@VeeDubTDI Nice start. Here are some tips from someone with 30 years experience of building a home bar:
Cuervo Gold is not really tequila. You're much better off with a decent reposado like Hornitos.
Rose's Grenadine is sugar water. Use a grenadine that's made from real pomegranate juice. It will add a completely different dimension to your drinks. It's not hard to find. Or you can make your own from POM.
Grand Marnier isn't worth the price. You're mostly paying for their advertising budget. See if you can find some Prunier Liqueur d'Orange. It's better, cheaper, and made by a fine French Cognac producer.
@SSteve nice tips! That pic was 4 (?) years ago when I first moved in. The bar has expanded a little bit since then but some things haven't moved. @daveruybal there are bitters, just not in that pic. There's another shelf below it that's a mess and not picture-friendly.
@SSteve I've been making my own simple syrup for a long time (a no-brainer) but I recently made my own grenadine from pure pomegranate juice and it definitely makes a world of difference in a cocktail.
@daveruybal Last year I made grenadine from some pomegranates my father gave me. It wasn't worth the labor. Since then I've bought a couple bottles of nice grenadine. I think I'll try making it from pure juice next time.
@RedOak A lot of them might've just been so drunk when they answered the poll that they accidentally clicked "I Don't Drink". I sense from some of the comments on here (myself occasionally included) that there is a moderate amount of "drunk posting" going on in here.
@RedOak I'm in the teetotaler category, and i remember seeing a friend of bill forum mention or two in passing. But was/am surprised too! Hoping others weigh in ?
@RedOak I clicked "I don't drink" then felt guilty...Does getting totally sloshed once a year at the beach count? I'm not a teetotaler...I'm just way too crazy,silly & embarrassing when I do drink, because I don't know when to quit. SO...once a year it is for me :) While I'm far enough away from my hometown in case the tequila makes my clothes come off
@RedOak I don't think age has anything to do with it. I drank more between the ages of 16 and 21 than I have between 21 and 47. I probably drink a 6 pack a year.
@dashcloud I don't remember anymore. I was living in the Netherlands and my friends had me try every single thing in their rather large cupboard. Sherry I had to spit out in the sink it was so nasty along with a bunch of other things, There were a couple of local wines that were not as nasty as the rest of it… Never bothered to try anything after that. Beer smells nasty, can't imagine even tasting it. Stale beer even worse. If nothing else it saves money.
Hey! Some of us (maybe just me) like their drinks neat. Is that not hip hip with the kids kids these days? I don't need any mixologist or fruit or ice getting in the way of my evening spirit.
Tonight, I made us a Bijou: - 1.5 oz Anchor Junipero gin - 0.5 oz green Chartreuse - 0.5 oz Italian sweet vermouth - Dash of orange bitters - Maraschino cherry (the real kind) - Squeeze of lemon peel
In 1985 I bought a copy of David Embury's The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks for 10¢ from the San Bruno Public Library. It's hard to express what a huge impact it had on my life. I was passionate about cocktails when the only place I could find a cocktail shaker was at an antiques store. I'm happy about the cocktail renaissance but it happened about 15 years too late for me. The up side is that I don't have to go out and spend fifteen bucks for a well-made drink. I make them at home for a lot less.
@SSteve This explains the amazing drink you listed above, I will have to try it this weekend and keep my eye out for this book. I bought a mixed drink book from the early 50's at a book sale about a year ago. I love the old school gin drinks but man some of the drink names in the book are pretty sexist or racist.
@LadyLeela I have a collection of cocktail books. The early 50s was not a high point. The best recipes tend to be in the newest books. I got the Bijou from The Essential Cocktail by Dale DeGroff.
@SSteve Sounds good! I typically drink fernet strait up, but my favorite cocktail that utilizes this magical elixir is the Hanky Panky. Not very fernety but delicious none the less -
@dashcloud Grasshoppers are a nice after-dinner drink if you want something cold. 2 oz each of green creme de menthe, clear creme de cacao, and milk in a blender with enough ice to make it slushy. This is the only blended drink I make.
One night at a friend's house, long ago, he only had brown creme de cacao so we used that, added a shot of espresso, and called it a Dirt Bike.
@JonT I made these for my family last night, and they greatly enjoyed them- although I discovered that none of our regular coffee mugs are just 8 oz, so that screwed up things a bit.
