Liquor Cabinet

Molly wants to know what 5 bottles of liquor I would buy. The question makes no sense on several levels, but I’ve decided to try and answer it by imagining myself with an empty liquor cabinet.

The first bottle I would buy is 16 year Lagavulin scotch. The downside is it’s $90 a bottle. The upside is it’s the most glorious tasting beverage in existence. If instead you want to start with a cheaper option, I’d recommend Chivas Regal blended scotch at $30 a bottle. Of course, these are not for mixing.

The second thing I would buy would be two things: Angostura bitters and Plymouth gin. Now I could make pink gins, and honestly I’d be pretty set. Life can be lived on scotch and pink gins alone. However, since I’m so fond of exploration, I’d quickly need to get Boodles London dry gin, which is only $18 a bottle, as a versatile cocktail base. I may as well get Noilly Pratt dry vermouth as soon as possible as well.

The next bottle I would buy would certainly be Cointreau, as it is the most versatile and imitated liqueur. It tastes like orange rind, and can be used in anything that calls for triple sec or curacao. Now I am armed to make a Pegu Club, which means game-set-match if a date gets back to my place for a nightcap. (Actually, it's a refreshing, sunny drink, but whatever.)

My next purchase would be 1800 Reposado tequila, as I enjoy is straight and it also works great for making slightly tangy cocktails. It goes without saying I’d need to keep a supply of lemons, limes and oranges. Now I can make margaritas, but really I prefer sidecars. While Hennessey is my preferred cognac, I’ve recently discovered (above Chant and Risa's refrigerator) E&J brandy as a cheaper and very tasty option, and would recommend getting E&J first.

Now I realize I am missing Laird’s Applejack and green Chartreuse, which are both used in my favorite cocktail, the Widow’s Kiss. But for that I’d also need Benedictine, which when used sparingly adds honey sweetness to cocktails.

Another liqueur to be sparingly used but essential for its versatility is Luxardo Maraschino. Next is a shopping spree of Sazerac Rye whiskey, Regan’s orange bitters, Peychaud’s bitters and Dolin (if you can find it) or Noilly Pratt sweet vermouth.

I’d also need non-alcoholic mixers such as Fever Tree tonic water, pomegranate grenadine, 100% pure pineapple juice, fresh spearmint, cherries and orange flower-water. Seltzer water too.

I’d also want a bottle of absinthe- just a cheap, as in $60, bottle to use sparingly as a mixer. If you want the really good absinthe for absinthe drips you still have to import it by purchasing it online. My favorite is Jade PF 1901, but honestly I haven’t had a good absinthe in several years.

This is a pretty decent novice cabinet. Now I’d start adding bottles according to personal preference. I’d definitely want Fernet Branca because it’s the best digestif and Don Cesar Pisco Puro, because I love Pisco Sours. Add Lillet Blanc and, wow, I think I’m set. Oh, and Grand Marnier. And a well-made kirshwasser, like Clear Creek. There are literally hundreds of liqueurs, both fruity and nutty, to experiment with. Next on my list of things to try is Cynar, whose prominent flavor is artichoke. And, if I can ever find it, cachaca- to get a taste of Brazil.

If you want bourbon for mixing, I’d recommend Weller’s Reserve. If you want to drink it straight, I’d recommend Eagle Rare or Booker’s.

If you want light rum, smuggle in Havana Club or try 10 Cane. Honestly, Cruzan and Bacardi also work well for mixing. The one rum drink I love is the Mojito. Dark rum seems like it should be a great cocktail mixer, but I think the flavor is too bold. After many purchases, I finally discovered 12 Year El Dorado demerara rum, which is too yummy straight to waste in a cocktail.

In contrast, vodka is too subtle to be a useful cocktail mixer. It quickly becomes buried so you can’t taste it. Stolichnaya tastes chalky, which I guess could be a desired quality in a drink, especially if you were that kid who ate chalk in elementary school. Sipped straight, Ketel One is actually pretty refreshing.