THE WELL-STOCKED BAR
Proof gauges the strength of a spirit. The proof shown on the bottle is twice the percentage of alcohol—in other words, 100-proof liquor contains 50 percent alcohol.
Why check the proof when buying liquor and other spirits? Because a few drinks mixed with 80-proof liquor are much less likely to put you (or worse, your guests) under the table than the same drinks mixed with a 150-proof product. The same goes for wine, the strength of which is shown on the label as the percentage of alcohol—typically from 10 to 16 percent.
The list of spirits below lays out what you might need at one time or another. For the sake of thriftiness, buy large bottles of whichever spirit you use the most. At the same time, remember that the higher the quality of the spirit, the better your finished product—so buy the best you can afford. In the interest of moderation, we also suggest that you check the proof (see box).
Also listed are the mixers and flavorings that home bartenders might choose to use, many of which are detailed in Mixers Et Cetera.
Note: The cocktail recipes in this book occasionally specify certain brands of spirits, but only to remind (or inform) you of what’s available—particularly when the product may be hard to find (e.g., blueberry liqueur, amaro, white peach aperitif). Almost any brand will do just fine in your cocktail, of course, though it’s a good idea to avoid pairing a high-end brand of a spirit with a low-end one.
Spirits
Aperitifs and digestives of choice
Bourbon
Brandy (including Cognac)
Gin
Liqueurs of choice
Rum (light, gold, dark)
Scotch (blended, single-malt)
Tequila (silver, gold)
Vermouth (dry, sweet)
Vodka (plain, flavored)
Whiskey (blended, Tennessee, rye)
Wine (Champagne, white, red)
Mixers
Bottled water (still, sparkling)
Club soda
Coconut water
Cream (light, heavy)
Cream of coconut
Fruit juices
Fruit purees
Soft drinks
Tomato juice
Tonic water
Flavorings
Bitters (Angostura, Fee Brothers, Peychaud’s)
Grenadine
Fruit, fresh
Fruit syrups
Rose’s lime juice
Sugar (superfine, powdered)
Tabasco
Worcestershire sauce