I Just Bought a... (Wine, Spirit, or Beer)

[Dinhilion]

Just picked up a bottle of Delirium Noel.

 

[Mr T]

I trust a small PSA will not be held against me in this great thread.

The Glencairn glasses are again on sale at Macy's but this time with code macysfriend they come out to approximately $35 before shipping for six glasses.

I believe they also have the Nambe line of glassware which many seem to enjoy.

 

[Szeph el raton]

Picked up a bottle of the 12 year Yamazaki single malt and a bottle Maraschino.

And I feel like I've posted too frequently in this thread lately.

 

[changy]

Got a bottle of Tesseron Lot 76, but at the office now. Can't wait to go home

 

[edinatlanta]

Hayman's Old Tom Gin. Not sure what I'll do with it. Tried a Martinez but tasted just like a La Bicyclette.

Woodford Reserve.

 

[Piobaire]

Got a bottle of that Canton ginger liqueur. Very nice alone. Put some into a Wiser's with lime diet coke. Awesome. Anyone have a cocktail with it yet?

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

Hayman's Old Tom Gin. Not sure what I'll do with it. Tried a Martinez but tasted just like a La Bicyclette. Woodford Reserve.
Yeah, Old Tom is an odd duck, despite its former prevalence. I do like it neat and cold, but the best thing I do with it is an old drink called the 20th Century: 1-1/2 oz Old Tom 3/4 oz Lillet Blanc 3/4 oz lemon juice 3/4 oz White creme de cacao I know, the chocolate and lemon sounds odd as can be. But it does work. Most recipes use less creme de cacao, and some use simple syrup, but that's mine. ~ H

 

[edinatlanta]

So I need help.

I wouldn't say I have a poorly stocked bar, just--an oddly stocked one.

I just don't know what to get next. I feel like I have a bunch of random parts, or stuff specific for like one or two cocktails. I'm really not sure what to get next. I've got a selection of gins, rums of all colors, a bourbon, whiskey, scotch, vermouths, maraschino, st germain campari, basically everything but vodka. Not getting any either.

Really I don't know if this is just me needing to stop buying random ingredients or if I need to be more creative or what.

Put it another way, what should I get to round out my bar? I have bitters too, lots of them.

 

[Canvas08]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

Hayman's Old Tom Gin. Not sure what I'll do with it. Tried a Martinez but tasted just like a La Bicyclette.

Woodford Reserve.

club cocktail
1 1/2 oz old tom gin
3/4 oz (vya) sweet vermouth
1 barspoon gomme syrup
2 dashes angostura orange bitters
1/2 barspoon green chartreuse

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

So I need help. I wouldn't say I have a poorly stocked bar, just--an oddly stocked one. I just don't know what to get next. I feel like I have a bunch of random parts, or stuff specific for like one or two cocktails. I'm really not sure what to get next. I've got a selection of gins, rums of all colors, a bourbon, whiskey, scotch, vermouths, maraschino, st germain campari, basically everything but vodka. Not getting any either. Really I don't know if this is just me needing to stop buying random ingredients or if I need to be more creative or what. Put it another way, what should I get to round out my bar? I have bitters too, lots of them.
First question: What do you want to do with your bar? Do you have a focus, or just an all-around bar to start? Gin, bourbon, rum and scotch is a good start. I'd say the most serious thing you're missing is a brandy and a cognac ( I usually like to have one 'mixing' and one 'drinking' of every spirit to start), for which I'd recommend Christian Brothers ($20) and Pierre Ferrand Ambre ($50). I also note no tequila, which is an area I am not too familiar, though I use Tres Generations silver fon my margaritas and such. I really enjoy rye, so I'd have a classic American rye like Sazerac 6 ($26) or Wild Turkey ($22). Many would also note that you are missing a Canadian rye, like Crown Royal Mixers: the single most important mixer is a good triple sec. I only use Cointreau. It is neccessary for an infinity of cocktails; will give you a lot of options. Easily half the time my drink is a base spirit, a citrus, Cointreau -- Sidecar, Pegu Club, Margarita, Alabazam, etc; or with a modifier also -- Avaiation, Corpse Reviver, etc. Choice of other mixers depends on where you want to go: Classic herbal cocktails: yellow and green chartreuse, Benedictine (not B&B). After dinner cocktails, creme de cacao, Kahlua, Amaretto. The other question is if you want some cordials/liquers to drink/mix. St. Germain is my favorite modern one, but I use it rarely. Grand Marnier is great neat, but I mix it rarely. Creme de violette, mostly for aviations. Amaretto, good to drink and mix. So, my immediate rec: Cointreau, Brandy, and a jar of Amarena Fabbri honest-to-goodness Maraschino cherries from Amazon or Williams-Sonoma. The regular red things are vile. ~ H

 

[UrbanComposition]

^ Sound advice, H.

 

[cptjeff]

^^I'll second the triple sec, though I feel like dekuyper is fine for most uses. You alone can judge how price conscious you are, though. So many good cocktails come from Triple sec, lemon, and [liquor] alone that it needs to be in your bar.

Also, 2oz gin, .75 of triple sec and lime, and 2 dashes of bitters makes a "Star tested", which is a random one I found on the web drempt up by the owner of the pegu club, and it is awesome.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by tattersall

Darroze Armagnac distilled on my birth year...

This is awesome! Congrats on a) being old and b) being lucky wrt your birth year

Originally Posted by iammatt

Found it: Kwilkinson almost busted his one nut when he tasted it.
Yep. Absolutely delicious. I still remember tasting it--- which is surprising b/c IIRC that was the night you had me taste like 4 different drinks the second I walked in.

Originally Posted by tattersall

You always have the best stories and it's nice you've been so good to young kwilk.
More than good. A great friend. I was blessed to be a benefactor of Matt's continued generosity. Truth be told, I would have had a very hard time in California had it not been for him. My eternal gratitude doesn't seem like enough.

 

[Piobaire]

Don't forget about bitters, Edina. Very important for many cocktails. Try a manhattan with and one without, side by side. Will totally convince you of the importance of bitters.

 

[tattersall]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

This is awesome! Congrats on a) being old and b) being lucky wrt your birth year

a)

b)