What's in your liquor cabinet?

2 single malt scotchs, a blend, fernet branca for after dinner, grey goose, patron silver, jose cuervo, mount gay, myers dark rum, Don Q light rum, Bombay Sapphire, triple sec, disaronno Amaretto, casis, brandy, port, prosecco...

yes, I have a problem

Only if there's no one to enjoy it with...

Which blended scotch do you prefer? Is there a favorite brandy?

Maker's Mark is a decent bourbon to have on hand .....

Avoid well-marketed spirits. If you've ever heard of it, don't buy it. Go with well-reviewed blind taste-tested less-expensive stuff instead. You'll enjoy it more, and you'll enjoy twice as much of it for the same price.

That means Gran Gala instead of Cointreau or Grand Marnier; an excellent, somewhat obscure brandy instead of a "good" cognac. Always use fresh or fresh-like lemon juice for your sidecars.

Places like Acker Merrill Condit on the UWS or Sherry-Lehmann on the UES can advise you to that end. Especially less-crazed Acker.

gran gala is to renting what cointreau is to buying... oh, i get it now.

Buy what you like and enjoy. Use what your favorite bartenders use instead of what is currently chic (or well advertised). For example, check out the famous NY Times vodka blind tasting. Build slowly instead of rushing and ending up with a bunch of liquor that you will never drink.

And as alanhart recommended, use fresh juices and mixers always.

Dogismy, thanks. I was thinking between that and Knob Creek.

"Italy's answer to Grand Marnier." All I needed to read, thanks Alan. I have a friend who drank a lot of Grand Marnier 100 (it is much better than regular GM) before he lost much of his money in some failed hedge funds. May have to pass that suggestion along. BTW, any specific brandy suggestions? I will be swinging by Acker Merrill Condit.

AH & LFH, good advice. Didn't dawn on me to seek reviews. The missus likes Grey Goose, and since other vodkas hurt more the next morning it'll probably remain our house brand. I'll have to check the menu at Louie (9th St. btw B & C) to see what Glenn uses in those delicious cocktails. Makes an untouchable Negroni.

Good one, 67, though some of us managed to buy our apartments during happy hour :o)

Enjoying a nice tawny port now. Cheers!

urbandigs...when's the party?

I use Jacques Cardin brandy (it's from Freeeyantz).

Svedka vodka (Burnett's might be a little better, but impossible to find their vodka, and can't comment one way or the other on their gin, which is much more widely available ... and comes in a plastic bottle!).

For everyday Scotch, John Barr black.

Could be more comprehensive, and not all products have NYS distribution, but try:

http://www.tastings.com/search_spirits.lasso

Tenemental. No worries. I had a friend in college. He used to buy bars and fix them up, near lower Westchester. An Irish kid if I remember. He'd say the more happy hours the closer to bankruptcy. The ff&e was $.10 on the dollar, renegotiate lease for 50% off and funny enough liquor was almost par.

Enjoy the happy hour, I'm here to buy the bar.

C'mon, now, this is supposed to be about one thing bears & bulls agree on... booze. Any suggestions?

Alan, thanks again.

Don't forget Baileys. The ladies really like Baileys. And I really like the new caramel flavor.

Johnnie Walker Black is a nice, classic blended scotch. Although it's a little on the pricey side, and I'm fine with something a little lower-shelf like Ballantine's too.

Coincidentally I just got a bottle of Maker's Mark this weekend, haven't tried it yet tho.

Try Buffalo Trace. And if you ever travel internationally, Cointreau is one of the few things that is really worth buying at the duty free.

Nothing. Stopped drinking 18 months ago, recently tried some alcohol just to see what I thought about it, and - nothing. Interest is gone. Completely unnecessary. Waste of money. Stick to Diet Coke.

I miss the pre-temperance Steve.

stevejhx
about 2 years ago
ignore this person
report abuse

It's never too early for booze.

Steve doesn't need liquor
To make himself sicker ...
He'd keep his bar bare
And get out of there
And beeline it to LIC quicker

For Single Malt that will impress your most discerning scotch drinker, I recommend The Signatory Dalmore 1990 (18 year). For $69.99, this blows away Macallan 18, Johnny Gold (and Blue) and any other overly priced alternative. Perfect example of staying away from the names

Hendricks Gin is another staple that will make your straight-up martini lover happy...

Oban, Hendricks, Taylor Fladgate 10 YR, Herradura, Ketel One, St Germain, Pimms, Flor De Cana and about 10 cases of wine in storage.

for single malts, I dont think you need to get so pricey..Macallan Fine Oak 10yr for $40 is real nice (light), Glenrothes select reserve is real tasty too.

Thanks, 007. It'll be a little while before I'm ready for single malt, but that may be good one to keep in mind for a gift.

