I started cooking with Jack Daniels long before he did! Vodka tastes like lighter fluid smells to me. I haven't been able to smell or put rum in my mouth since DD was born almost 27 years ago. ( OMG! Is she really going to be that old come Jan?!) All I drank before I got pregnant with her was rum and coke. I have a variety of sweeter wines in the house cause that's what I like, even if I can only drink a thimble full at a time.

DO you keep your Crown Royal bags? If not, can I get you to save them and send them to me? I like Crown, but again, can only drink a thimble full. The boys like beer, DH the Jack or Crown.

That's about it for our house.

Tami also in Ohio

I keep lots of different stuff...
Basic gin ( bombay) vodka (Sobieski or Kettle) Blended whiskey ( Seagrams 7) Bourbon ( Jack Daniels) Scotch (Famous Grouse J and B and Dewars)
I have a couple of kinds of Tequila, dark and light rum and some flavored run, vanilla vodka, orange vodka, raspberry vodka, Brandy, armeniac, framboise...triple sec, Limoncello, amaretto, Frangelico, Drambui, Poir...grenadine, bitters, dry and sweet vermouth...dry and cream sherry, marsala, port...
And more besides
Lost of the strange things are several years old....but booze doesn't go bad.
I used to belong to a pot luck group where I had to stock 3 kinds of gin and 2 kinds of vodka!
I like peach brandy on a fruit cake....and I am out!
Linda C

I think bourbon, brandy, rum and dry Marsala are most often used in cooking or baking. Reminds me -I have to stock up!

These are my preferences that I always have on hand:

Rum - Bacardi, Capt Morgans, Myers
Gin - Tanqueray
Vodka - Tito's, Grey Goose and Wolfschmidts (I've been watching too much Mad Men and that is a sentimental fav my Dad used to drink)
Bourbon - Jim Beam, Makers Mark, Woodford Reserve (only for the Derby and Mint Juleps)
Scotch - Dewar's and any number of single malts depending on my mood
Whiskey - Segrams or Canadian Club
Misc - Sweet & Dry Vermouth, Marsala, Madiera
After dinner - Christian Bros Brandy, Hennessey Cognac, Amaretto di Sarono, Kahlua, Bailey's Irish Cream, Sambuca

Then there is the bottom of the pantry that has collected all sorts of leftovers from strange experiements, gift bottles that were opened and never finished, things that I just can't explain like Galiano, 4 bottles of Green Creme de Menthe (gifted by a friend, EVERY Christmas we get another one, I need to tell her no more!), Yukon Jack, Goldschlager, 99 proof Banana liquor, X-Rated, and something blue that my friend used to make Windex Martinis with. etc.

If I were stocking a bar for general use, I would have a gin, vodka, rum, scotch, bourbon and red & white wines. If you are buyin stuff for particular recipes, then I would look for the small "airplane" bottles or other very small amount because it may be around for a very long time.

Alexa

Don't forget Brandy.

Linda

I like Alexa's list but would add dry sherry. Brandy, too.

I have brandy listed under after dinner - Christain Bros is my preferred brand... and yes I forgot to list dry sherry, port, and Patron tequila. They are all necessary IMO.

Alexa

Alexa, I bet that Galiano was for a Harvey Wallbanger. As soon as I saw it, I thought of that drink and I think there also was a Harvey Wallbanger cake recipe floating around for awhile.

Di, this is a great thread. I only drink wine at home and the occasional Fuzzy Navel (disgusting, but I love them). I think mixed drinks are on the comeback, largely due to Mad Men. I like having liquor on hand to offer to guests but I never know what to keep.

Maybe Pam... I really don't remember. In the back of the pantry on the floor I also found a bottle of Bols Blue Curacao, white and brown Creme de Cacao, Cabana Boy coconut rum, Creme de cassis, Palinka, Dubonnet (red & white)

Also I found unopened bottles of Grand Marnier, Applejack, Apricot Brandy (pound cake anyone?), Drambuie, Tuaca, Chambord

I think I need to have a "Clean out the bar" party LOLOLOL!

Here is a link that might be useful: Palinka - if you really want to know

Oh yes, port! I love port. Great to drink and for recipes. I see the brandy now. I remember Dubonnet. I liked it. Haven't had any in YEARS.