@heli0s We had a proper Manhattan before dinner this evening. It was, indeed, a beautiful thing. I've also been on an Old Fashioned kick because I got one of these on Kickstarter.
Hey @heli0s@SSteve since y'all seem to know what you're talking about I'm hoping you can help me out. My SO bought a bottle of this a while back: because she remembered liking it in college. We tried it mixed with club soda and it was godawful terrible. The herbal taste of it was so overwhelming. Neither of us are particularly fond of gin or vermouth, so negronis are out.
Do you have any other suggestions of what to do with the stuff? A bartender told us a while ago it makes a nice beer cocktail with an IPA but I haven't gotten around to trying it yet.
@JonT If you don't like gin or vermouth, that's going to severely limit what you can do with Campari. And when you say you don't like vermouth, are you talking about French (white) or Italian (red)? A Negroni uses Italian. And it really is the best Campari-based cocktail. There's also the Boulevardier, which is 1.5 oz rye, 1 oz Campari, 0.75 oz Italian vermouth. But, to me, the Campari overwhelms the rye. The only other drink in my rotation besides a negroni that uses Campari is the Eeyore's Requiem:
1.5 oz Campari
0.5 oz gin
1 oz Bianco Vermouth*
0.5 oz Cynar
0.25 oz Fernet Branca
15 drops orange bitters
orange twist
*Bianco Vermouth is a sweet white vermouth.
The problem with this one is that most people won't have Bianco Vermouth, Cynar, or Fernet Branca. And you don't like gin.
Probably the best thing for your bottle would be to bring it to the next meh staff party. Or maybe @heli0s will have a recipe that suits your tastes better.
@heli0s thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to give it a shot. @SSteve I don't mind gin in small amounts as long as it's not the main focus, and to be fair I mainly say I don't like vermouth because I don't care for classic martinis. I have a lot to learn about cocktails.
@JonT Since it's white vermouth you don't like, you should give the negroni a shot. Equal parts gin, Campari, and red vermouth with an orange slice garnish. Don't use the cheapest vermouth (e.g. Gallo). Martini & Rossi is perfectly fine and not expensive. There's a good chance you will like this.
I had Chartreuse once, and I swear it tasted like pine needles- was I mistaken or does it really have a weird taste like that? It's also kinda hard to find, and $60 for a bottle I'm really sure I'm not going to like is too much for me. Anyone else ever drink some of it?
@dashcloud Chartreuse is a great ingredient in many cocktail recipes. I wouldn't drink it straight. Since it's only used as an ingredient and not the main attraction, that expensive bottle will last a long time. My favorite Chartreuse-containing drink is The Last Word:
0.75 oz gin
0.75 oz lime juice
0.75 oz green Chartreuse
0.75 oz Maraschino liqueur
Shake and serve up in a chilled coupe or martini glass.
@ssteve@helios So, here's the liquors I have sitting out right now. What are some great drinks I can make from these? Ginger-flavored brandy Kahlua Malibu Island Spice Gin Vodka Creme de Cacao Creme de Menthe Southern Comfort Malibu Carribean Rum Sample bottles: Grand Marnier, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Jack Daniels, Jim Bean, Godiva, Jose Quivero Especial
@dashcloud Vodka and Kahlua is a Black Russian. Add milk and it's a White Russian. Those are both good. I'm not sure what to do with all the flavored liquors. I guess you could mix 4 parts ginger-flavored brandy, two parts fresh-squeezed lemon juice and one part Grand Marnier for a ginger-flavored sidecar. Any whiskey with some simple syrup and a twist of lemon is an Old Fashioned.
Hey, @heli0s, here's another Fernet cocktail you might like: Heather in Queue
1 1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz bianco vermouth
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1/4 oz Fernet Branca
Bianco vermouth is significantly sweeter than dry French vermouth. If you don't have bianco vermouth, I'd suggest 1/2 oz sweet Italian vermouth and 1/4 oz dry French vermouth. For orange liqueur, you can use anything from triple sec to Cointreau. Personally, I like Prunier Liqueur à l'Orange au Cognac. It's every bit as good as Cointreau, but a lot cheaper because you don't have to pay for the huge advertising budget.
You know someone is going to say they like their cock in tails. So there, now it is done.
@Pavlov ... Hmmm, I wasn't gonna say it.
