DiningBuzz! - Ideal Home Hard Alcohols to Have?

Since my stocks are pretty low (on purpose), I need to restock my home bar. I've looked around at various lists for the "casual" home bar, and I figure I need:
1. Whiskey/Scotch *blended perhaps?*
2. Vodka
3. Tequila
4. Vermouth
5. Grand Mariner/Citronage/Triple Sec
6. Bourbon
7. Rum
8. Gin
9. Bitters
10. Cognac/Armagnac

Misc: Port, Sake, Sherry

I'd definitely appreciate any other suggestions. :)

I would add Gin (if vermouth is nearby) and Brandy/Armagnac/Cognac. You should also consider a Fino Montilla (cheaper than Fino sherry) and a late bottle vintage port. The Fino for apertifis and the Port with dessert. I would probably eliminate the Tequila and the Vodka but that is a personal preference.

I had completely forgotten about Gin, I'll add a bottle of Hendrick's to the list. I have some Cognac, Armagnac, and some vintage Porto's sitting around already, but definitely need a good Sherry. That or a Madeira I suppose.

If you have blended whisky and bourbon whiskey, would you also consider a Canadian Whisky and an Irish Whiskey? I have always found Ports easier to find than Madeiras. I suppose the another item to consider would be a cream based liqueur, which you could always pick up duty free.

Oh dear, my very wise friend from San Diego appears to have completely forgotten the nectar of the gods.

Rum.

Get some rum in there young fella. Preferably something sippable over ice in the summer like a somewhat aged dark thing. Lots of choice in the 7-15 year range. And it is pretty reasonably priced. But for friends and cigars you need a proper aged rum. My favorite is the Trois Rivieres from Martinique at 27 years or better. Lots of good alternatives out there though. If you need a mixing rum, I like Myers for basic as it has enough cane left to be meaty while not being spicy, and none of the obnoxious antiseptic nature of a clear concoction.

If wine is sunlight held together by water, Rum is the samba beat held together by water. Have at it. :)

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Gin
Port

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also digestives.... cant forget those!!

I can't believe I left out Rum :-( I definitely need some of that for my guests who enjoy it.

1. Whiskey/Scotch (i know the difference, but this is an attempt at a cost-effective bar)
6. Bourbon

If cost cutting, I'd nix scotch (I don't find any cheap enough to mix isn't worth drinking) and at the basic-for-mixers end, bourbon and blended whisk(e)y seem pretty interchangeable.

3. Tequila
Have to decide whether you want something light for mixing/margaritas or an anejo for sipping. Ideally one would have both, though.

4. Vermouth
As noted below, probably want some Gin to go with that.

5. Grand Mariner/Citronage/Triple Sec
I'd definitely appreciate any other suggestions. :)

I'd want to add a kahlua or a creme de cacao or something else blendable for sweet drinks. A couple of other liqueurs, ideally ones usable either as mixing or on their own

Also, as others have already noted, rum. Ideally a light one for mixing and a dark one for sipping, but for most mixing Bacardi light or gold should be fine.

I would add Gin (if vermouth is nearby) and Brandy/Armagnac/Cognac. You should also consider a Fino Montilla (cheaper than Fino sherry) and a late bottle vintage port. The Fino for apertifis and the Port with dessert. I would probably eliminate the Tequila and the Vodka but that is a personal preference.

Vodka is the most versatile mixer because it's so neutral; if you're only going to have one booze, that should be it. Tequila, a much less neutral spirit, but skipping it is a no go out here on the west coast and would probably be higher on the list than whisky/bourbon/scotch :)

If you need a mixing rum, I like Myers for basic as it has enough cane left to be meaty while not being spicy, and none of the obnoxious antiseptic nature of a clear concoction.

I like rum, but clearly have not tried enough good ones - Myers and Ron Caldas ARE sipping rums for me and would seem a bit heavy for most mixing.

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what about Sake...?

Vodka, gin, rum, scotch.

You people really consider port to be hard liquor?

http://moleculardrinks.info/

I would include Chambord and Grand Marnier for mixing/cooking. For a really great Mai Tai--Lemonhart 151. Hendrick's is an interesting choice for gin, and although I haven't tried it yet, Whitley Neill looks promising for my taste.

