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The ESSENTIAL Spirits | 15 bottles to build your bar!

Knowing all the essential bottles to build your bar can be overwhelming. In this video, I’ll share with you my top go-to’s for mixing behind the bar. These are the spirits I use most along with my personal recommendations and alternative options, but if you have a favorite brand or bottle, you should go with that. When building up your backbar, remember there’s no need to purchase everything at once. Think of the cocktails you want to be mixing first, and start with just the bottles needed to make those. One by one, your collection will grow!
The ESSENTIAL Spirits | 15 bottles to build your bar! | Anders Erickson

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1. RYE WHISKEY

My choice: Rittenhouse 100 proof
– Lower proof alternative: Old Overholt

2. BOURBON

– My choice: Buffalo Trace
– Cheaper alternative: Evan Williams black label

3. SCOTCH

– My choice: Monkey Shoulder
– Smokier single malt alternative: Laphroaig 10 year

4. GIN

– My choice: Plymouth
– London dry alternative: Broker’s

5. LIGHT RUM

– My choice: El Dorado 3 year
– Cheaper alternative: Don Q gold

6. DARK RUM

– My choice: Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black
– Less assertive alternative: Appleton Estate V/X

7. BRANDY

– My choice: Maison Rouge V.S.O.P.
– Lighter, cheaper alternative (for a Wisconsin old fashioned): Korbel

8. TEQUILA/MEZCAL

– My choice for tequila: Siete Lequas Blanco
– Mezcal alternative: Vida de San Luis del Rio

9. VODKA

– My choice: Rider vodka from Union Horse Distilling Co.
– Traditional alternative: Russian Standard

10. SWEET VERMOUTH

– My choice: Cochi Vermouth di Torino
– Adventurous alternative: an amontillado sherry by Alvear or Lustau

11. DRY VERMOUTH

– My choice: Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry
– Adventurous alternative: Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano

12. ORANGE LIQUEUR

– My choice: Pierre Ferrand Dry CuraΓ§ao
– Drier alternative: Luxardo Triplum Triple Sec
– Sweeter alternative: Marie Brizard Orange CuraΓ§ao

13. APÉRITIF/DIGESTIF

– My choice: Campari
– Sweeter alternative: Aperol

14. ABSINTHE/PASTIS

– My choice: La Clandestine
– Pastis alternative: Ricard or Pernod

15. BITTERS

– My choice: Angostura Aromatic Bitters
– Orange bitters alternative: Regan’s Orange Bitters no. 6
– New Orleans alternative: Peychaud’s Bitters

HONORABLE MENTIONS

– Green Chartreuse
– Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

β€œEveryone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

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