@unkabob But now we know you were thinking it.
@mehjohnson .. True.. But as Pavlov said it first, well.. I had to cover my ass some way without seeming jealous (☺)
I try to keep a decently stocked office bar.
@rocketdyke We just keep the office near a well stocked bar.
@rocketdyke Don Draper, is that you?
If cocktails were calorie-free, bathtime would be so much more fun!
@margot
??
The beginnings of my home bar.
@VeeDubTDI no Jack Daniel's. You're not there yet.
@VeeDubTDI I don't see any bitters. You might as well be stocking a dorm room...
@VeeDubTDI Nice start. Here are some tips from someone with 30 years experience of building a home bar:
@VeeDubTDI You might want to step up your gin game and throw a decent single malt in there as well.
@VeeDubTDI Personal preference, but I do not like using those stoppers. Maybe for just vodka or tequila.
@RedOak he has Crown Royal.
@SSteve nice tips! That pic was 4 (?) years ago when I first moved in. The bar has expanded a little bit since then but some things haven't moved. @daveruybal there are bitters, just not in that pic. There's another shelf below it that's a mess and not picture-friendly.
@VeeDubTDI a picture from today:
@VeeDubTDI oh I threw that bottle of POS grenadine out after the picture.
@VeeDubTDI
@SSteve I've been making my own simple syrup for a long time (a no-brainer) but I recently made my own grenadine from pure pomegranate juice and it definitely makes a world of difference in a cocktail.
@daveruybal Last year I made grenadine from some pomegranates my father gave me. It wasn't worth the labor. Since then I've bought a couple bottles of nice grenadine. I think I'll try making it from pure juice next time.
@SSteve @daveruybai I read a fascinating article about the POMwonderful lady recently. She's a bit insane, but lovable
I like fancy drinks; scotch in a nice glass.
@mcanavino amen
With "I don't drink" winning so far, one wonders whether that is due to a lot of meh teetotalers or a lot of meh'rs not yet of legal age?
@RedOak A lot of them might've just been so drunk when they answered the poll that they accidentally clicked "I Don't Drink".
I sense from some of the comments on here (myself occasionally included) that there is a moderate amount of "drunk posting" going on in here.
@pepsiwine theresnodrunkpostinonthismotherfuckerupinheremanwhatchatalkinabout
@RedOak They're in denial
@RedOak I'm in the teetotaler category, and i remember seeing a friend of bill forum mention or two in passing. But was/am surprised too! Hoping others weigh in ?
@RedOak I clicked "I don't drink" then felt guilty...Does getting totally sloshed once a year at the beach count? I'm not a teetotaler...I'm just way too crazy,silly & embarrassing when I do drink, because I don't know when to quit. SO...once a year it is for me :) While I'm far enough away from my hometown in case the tequila makes my clothes come off
@RedOak I don't think age has anything to do with it. I drank more between the ages of 16 and 21 than I have between 21 and 47. I probably drink a 6 pack a year.
@Headly I was thinking more like 12-14 year olds.
@RedOak These days that age group probably drinks more than I do. Lol.
@RedOak I am of legal age and don't drink as I have yet to find anything that tastes any good.
@Kidsandliz I'm curious to know what you've tried and not liked.
@dashcloud I don't remember anymore. I was living in the Netherlands and my friends had me try every single thing in their rather large cupboard. Sherry I had to spit out in the sink it was so nasty along with a bunch of other things, There were a couple of local wines that were not as nasty as the rest of it… Never bothered to try anything after that. Beer smells nasty, can't imagine even tasting it. Stale beer even worse. If nothing else it saves money.
Hey! Some of us (maybe just me) like their drinks neat. Is that not hip hip with the kids kids these days? I don't need any mixologist or fruit or ice getting in the way of my evening spirit.
PS: I chose "I don't drink" because I don't drink cocktails and that seemed the most truthful.
@cleverogre ... Besides a beer here and there, I don't drink at all but I have no problem if you do (just don't drive during it please).
Tonight, I made us a Bijou:
- 1.5 oz Anchor Junipero gin
- 0.5 oz green Chartreuse
- 0.5 oz Italian sweet vermouth
- Dash of orange bitters
- Maraschino cherry (the real kind)
- Squeeze of lemon peel
In 1985 I bought a copy of David Embury's The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks for 10¢ from the San Bruno Public Library. It's hard to express what a huge impact it had on my life. I was passionate about cocktails when the only place I could find a cocktail shaker was at an antiques store. I'm happy about the cocktail renaissance but it happened about 15 years too late for me. The up side is that I don't have to go out and spend fifteen bucks for a well-made drink. I make them at home for a lot less.