As some said before, I would add Gin, Rum and Brandy.

Vodka, gin, rum, scotch.

You people really consider port to be hard liquor?

I don't think anyone considers Port to be a hard liquor, just a small aside to the general discussion about stocking a home bar.

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what about Sake...?

I hadn't really thought about that, but my "clientele" probably wouldn't miss Sake if it was absent. They definitely would miss Tequila and Vodka though.

Bitters for Manhattan imbibers....Lemon or Orange Bitters are now being seen across the USA - they are excellent. I've heard tale of a celery bitters- but so far - no sighting...Angostora or Peychauds are good too.

List is updated and refreshed a little bit. ^

List is updated and refreshed a little bit. ^

If we're counting mixers, if you don't generally have fresh lemon/lime on hand, some Rose's or similar syrup is always a big plus. Grenadine, somewhat less so, but handy occasionally and it keeps nigh-forever.

Plus of course Coke and either Diet Coke or Coke Zero. Canned isn't the tastiest, but keeps for a couple of years if you're not a soda drinker at home (or only drink one or the other of sugar/sugarfree.) A liter bottle or two of seltzer/club soda/tonic water is also worth having stashed away.

Canned frozen orange and pineapple are handy; bottled cranberry keeps a long time if unopened as well.

I almost always have stuff like that on hand, in one form or another, or they can be bought very quickly at my local market..I'm more concerned with having a good yet cost effective list of spirits around to ensure coverage for most of what my guests might drink.

I have noticed in CA that light or "warm weather" drinks are popular with the ladies and others who like to drink the equivalent of a light cigarette. For that crowd if you do not want to blend a Pina Colada, a bottle of Malibu works amazingly well with pineapple juice. And if the drinks are going to be had at night prior to a session on the town a few cans of Red Bull for the Vodka Red Bull brigade might be wise.

I have a cast of Monster always available ;) Cali is definitely a tequila/vodka state more than a bourbon/scotch/whiskey/rum state, to me at least. I find myself making more vodka/cran, tequila sunrise, than I do a rusty nail or manhattan..oh well, just leaves the classy drinks for me ;)

As another poster suggested, some digestifs would be a welcome addition -- calvados, poire williams, etc

Baileys would be nice as well.....

I have a cast of Monster always available ;) Cali is definitely a tequila/vodka state more than a bourbon/scotch/whiskey/rum state, to me at least. I find myself making more vodka/cran, tequila sunrise, than I do a rusty nail or manhattan..oh well, just leaves the classy drinks for me ;)
If you have to keep energy drinks, you are just young(er) than most of us. If you have to have energy drinks, I suggest that you have Monster Khaos there since it is contains O.J. Your friends love the top shelf bar vodkas (Ketel One, Belvedere, Chopin, Grey Goose), but if you gave them mid-money vodkas like Svedka, they would think that was the best.

If you have to keep energy drinks, you are just young(er) than most of us. If you have to have energy drinks, I suggest that you have Monster Khaos there since it is contains O.J. Your friends love the top shelf bar vodkas (Ketel One, Belvedere, Chopin, Grey Goose), but if you gave them mid-money vodkas like Svedka, they would think that was the best.
I know I'm younger than most of you old folks ;) My friends are all in their late 20's-early 30's so they do enjoy the Monster-blasters and the like. I personally prefer Khaos but they seem to just want the low carb Monster so that's what I keep around. As for top shelf vodkas, I have Grey Goose but it's not for mixing with an energy drink, I was thinking of using Finlandia for that.

I am in my early-mid-twenties, with girlfriend in the late-20's category, so my requirements are pretty close to yours. I try to keep on hand :

- Handle of Skyy vodka. Relatively affordable, sippable on its own in a vodka martini, but cheap enough that putting it in a cosmo or red bull doesn't make your wallet cry. My s.o. loves vanilla vodka so we have that on hand as well; great in orange soda, great in coke zero, good with pineapple juice as well.