Way back when we used to make ice cream drinks....and that Galliano makes a lovely golden cadillac...
and you forgot creme de cocoa...both white and dark, not only for icecream drinks but for grasshopper pie.
And Irish whisky for Irish coffee when March rolls around.

Sigh... the dark & white Creme de cocoa are on the list from the back of the pantry... and I found an unopened bottle of Jamesons there too!!!!! Dusting that off and putting it back for next March.

Vodka,Rum,Grand Manier,Congnac to name a few

Also Guinness (for stew) and the staples of a good red/white wine

But Guiness is beer, it doesn't keep, better drink up and restock every few months.

And if you don't drink wine regularly. don't bother to stock up. Buy it as you need it. Yes, very good wines will age nicely and improve, but if you aren't a wine person, don't bother doing that. Most wines at a good store will be ready for consumption when sold. If you have a constant stream of wine-drinking friends dropping by (send me your address), then maybe. Otherwise, just buy as needed.

Note that much of this is not how I'd personally stock my own cabinet. But if someone wanted to have a reasonably broad assortment that would make most cocktail drinkers happy, keeping both value and quality in mind and without aspiring to a comprehensively stocked bar, here's what I'd suggest:

Gin ⢠Tanqueray or Bombay
Vodka ⢠Kettle One, Stoli or any middle of the road brand other than Absolut
Bourbon ⢠MakerâÂÂs Mark
TN whiskey ⢠Jack Daniels
Rye ⢠Seagrams 7
Tequila ⢠Sauza Gold
Rum ⢠Bacardi Silver
Vermouth
Blended Scotch ⢠Dewars
Single Malt Scotch ⢠Glenlivet

Alexa, my word, you could start your own bar!

Let's see. I have an airline sized bottle of vodka to make pie crust, but I haven't opened it. I have small "sample sized" bottles of Hazelnut Liquor, Godiva chocolate liquor and a nearly empty bottle of Jack Daniels that I use for BBQ sauce. Oh, and a nearly full bottle of Triple Sec that I bought for the 4th of July sangria and only used a quarter of a cup, LOL.

The hazelnut stuff I put in frosting. Once. The Godiva chocolate was on the advice of the very self-important wine guy at Meijer's, I finally told him that if he was all that important he wouldn't be working the wine department at Meijer's, sheesh. Anyway, I had almond champagne with a shot of chocolate port while I was in California. I couldn't find chocolate port, so I was told that chocolate liquor would work. Nope, it sucked.

After years of owning a bar and grille, the most popular and often requested liquor was vodka. Try Grey Goose, it's "middle of the road" in price and not awful. Whiskey was a close second, get a relatively good one for those who like it neat/on the rocks or mixed with water. Your Crown Royal is just fine. Light rum is more often used than dark rum. A decent gin, along with your tequila, some beer and your wine of choice will round out a basic bar.

Vermouth if you want real martinis, it'll last forever. And don't forget bitters, Rose's Lime, grenadine for those sweet drinks and some sweet and sour mix. Olives and cherries if you really want to mix drinks, LOL.

With that basic selection nearly everyone should be able to find SOMETHING they would drink.

Annie

Alexa, I have some recipes to help use up your Chambord if you need them.

Lol, I could do my shopping at Linda's and Alexa's houses!

Thanks for the suggestions, especially the brands, I get that glazed look when I go into the liquor store so many choices.

Tami, I don't know what DH does with the Crown Royal bags, I'll ask. What do you use them for?

FOAS your list is helpful.

Di

Vodka - generic (It all tastes the same to me)
Gin - Bombay
Whisky - Canadian Club & Bushmill's Irish Whisky (neither of which do I drink, but I make Irish coffee pie with Irish whisky)
Rum - Meyers, plus some coconut flavored
Tequila - Patron Silver
Liqueurs - Godiva chocolate, Amaretto, Frangelico, Cointreau, Hazelnut Kahlua, Mocha Kahlua
Vermouth
Sake

I have a liquor cabinet (actually a sideboard that I use for that purpose) in the dining room, and so I have a lot of space to store these. They seldom get used, but a lot of them I use in cooking, including the vodka for pie crust. I don't keep Scotch because I can't stand it, and I keep CC just for guests. I use a lot of the liqueurs with ice cream and other desserts, and the Cointreau I use in Margaritas instead of Triple Sec. I may have left some out that I have, but I did list the ones I consider important.