@SSteve I am so going to have to find a way to invite myself over for a drink.
@Pavlov You are officially invited. Let me know the next time you are in the vicinity of western Nevada County.
@SSteve I get to Reno a couple times a year, I'll rent a car and hop on I-80. I'll let you know. Thanks.
@SSteve This explains the amazing drink you listed above, I will have to try it this weekend and keep my eye out for this book. I bought a mixed drink book from the early 50's at a book sale about a year ago. I love the old school gin drinks but man some of the drink names in the book are pretty sexist or racist.
@LadyLeela I have a collection of cocktail books. The early 50s was not a high point. The best recipes tend to be in the newest books. I got the Bijou from The Essential Cocktail by Dale DeGroff.
Bellini. Ciao.
I like simple mixed drinks--Ginger Ale and Red Stag Black Cherry on ice, for example.
Or beer. Yum. It's Beer Week, too, so last night was Lehigh Valley Beer Week. Mmmm, beer.
Wine, Beer or single malt scotch for me. No frou-frou mixed drinks, too sweet or hiding the flavor of the liquor.
@olperfesser A finely-made cocktail is a thing of beauty. But to each his own.
Ok, just got a chance to take a photo of the liquor cabinet:
And here's the whiskey overflow cabinet:
@SSteve oh that Larceny is some really good tasting stuff!
@SSteve
@SSteve Likely you don't have any tweens or teens in the house...
@Kidsandliz Definitely not. Just a two-year-old Golden Retriever. He's more likely to chew up a shoe than dip into the rum.
Well done @SSteve. Half bottle of Fernet FTW.
@heli0s Here's one I made up that uses Fernet. I call it the Unpossible Dream:
@SSteve Sounds good! I typically drink fernet strait up, but my favorite cocktail that utilizes this magical elixir is the Hanky Panky. Not very fernety but delicious none the less -
@heli0s Thanks for the recipe. We tried it last night and really liked it. Definitely going into the regular rotation.
I'm interested in some coffee cocktails or some other after-dinner / dessert cocktails- any recommendations here?
@dashcloud irish coffee.
@dashcloud Sambuca with coffee beans.
@rocketdyke Do you have a particular Irish Coffee recipe you recommend?
@dashcloud
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
1 tsp brown sugar
6oz hot coffee
heavy cream
Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir to dissolve. Float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix.
@JonT Since I'm sure I don't have the kind of Irish whiskey on hand that you'd use, can you recommend some brands?
@dashcloud Bushmills and Jameson are both perfectly fine for an Irish Coffee.
@JonT Irish Coffee is the perfect food. It has alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.
@dashcloud Grasshoppers are a nice after-dinner drink if you want something cold. 2 oz each of green creme de menthe, clear creme de cacao, and milk in a blender with enough ice to make it slushy. This is the only blended drink I make.
One night at a friend's house, long ago, he only had brown creme de cacao so we used that, added a shot of espresso, and called it a Dirt Bike.
@SSteve Oddly enough, this might be the first drink in the thread I have all the ingredients to.
@JonT I made these for my family last night, and they greatly enjoyed them- although I discovered that none of our regular coffee mugs are just 8 oz, so that screwed up things a bit.
@dashcloud very nice! Glad everyone enjoyed them.
They are okay, as long as you keep them away from alcohol.
Those who dont like cocktails probably only know them as a gin and tonic or vodka-soda. A proper Old Fashoned or Manhattan can be a beautiful thing.
@heli0s We had a proper Manhattan before dinner this evening. It was, indeed, a beautiful thing. I've also been on an Old Fashioned kick because I got one of these on Kickstarter.
Hey @heli0s @SSteve since y'all seem to know what you're talking about I'm hoping you can help me out. My SO bought a bottle of this a while back:
because she remembered liking it in college. We tried it mixed with club soda and it was godawful terrible. The herbal taste of it was so overwhelming. Neither of us are particularly fond of gin or vermouth, so negronis are out.