- Handle of Tanqueray gin for martinis and bloody marys. I also keep a fifth of Hendricks, Bombay Sapphire, or Tanq 10 for those times where one desires a more unique martini. Obviously, if you're keeping gin around, keep olives around as well. Vermouth is optional, and since it's wine, doesn't keep very long.

- Handle of Jager. Hey, like I said, mid-twenties.

- Handle of Bacardi Silver. Great for mojitos, good in mixed drinks, great with Coke Zero. Neither myself nor my friends appreciate rum enough to justify keeping nicer aged rums around.

- Fifth of Patron. Perfect for scratch margaritas, and guests tend to be impressed that you can make a scratch margarita since most are used to blended slushies. This means having Cointreau and lime juice on hand.

- Southern Comfort. Trashy reputation, but good on ice with a cigar, easy to shoot, sweet enough for lady friends to drink before heading out on the town.

- Macallan 12 year. On the affordable end of "nice", and has a mainstream crowd-pleasing taste.

For mixers, I try to have a 12 pack of coke zero, cranberry juice, canned pineapple juice, and a few 1-liters of club soda. Since we're in California, we have a bunch of mint growing in our little backyard so fresh mojitos are easy.

I second the Jager and I'm not anywhere near my mid twenties.

My bad on the port and sherry. I was just thinking of what I see on the shelf at various bars.

Something you should consider regarding rum is what type(s) you would want, White, Gold, Dark and/or Spiced.

Also would you need any eau-de-vie, grappa, marc, or aquavit?

@briankoenig: As potentially cheaper alternatives to Macallan, may I suggest from Speyside either Glenfarclas or Cragganmore and from Orkney, Highland Park. I recall tasting both 12 year old versions of The Macallan and Glenfarclas side by side and found them very similar (except for The Macallan's price!).

(oops, I hit edit rather than reply so this is now really pointless. mods, pls delete)

@briankoenig: As potentially cheaper alternatives to Macallan, may I suggest from Speyside either Glenfarclas or Cragganmore and from Orkney, Highland Park. I recall tasting both 12 year old versions of The Macallan and Glenfarclas side by side and found them very similar (except for The Macallan's price!).

I'll give those a shot next time I'm out. Thanks for the recommendations!

I don't think anyone considers Port to be a hard liquor, just a small aside to the general discussion about stocking a home bar.

Along that line I like to have some Sauternes and a Pineau des Charentes on hand.

I'll add onto what briankoenig's list since it's a good base. I would also add on...
-Spiced Rum: Captain Morgan is great for rum and cokes, but you may want to consider something else such as Meyers if you plan on making Mai Tais.
-Whiskey: You need something like a Jack Daniels for a variety of cocktails.
-Rocket Fuel: Either Everclear or Bacardi 151. Something that can be mixed with a pitcher of something.

Personally I would go with another scotch besides Macallan, such as Glenlivet 12 or Famous Grouse.

I second Baileys.

Nothing like Baileys and coffee to start the day or Baileys over ice cream to finish it.

Personally I would go with another scotch besides Macallan, such as Glenlivet 12 or Famous Grouse.

I would also suggest Famous Grouse - very good by itself, okay to be mixed (shudder!). Glenlivet 12 is a little on the "light" side. One of the downsides of stocking just a single malt is that many people are specific on their malts - only Speyside, or Islay, or lowlands. For example, I won't normally drink Macallan, even though I love malts and usually have 8 or 9 bottles going all the time - Macallan is just not one them.

Along that line I like to have some Sauternes and a Pineau des Charentes on hand.

I have it but honestly don't think I'll ever need it, my friends wouldn't appreciate it so I figure I'll keep holding onto it.


On Thursday I plan to go buy the supplies we've been discussing. ^

On Thursday I plan to go buy the supplies we've been discussing. ^

So is the invitation for Thursday night, or Friday afternoon?

Enjoy the drinks. :D

So is the invitation for Thursday night, or Friday afternoon?

Enjoy the drinks. :D

Both! My "weekend" ends up being from Wednesday afternoon till Saturday afternoons, plenty of time to experiment with new recipes