Good Home Bar Bottles To Have

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Whether you have an extensive home bar bottle collection or you are just starting out, here is my list of good bottles to have stocked.

  1. gin
  2. vodka
  3. silver rum
  4. whiskey (American)
  5. sweet and dry vermouth (small bottles)
  6. blanco tequila
  7. Triple sec or orange liqueur
  8. aromatic bitters
  9. Luxardo Maraschino
  10. Scotch Whisky

1. Gin - I am a huge fan of Plymouth Gin, but their higher price and lower proof tend to work best in only certain drinks and not so much in others. Beefeater is fantastic in shaken drinks and stirred. It is also relatively inexpensive, very common and makes a fine Martini.

2. Vodka - I hardly ever drink vodka but it is a must have because many people do drink it. Most top shelf vodkas are interchangeable with the more middle shelf vodkas. I tend to lean towards Ketel One, but like others just as much. For more inexpensive vodkas, look for Russian Standard, Tito's, Svedka or Sobieski.

3. Silver rum - Be careful of the big brands here. Bacardi, Captain's and Brugal may be cheap, but they won't be the best bang for your buck. I would go with Flor de Cana 4 Year Extra Secco (Dry). It's quality rum and very affordable. Also look for El Dorado 3 Year. 

4. Whiskey - This is my favorite liquor category and the one I know the most about. Some other home bar enthusiasts may tell you to get specific types of whiskey (rye, Tennessee or bourbon), but I think if you are on a budget, having only one bottle is fine. I would go for a middle shelf bourbon that is heavy on the rye content, so the spice notes carry through. Look for Redemption High-Rye Bourbon, Bulleit Bourbon, Elijah Craig 12 year, Eagle Rare, or Four Roses Single Barrel. These brands can be sipped on their own or mixed into cocktails. 

5. Sweet and Dry vermouth - Look for the small bottles. Most will run you about $4.99 to $5.99 a bottle. Very inexpensive and a must have for many stirred cocktails. Martini and Rossi or Noilly Prat are great bang for your buck brands. Be sure to store them in the refrigerator and replace the bottles after a month of being opened. 

6. Blanco Tequila - Always look for 100% Blue (or Azul) Agave. If it doesn't state that, then who knows what you could be drinking. El Jimador, Piedra Azul and Espolon are terrific, inexpensive brands. 

7. Triple Sec or orange liqueur - You can go either way on this one. Some triple sec's will be extremely inexpensive, while other brands, like Cointreu or Grand Marnier, can be a bit more expensive. It's up to you to decide what works best for your home bar, but personally, I feel like this is one area where you can get away with being cheap. Marie Brizzard makes a decent middle ground triple sec that can be sipped on it's own, if necessary.

8. Aromatic bitters - One name: Angostura. This is probably the only bitter brand you will need. Take it from someone who has over 200 different types. If you buy the big 16 oz. bottle, you can separate it into three different 5+ oz bottles; one infused with orange peels, another infused with clove and star anise and the last would just be Angostura. Or you can do four 4 oz. bottles and take some cinnamon, vanilla and cherries for a spiced cherry Angostura bitters. If you aren't up for infusing, Angostura are the biggest and most common bitters brand. You can find them at your local liquor or grocery store. If you want other bitter types, I highly recommend a bottle of Peychaud's and  a bottle of orange bitters. 

9. Luxardo Maraschino - This one is the most debatable on this list. I could've gone with Benedictine or even Campari, but think Luxardo Maraschino lends to be a bit more versatile for the home bar as it can be used in many classic stirred and shaken drinks. Also, one bottle can last a really long time. Look for the smaller bottles as the big one may run you close to $30+.

10. Scotch Whisky - You need one decent sipping liquor in your home arsenal and this is the category for that. Depending on your taste and budget, you can go either blended or single malt. There are many blended options out there that are decent. I like Monkey Shoulder as it can be sipped and mixed and is relatively inexpensive. Johnnie Walker is one of the most popular brands and has many different types. Also, look for Bowmore, Macallan 10 or 12 year, Glenmorangie 10 year and Laphroaig 10 year. 

Other bottles to consider:

  • One bottle of Amaro - my recommendation would be either be Ramazzotti or Cynar
  • Aged Rum - Plantation 5 year is an excellent rum and inexpensive
  • Campari - for all your Negroni lovers out there
  • Rye whiskey - best bang for your buck is probably Old Overholt, but Rittenhouse would be my go-to
  • Benedictine - small amounts work well in stirred drinks