Do you have any other suggestions of what to do with the stuff? A bartender told us a while ago it makes a nice beer cocktail with an IPA but I haven't gotten around to trying it yet.
@JonT If you don't like gin or vermouth, that's going to severely limit what you can do with Campari. And when you say you don't like vermouth, are you talking about French (white) or Italian (red)? A Negroni uses Italian. And it really is the best Campari-based cocktail. There's also the Boulevardier, which is 1.5 oz rye, 1 oz Campari, 0.75 oz Italian vermouth. But, to me, the Campari overwhelms the rye. The only other drink in my rotation besides a negroni that uses Campari is the Eeyore's Requiem:
- 1.5 oz Campari
- 0.5 oz gin
- 1 oz Bianco Vermouth*
- 0.5 oz Cynar
- 0.25 oz Fernet Branca
- 15 drops orange bitters
- orange twist
*Bianco Vermouth is a sweet white vermouth.The problem with this one is that most people won't have Bianco Vermouth, Cynar, or Fernet Branca. And you don't like gin.
Probably the best thing for your bottle would be to bring it to the next meh staff party. Or maybe @heli0s will have a recipe that suits your tastes better.
@JonT I think I might have something for you - very reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, but kicked up a notch.
- 2 oz smoky Bourbon (such as Highwest Campfire)
- .75 oz Ramazotti
- .5 oz Campari
- Pinch of Salt
- 2 dashes Angostura
Rinse glass with Solerno Blood Orange liqueur, stir all other ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, strain into snifter. Cheers,I love purple.
@heli0s thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to give it a shot. @SSteve I don't mind gin in small amounts as long as it's not the main focus, and to be fair I mainly say I don't like vermouth because I don't care for classic martinis. I have a lot to learn about cocktails.
@JonT Since it's white vermouth you don't like, you should give the negroni a shot. Equal parts gin, Campari, and red vermouth with an orange slice garnish. Don't use the cheapest vermouth (e.g. Gallo). Martini & Rossi is perfectly fine and not expensive. There's a good chance you will like this.
@SSteve Hah! I didn't know there were more than one type of vermouth.
For better or for worse, the flavor of vermouth will tend to grow on you.
@SSteve I'll give it a shot, thanks!
@JonT All this talk about negronis made me need one. My wife says thanks!
I had Chartreuse once, and I swear it tasted like pine needles- was I mistaken or does it really have a weird taste like that?
It's also kinda hard to find, and $60 for a bottle I'm really sure I'm not going to like is too much for me.
Anyone else ever drink some of it?
@dashcloud Chartreuse is a great ingredient in many cocktail recipes. I wouldn't drink it straight. Since it's only used as an ingredient and not the main attraction, that expensive bottle will last a long time. My favorite Chartreuse-containing drink is The Last Word:
Shake and serve up in a chilled coupe or martini glass.
I love purple.
@ssteve @helios
So, here's the liquors I have sitting out right now. What are some great drinks I can make from these?
Ginger-flavored brandy
Kahlua
Malibu Island Spice
Gin
Vodka
Creme de Cacao
Creme de Menthe
Southern Comfort
Malibu Carribean Rum
Sample bottles: Grand Marnier, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Jack Daniels, Jim Bean, Godiva, Jose Quivero Especial
Thanks!
@dashcloud Vodka and Kahlua is a Black Russian. Add milk and it's a White Russian. Those are both good. I'm not sure what to do with all the flavored liquors. I guess you could mix 4 parts ginger-flavored brandy, two parts fresh-squeezed lemon juice and one part Grand Marnier for a ginger-flavored sidecar. Any whiskey with some simple syrup and a twist of lemon is an Old Fashioned.
@SSteve Thank you- tomorrow will be full of cocktails!
Hey, @heli0s, here's another Fernet cocktail you might like:
Heather in Queue
Bianco vermouth is significantly sweeter than dry French vermouth. If you don't have bianco vermouth, I'd suggest 1/2 oz sweet Italian vermouth and 1/4 oz dry French vermouth. For orange liqueur, you can use anything from triple sec to Cointreau. Personally, I like Prunier Liqueur à l'Orange au Cognac. It's every bit as good as Cointreau, but a lot cheaper because you don't have to pay for the huge advertising budget.
@SSteve Thanks, I'll give it a shot this weekend!
Cocktails, mussels, alive aliveos That damn Tommy was so funny.