bars have levels, a top shelf with acceptable hooch, and a hidden area with the good stuff"

Akala is giving us a great list of decoy liquor so we can keep the good stuff for ourselves

pretty much. listed spirits are about base-level I would feel comfortable with having out so as not to be considered a bad host, while minimizing the chance someone I barely know drinks something I would rather them not. my go-to cheap brands differ a little based on personal taste (Sobieski vodka is cheap and beats out most of the midrange vodkas IMO, and don't knock it, Albertsons brand rum is much better than Bacardi or Castillo, etc), but having a handle of evan williams or old crow or some such bleck makes you feel dirty. having decent, somewhat low-priced liquor readily available is the way. I have been burned too many times keeping good shit out and having a friend of a friend kill the bottle to keep good stuff out on top.

as stated, if people ever complain about getting free mid-tier liquor, they can either bring their own, or help themselves to my ample supply of filtered water.

for a forum obsessed with taco bell, there are some really shrill mediocre liquor haters.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #34 on:** March 23, 2012, 01:56:13 AM »

the brands you're recommending aren't bad, but they're kind of ... expected? it never even occurred to me that people would drink anything cheaper/worse than your suggestions. like, do people actually drink Evan Williams? I actually own a bottle - I use it for reductions when I make steak au poivre.

that said, if I was at a party and saw those brands, I wouldn't blink twice - but I also wouldn't be impressed. being almost as old as drinky, I'm well past the point in my life where there's any danger of friends completely murdering bottles, so I hate keeping bad stuff around. at this point, I mix 12-year rum into my coke

I cleaned up some shit tonight that we've accrued over the past few years: Malibu, Buttershots, Captain Morgan Private Stock, Praline (a sweet pecan liqueur), Christian Brothers (won't even cook with that. Added The Botanist, Coole Swan, Del Maguey Single Village, and 2 bottles of 10-year Tawny Port. Damn. but I am into tawny port right now.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I actually kind of like the new Bacardi Oakheart for mixing

[close]

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #35 on:** March 23, 2012, 02:06:48 AM »

There's a difference in drinking to enjoy a drink and drinking to get stupid. If you're engaging in the latter, why bother wasting good stuff on yourself? More cost effective to use middle of the road stuff and then pull out the good stuff for just a random drink/special occasions. I can get behind Akala's plan. I would totally just have middle of the road stuff out if I ever had people over... fortunately I'm a social hermit so I don't have to worry about that shit.

Also, maybe it's because I don't really like "mixed" drinks and view the whole mixology shit as an annoying fad, but I'm not looking to "impress" anyone when it comes to my booze. Bourbon or Scotch neat, please. Keep those bullshit mixers away from me!

Robo · « **Reply #36 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:57:40 AM »

Evan Williams ain't even that bad.

Himu · « **Reply #37 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:51:01 AM »

Quote from: Billy Rygar on March 21, 2012, 01:45:49 PM

Vodka sux

you can't make white russians or black russians without vodka

eat shit

Huff · « **Reply #38 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:05:10 AM »

vodka still sux

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #39 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:05:51 AM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on March 23, 2012, 10:51:01 AM

Quote from: Billy Rygar on March 21, 2012, 01:45:49 PM

Vodka sux

you can't make white russians or black russians without vodka

eat shit

Drink Green Russians instead.

Rman · « **Reply #40 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:18:00 AM »

I was looking through this book at Barnes & Noble the other day. Pretty good stuff as well.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #41 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:20:30 AM »

that's the KCRW cookbook of the month

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #42 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:57:07 AM »

Quote from: Robo on March 23, 2012, 09:57:40 AM

Evan Williams ain't even that bad.

uhhhh....

Rman · « **Reply #43 on:** March 23, 2012, 12:31:50 PM »

I don't really like vodka. I just thought including it was important to include since it is in so many cocktails. Don't really care for the stuff on its own.

Himu · « **Reply #44 on:** March 23, 2012, 12:48:12 PM »

Me either. But cocktails are mostly what I drink aside from beer.

T234 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:11:48 PM »

Any bar that ain't got Woodford's Reserve ain't no bar.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #46 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:19:02 PM »

Quote from: T234 on March 23, 2012, 09:11:48 PM

Any bar that ain't got Woodford's Reserve ain't no bar.

True dat

Akala · « **Reply #47 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:32:18 PM »

I don't think I've ever been to a bar that served woodford's reserve. Is that a weed joke?

T234 · « **Reply #48 on:** March 24, 2012, 02:54:16 AM »

Akala · « **Reply #49 on:** March 24, 2012, 05:46:42 PM »

poor grammar nazi joke, apologies.

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Author Topic: Help me build a home bar (Read 2205 times)