Got this message recently: "Yeah, Tanqueray my choice. There are more high end options--Hendricks and Bombay are two that aficionados swear by--but they are fruitier and more complex to me. T is down the middle, and a good value." So I'll take your recommendation as a seconding of Hendricks, and I suppose a balanced, comprehensive cabinet offers some options.

Yahweh, nice! Oban appears to be a favorite of the RE-obsessed. Hendricks has made it to the must-buy list.

Thanks, Digs.

40 Ounce of Colt 45

I'm an OE man, myself.

Olde English & Old Spice

I agree, Geri was the hottest one.

You're confusing things with "Olde Spice" ... whose real name is Geraldine Estelle Halliwell ... that's enough to drive anyone to more than one "family size" bottle of Olde English.

Powers

Austin?

Johnny Walker Black Label is pretty good value for the money. For single malts Oban and Lagvulin are quite nice. My favorite thus far is the Balvenie Portwood, but is too expensive to justify. Rye whiskey is much less expensive than Scotch and is quite tasty. Russian Standard is a good vodka meant for drinking straight - very smooth.

Nice suggestions, hsw. I hadn't really considered rye, despite the memorable ode.

How were you planning on making manhattans?

PBR, Hypnotic, and Peppermint Schnapps

1.Patron Anejo
2.Kettle One
3.Alchemia Chocolate Vodka
4.Gentelman Jack

"How were you planning on making manhattans?"

I've, uh, never had a Manhattan. *looks down, shuffles feet*

Juice, did you mean PBR in a Lynch/Hopper sort of way or a bedheaded hipster sort of way?

Falco, my gf, having never drunk much tequila, recently asked a bartender friend what to expect. "It makes you want to shoot your guns off."

Made some pretty tasty Negronis tonight, using Hendricks and a vermouth I'm embarrassed to mention.

JuiceMan, falcogold1: to each his own, but your manhattan recipes both sound projectile-vomit-inducing. Remind me to bring myself a full hip flask to your next party.

Suntory whiskey...a large glass lots of ice... very refreshing.

propofol - for nites we can't fall asleep

tenemental,

What about Nectar Imperial Moet & Cristal?

The 40 ounce is my favorite!

real mans manhattan...

makers mark / bookers / bakers / knob creek / woodfor reserve **choose one***
vermouth
bitters
on the rocks in a big heavy glass

BLOOMSDAY, yikes, pricey stuff! Maybe someday when I can appreciate it...

kylewest, I called my local liquor store. They don't carry it, but I'll check with my vet.

mutumbo, folks I knew liked Scotch & Amaretto or Hennessy (Henn-dog, as it was commonly called). The last time I saw Cristal it was being offered at Vazac's on 7th & B, the otherwise unchanged-since-the-80s, film-worthy dive bar. Sigh.

That tequila line was actually "Makes you want to shoot your guns in the air." Much better.

Thanks, Marco.

Bzzzzzz wrong!!!!!

Manhattan = rye base
martini = gin base

"Juice, did you mean PBR in a Lynch/Hopper sort of way"

IMHO, that is the only way to mean it. One of the best movie lines ever.

tenemental, when you get to single malts, I'd recommend Cragganmore. All that stuff can get a little pricey, but I find this is a good one to keep around.

Cristal, the champagne rap stars spray & pour on the video hoes.

Pink Champale?

bjw2103,

I did not know you are a drinker.

Thanks, bjw. I also loved "That's an ear alright."

If you're going to do champagne, then I would recommend the Billecart Salmon Brute Rose and a Prosecco or cava should always be on hand.

I always like Consumer's Reports Online for blind taste tests on wines. Lots of "Best Buys" that are very reasonably priced.

Agreed, 10025, always a prosecco on hand.

Topper, hadn't thought of that. Nice tip.

Agreed, tenemental. I always like to keep prosecco on hand. It always jazzes up a cocktail hour and makes a gathering more of a celebration. Just the sound of the cork popping and a beautiful champagne glass. I usually buy Lunetta at about $11 a bottle.

Jeez, where's Jack Daniels and the bourbons? Did anyone mention you need sweet and dry vermouths to make martinis and manhattans?

Two advertising stories: I was once watching a focus group and heard a man say, "I'd rather kiss a mule than drink Old Crow."

Also the most markup on anything in a bar is the bottled water. At least 100%, usually 2 or 3 times that. When I worked on Perrier, we had charts that proved it.

All I have is a bottle of bourbon. When I use it up, I go the liquor store around the corner and get another bottle of the same brand.

I like that major asshole Boston Bloomberg once pointed to the little $6 bottles of water at a few nightclubs as proof that they're "drug supermarkets" or some such thing. That same week, he attended the US Tennis Open where little bottles of water sell for ... $6!!!