I do have a very strong preference for Bombay Gin and like the Sapphire Bombay but only keep the plain on hand, as I find that it is sufficient. I will not drink cheap gin, but cheap vodka is okay by me. You didn't ask about mixers, but I always keep diet grapefruit soda, Clamato, stuffed olives, cocktail onions, and tonic water on hand. The others I buy as needed.

I bought a very pretty crystal decanter on eBay, but it looks like it should have Scotch in it, and so I've never used it. I don't drink whisky either, but I guess I could put rum in it. I like the rum (and Frangelico) in eggnog, although eggnog does not agree with my stomach.

Lars

Gin has to be Bombay Saphire. I don't care for the regular Bombay in the red bottle and might as well drink 5 O'Clock brand(cheap swill). I will mix cheap gin with lemonaid in the summer with lots of sugar in it... one of my favorites made with real lemon juice, water, and sugar.

I prefer Jim Beam for my BBQ sauce. Jack has more charcoal flavor then I want. I do love the burn of burbon whiskey in my bbq sandwiches.

I like about 1/3 shot of Scotch whisky in my hot chocolate. McMaster's Scotch is a decent cheap scotch. Have to watch many stores will attempt to set McMasters Canadian on the counter... we want the black lable. The Canadian would gag a teenager. For better scotch I have a fondness of Glenlivet with the French Oak Finish (12 year). I can't find the 12 year anymore and have been buying the 15 year French Oak Reserve. Stay away from the American Oak Finish... great whiskey but it tastes like burbon. Whiskey tastes alot like the barrel it was aged in.

Gotta run... late for an appointment

FOAS' list makes a lot of sense. He gives good criteria for it. You could start there and add or modify. Once you start adding to his list, the sky's the limit.

I think that if you wanted to boil his list down to the very bare essentials you could eliminate three or four items from it. Most gin drinks can be made with vodka. Gin drinkers won't be thrilled about it, but they can get by on vodka.

Second, FOAS correctly distinguishes between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. But there is enough similarity between them that you could get by with one or the other.

Rye seems to be out of fashion. Maybe I'm wrong but I seem never to see anyone drinking it. I wouldn't bother with it in a list of just the essentials.

Scotch drinkers can be very particular about brands and types, but I would not try to please individual preferences except those of frequent guests. Put one good one on your basic list and add more if you want to please certain scotch drinking friends.

White vermouth is very handy to have on hand for cooking. It keeps indefinitely and can be used in many dishes where a small amount of white wine is called for. It is made with herbs, which adds complexity of flavor to most dishes where you would use it. And it's essential for martinis.

I would add cognac to FOAS's list. It is useful in many desserts and is a good after dinner drink as well.

Choosing cordials open up a big can of worms because there are so many distinct flavors. There are an awful lot of people who like Bailey's and don't like other liqueurs. An orange flavor is called for in many sweet dishes so I would have triple sec or other orange liqueur on hand, but you would know if you might ever use it.

I agree completely with FOAS's brand suggestions.

Jim

Wow Jim, thanks for the endorsement! Like I said, those wouldn't be my first choices.

Gin - Beefeater for me. Tanqueray, Bombay, etc. taste too much like Christmas trees for my taste. But I know they're more popular.

Vodka - I agree with Lars that they largely taste the same. Except Absolut. Their marketing is genious, making so many young drinkers ask for something by name that tastes like witch hazel! I believe they singlehandedly paved the way for premium vodkas to make a buck. Me, I'm prefectly happy with Smirnof. Cheap and good.

Rye - Yeah, not a big rush on that. I strongly prefer Canadian Club, but have noticed that the bottle's always dusty at the bars. Seems like Seagrams is more often requested, hence my recommendation. I'd have picked Crown Royal but it's a bit pricier.

Scotch - esp single malts. You're absolutely right; we're particular. Case in point while Lyra likes Glenlivet's French Oak, a bottle of that holds the record for longest any bottle of scotch has ever lasted in my house! I'd choose a Macallan, but Glenlivet (regular 12) is more economical and quite decent.

Like everything else that we ingest, it's all about taste!