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[jgwhiteus]

Hi GAF, I'm doing a bit more entertaining this summer and I was thinking my "mini-bar" (just a couple of bottles of liquor from the local store) is a bit deficient for that purpose. So I'd appreciate recommendations from you on your go-to brands of alcohol that you think a host should stock in his / her mini-bar if they're entertaining guests. I'm not looking to spend hundreds on unique liquors I'll never drink, nor to create overly complicated drinks off a menu, just some basic spirits (not cheap, but hopefully a good value) that will give guests some variety to choose from.

So, what are your favorites? What do you consider "high-tier" vs. "mid-tier" in terms of taste and quality? Why don't we start with the standards:

1. Vodka
2. Gin
3. Tequila
4. Rum
5. Whiskey

And any mixers, flavored alcohol, etc. that you think are particularly good and should be included.

I'm in the U.S., by the way, so non-U.S. brands that aren't available here, no matter how amazing, probably won't help. Thanks!

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

I always like to casually ask what someone likes to drink before they come over, then surprise them with a little something special. It's a more expensive method but far more personal.

• Cointreau
• Bourbon
• Vermouth
• Tonic Water
• Ginger Ale
• Ice & crusher/pick (also things like ice ball moulds do well the night before)
• Decent shaker set
• Irish Cream Whiskey e.g. Baileys, ladies love it an it makes easy cock sucking cowboy shots
• A variety of glasses to serve e.g. shot, champagne, tumbler, beer mugs (get a bar fridge with a mini freezer and put your beer mugs in there 20mins before using them)
• Some fresh fruits e.g. lemon lime for Corona's or squeezes into various cocktails
• A basic bartenders book or flash card set, that or a few bookmarks on your phone

Also a great idea for a drinks night is ask everyone to bring one bottle of booze, then get creative and make drinks all night. Plus left over bottles with some life left in them go to the house bar

Also never forget to have beer on hand, local and something imported for choice. I've collected matches and coasters from bars and restaurants from all over the world and I like to display them on my bar as well as serve drinks with them. A nice little personal touch and leads to great conversation starters as well.

 

[Camp Lo]

Hennessy

 

[Loofy]

Maybe have a couple liqueurs. Banana, butterscotch, sourpuss, blue curaçao.
Bananas always good.

 

[Bread]

Smirnoff, Sailor Jerry's, Knob Creek, Bombay Sapphire.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

Kah tequila great for shots and to sip on.

Sauza or Cuervo and contreau and margaritas mix for cadillac margaritas

Makers Mark bourbon, great straight or as a cocktail. I prefer with ginger ale. Jim Beams devil cut is pretty good also and a tad bit cheaper.

Bacardi silver rum coke

Sailor Jerry's cherry dr peppe

Limes and salt

 

[Dai101]

Vodka, i'll always go with Absolute, or if in a budget........... Karat/Oso negro

Tequila, Don Julio añejo/reposado. Anything, wait EVERYTHING else is a joke.

 

[WorldStar]

Hennessy Timeless is a must IMO

 

[adamsappel]

Basic liquors for mixing

1. Vodka - Smirnoff
2. Gin - Tenqueray
3. Tequila - Patron
4. Rum - Spiced: Sailor Jerry, White: Oronoco, Dark: Myer's or Gosling's
5. Whiskey - Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark
6. Scotch - Johnnie Walker Black

Mixers

Cointreau
Dry & Sweet Vermouth
Tonic
Seltzer
Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, etc.
Juices (cranberry, pineapple, orange, grapefruit; you can buy frozen concentrate, too)
Luxardo maraschino cherries
Peychaud's bitters
Sour mix

Serve a good beer. You don't have to go obscure microbrew, but Dos Equis, Sam Adams, Anchor Steam, etc. are only a few bucks more than Bud, but so much better.

Proper glasses! Serving drinks in the appropriate glassware lends a lot to the experience.

 

[rando14]

MD 20/20

 

[Surface of Me]

Get some Everclear for when you are wasted and ran out of everything else.

One time I was drinking Everclear mixed with nothing but Mio.

 

[120v]

mccormick
rubbing alcohol

 

[LocknessMobster]

Rum Chada,goes good with breasts.

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

Vodka and Cranberry Juice.

Rum Chada,goes good with breasts.

This.

 

[Brakke]

For summer, your drinks should be mostly tequila or rum based, though you always need whiskey on hand.

Mount Gay is a fine workhorse mixing rum. Won't blow anyone away but it makes a cocktail.

Tequila's a little more complicated because there's brown (reposado) and white (blanco). I'm pretty bad at tequila though. Go to a liquor store and ask! Those people generally know what they're talking about. Last tequila I bought has a donkey on it because I thought the bottle was silly.

Basic liquors for mixing

...you just recommended the most-recognized brand in every single category.

Also Hendrick's kicks the shit out of Tanqueray. Mix that bitch with some cucumber ah yeah it's summertime.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

and jack and coke

 

[goglibody]

Vodka:

• Tito's: Not sure if this is nationwide, but here in NY there's no better vodka for the price.

Gin:

• Gordons: Do your guests give a shit about gin? If not, then this. If so then...
• Hendricks

Tequila:

• I'm not sure, any bottle of tequila makes me sweaty and nostalgic. I'm a terrible judge.

Rum:

• Sailor Jerry's: Sugar, Spiced, mixes with everything nice.

Whiskey:

• Old Overholt: Cheap as hell, standard well whisky fare. Good for shots, and sloppy mixed drinks. Also good if you're expecting a lot of people.
• Bulleit: Rye or bourbon, take your pick. Sippable, but not priced like it. Solid whiskey.
• Knob Creek: I loved this bourbon, then they removed the corks. Added screw-tops, and I dropped it for the most petty reason. Still solid, but not hearing that cork squeak kills it for me.

 

[adamsappel]

...you just recommended the most-recognized brand in every single category.

Also Hendrick's kicks the shit out of Tanqueray. Mix that bitch with some cucumber ah yeah it's summertime.

Indeed I did. That list is for a starter bar. That's not what I drink, but I'm an idiot who spends way too much on liquor. I don't know which backlog is larger, my videogame collection or my liquor cabinet.

 

[Sectorseven]

Just get some fancy bottles and pour the cheap stuff in.

 

[Ultima_5]

Tenqueray. Good enough for Joey ramone. Good enough for me.

A couple $10 bottles of wine

I don't really drink many spirits tbh

 

[wenis]

Some bulleit.

 

[Katsa]

1. Skyy Vodka
2. Hendricks's Gin
3. Jimador Tequila (Patron tastes like crap)
4. Havana Club Rum (the best there is) or Flor De Cana Rum (second best)
5. Crown Royale Whiskey

I've gone through a bartending phase, and tried a lot of brands and types.

 

[thezerofire]

Hendrick's Gin, Bulleit Bourbon or Rye, I like Camarena for Tequila

 

[Vaco6121]

Grey Goose for the unflavored Vodka.
UV Blue for the flavored Vodka.
Jim Beam for the bourbon.
Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy for the beer.
Coor's light for another choice of beer.
Those are my main stays. I will get other brands when they are on sale, but the above is what I always have on hand.