Also fun is to compare the cost of (even larger sizes of) bottled water to the cost of refined gasoline! Gotta love our petrowars.

But yes, dry or sweet vermouth as appropriate. And gin or rye properly matched.

Ever notice that the shiny, portable 1.5 liter of Poland Spring costs more than the frumpy gallon?

bob, which brand engenders such devotion?

One bottle of Medea Vodka - not so much for the vodka, though it's pretty good, but for the neon, moving, programmable label - great for parties!!! (for your open house, tenemental?)

ph41, that's a riot!

Bushmills blend for everyday; Glenmorangie or Johnny Walker Blue for special occasions; rye or Makers, bitters and cherries for Old Fashioneds. Stoli or Ketel 1 for everything else.

Whatever you do, don't mix vine and wheat ;)

I can never remember ...

is it grape before grain before grape before grain?

or grain before grape before grain before grape?

Good stuff, khd, great to hear from you. Did I read something a while back about you finding a place?

BTW, my GF is wondering if anyone can recommend a nice sherry...

Mmmm, grape & grain.

http://www.grapeandgrain.net/menu_beer.html

"Ever notice that the shiny, portable 1.5 liter of Poland Spring costs more than the frumpy gallon?"

The frumpy gallons have a plasticy taste, which is why I pay extra for the 3-liter hard plastic.

I can see that, the polished surface leaching less plastic into the water. I'm a Brita man, myself.

Still wondering about that bourbon...

Bourbon: Maker's Mark is delicious and generally well-liked. Woodford Reserve is also good to have on hand.

(p.s. I occasionally visit relatives in Oldham County near Louisville, and thus I am forced to know about and drink bourbon .....)

Maker's Mark, Knob's Creek, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Calvados, Williams, and a bunch of small batch bourbons. Husband keeps vodka, gin, rum, etc, but not sure what brands.

Dry Sack is a decent medium-dry sherry. Too dry for me though, I prefer an Amontillado, which has some richness and doesn't scrape on the way down. Harvey's is fine - have had better, and worse.

Actually, on the subject of sherry, I'd go along with the sense of the board (buy an obscure brand with good reviews) and just buy a good Madeira instead. It's a little fruitier and less stuffy.

This is an interesting thread. I'd like to suggest Lagavulin 16 Scotch. Smooth and earthy. Easy to drink and will warm you and your spirits. While not a liquor cabinet item, ALWAYS have a bottle of champagne in your refrigerator - something you can serve at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Hey Ten! YES, we finally bought in the EV a few months ago and love it. I check in on SE once in awhile for fun (I couldn't resist posting on your thread!). Did you take the plunge yet?

As per sherry...we don't go near the stuff, but the mum in law likes Dry Sack.

Absolut Vodka, 42 Below Vodka, Crop Vodka, Cabana rum, LeBlon rum, Gay Dark rum, nice bottle of port, Benedictine, Patron Orange Liquer, dusty bottle of Bouchant, Bulldog Gin, and a few bottles of red. We keep white wine in the fridge. Yum!

khd, congrats! Snazzy digs in a dream location. I hope you both enjoy many happy years there.

Thanks, LoftyDreams. After reading your descriptions my GF is heading straight for the Madeira.

Dogismy & REMom, thanks for the suggestions. I'll start w/ Maker's and work from there.

BillyRes, poetic, and totally agree on the bubbly.

Michael427, nice collection!

can't believe no one mentioned Pimm's - every NYer should have some for our hot, sticky summers

printer, you're absolutely right. Walter Foods has the best Pimm's Cup I've had in the city, but I do keep a bottle at home as well.

I've been drinking sauvignon blanc all evening. Bad economic news today, no? We're all stuck in the this depression together for the long haul. My brother works for a company who does advertising for Diageo, and he's always bragging about how good business is these days .... people are drinking quietly at home to kill the pain.

pathetic alcoholic

Oh, come on, Hennyman. I haven't even finished the bottle .......

If you have a lot of women over, you need Veuve Cliqout or another high-end champagne and some New Zealand Sauvingon Blanc in the summer/a good Australian Shiraz in the colder months, and some Oregan Pinot always. For mixed crowds, some Grey Goose or Kettel One, Patron silver, Mount Gay or Appleton white rum, Bacardi 8 dark rum, an aged sipping rum like Pyrat or Vizcaya, Bacardi coconut rum, Tanquray Gin, Martini Vermouth, Cointreau, Remy Martin VSOP Cognac, Black Label, Makers Mark or Knob Creek bourbon, Bailey's irish cream, Godiva Chocolate Liquour (for chocolate martinis!).Also, some grenadine and some simple syrup.