Here’s a breakdown of what ingredients are good to have in the liquor cabinet…especially if it is a big cabinet. We’ve also noted a few personal favorites often found on our shelves.
Whiskey/Whisky
Rye
Irish
Bourbon
Scotch
Tennessee
Gin
Brandy
Rum
Tequila
Vodka
Liqueurs and other miscellaneous
Absinthe (anise-flavored spirit with flowers, herbs, green anise, sweet fennel)
AGWA de Bolivia (herbal liqueur with coca leaves, herbs, green tea, ginseng, guarana)
Aperol (Italian aperitif with bitter orange, gentian, rhuba
Amaretto (Italian sweet almond liqueur)
Benedictine (French herbal liqueur containing 27 plants and spices)
Orange Curacao (liqueur flavored with the dried peel of laraha citrus grown on Curacao)
Creme de Cassis (blood-red, sweet, blackcurrant flavored liqueur)
Campari (Italian aperitif, infusion of herbs, fruit, chinotto)
Green Chartreuse (French liqueur distilled with 130 herbal extracts, including chlorphyll)
Yellow Chartreuse (milder, sweeter than Green Chartreuse)
Maraschino Cherry Heering (bittersweet, clear liqueur flavored with Marasca cherries)
Cointreau (triple sec liqueur of bitter oranges)
Cynar (Italian bitter liqueur of 13 herbs and plants, predominantly artichoke)
Crème de Cacao (clear liqueur with flavor of chocolate)
Crème de Menthe (sweet, mint-flavored liqueur)
Drambuie (honey, heather, herb-flavored golden liqueur)
Grand Marnier (liqueur of congnacs and essence of bitter orange)
Herbsaint (anise-flavored liqueur, New Orleans; absinthe substitute)
Kahlua (Mexican coffee-flavored liqueur)
Parfait Amour (purple liqueur, curacao base with rose petals, vanilla, almonds)
Pimm’s No. 1 (gin-based drink containing quinine and mixture of herbs)
Pisa Cream (walnut, pistachio, nut flavored cream liqueur)
Ty-Ku
Canton Ginger (ginger-flavored liqueur)
Pernod /Pastis (French anise liqueurs, substitute for absinthe)
Creme de Violette (violet, floral, sweet liqueur)
St. Germaine Elderflower (light, floral, citrus liqueur from French Alp elderflowers)
Wine Types
Sherry
Vermouth
Port
Dubonnet Rouge
Lillet Blanc
Sake
Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
Punt E Mes
Ginger Wine
Syrups & Flavorings (homemade is always best)
Grenadine
Mint syrup
Any fruits flavored or infused syrup
Orange Flower Water
Fresh Lime/Lemon Juice
Bitters
Angostura
Fee Brothers’ Grapefruit Bitters
Fee Brothers’ Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
Fee Brothers’ West Indian Orange Bitters
Peychaud’s Bitters
Rhubarb Bitters