What Spirits to buy for making cocktails
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- The Spirits, Modifiers, Syrups and Juices you need to buy for making cocktails.
With home cocktail making the socially responsible thing to do right now it's time to get your home bar sorted. Here I take you through three categories of bar ingredients you probably want on hand if you're serious about making decent cocktails at home.
First up are the Spirits - 1:25 - My 6 go-to bottles to have on your Speed Rail
Vodka * Belvedere or Archie Rose
Gin * Plymouth or Never Never
Tequila * Arette
Rum * Diplomatico Mantuano - Plantation 3 Star - Pusser's
American Whiskey * Knob Creek or The Gospel Rye
Blended Whisky * Dewars 12yo, Starward Two Fold or Johnnie Walker Black
Next are the Modifiers - 6:28 - Those little wonders which add flavour and depth.
Bitters * Angostura and Orange Bitters
Amari * Amaro Montenegro
Campari or Aperol
Triple Sec or Curacao * Cointreau or Marionette
Vermouth * Lillet Blanc as a mid way point but you really want a sweet and a dry
Sherry * Tio Pepe, Lustau or Gonzales Byass
And finally, Syrups, Juices, etc - 13:36 - The inexpensive or make at home additives used to sweeten and liven up your drinks, (full recipes below or at )
Sugar Syrup
Grenadine
Honey Water
Ginger Syrup
Passionfruit
Pineapple Juice
If you like this video please let us know with a thumbs up. If you have any questions or something to add please join the conversation with a comment, and if you haven't already, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode.
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Syrups:
Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup is a necessity for a home bar. It’s literally just one part sugar to one part water, and mix it over a low heat until it is combined. It’s fun to play around with different sugars, for instance using cane or Demerara sugar which add a deeper flavour when used alongside dark spirits.
Grenadine
This is the most commonly called for syrup in classic cocktail recipes (like one of my favourites, the Scofflaw! - • The cocktail that gave... ). It is a pomegranate syrup, and the juicy fruitiness combined with high acid makes it way easier to balance with almost any spirit than most other syrups. You can buy it (and if you do, please make sure it is a good quality one, for instance Crawley’s, and not a day-glo red cordial!) but it’s also really easy to make. Just add 1 part pomegranate juice to 1 part sugar and simmer for 10-15 minutes until it is a loose syrupy consistency. For added depth of flavour, add some orange blossom water (or orange bitters) and pomegranate molasses, but these are not necessary.
Honey Water
Honey is nature’s own sweetener, so it makes sense that it is delicious as a sugar replacement in cocktails! One of my favourites to make at home is a Bees Knees, which is basically just a gin sour with honey, but feels fancier and you almost always have honey in the cupboard! It can be a little difficult to handle though, so I usually sit my honey in a water bath until it loosens up, then mix 1 part honey with 1 part water. This makes it much easier to pour and control measurements.
Ginger Syrup
Honey and ginger go hand in hand, and form the basis for (probably) the most famous modern classic, The Penicillin - • How to make The Penici... . However, it’s quite fun to have them both separately and then combine them when needed, and that way you can use them independently as well. The easiest way to make ginger syrup is to slice up a root of ginger and simmer it in sugar syrup for about 15 minutes, and leave the ginger in there as it cools. Obviously the more ginger you use and the longer you leave it in, the spicier it gets- I like to leave it in overnight for a real kick! This works really well to liven up tiki rum drinks. You can then just be mixed 1:1 with your honey water for a honey and ginger syrup. Alternatively, if you’re not too bothered about having separate syrups then just simmer the ginger directly in the honey water.
#homebar #cocktailsathome #homecocktails
I just love to hear her speak. The fact that it is about booze is just a major bonus!
I hear a Glaswegian accent, is this lassie a Scots emigrant?
@@trevorhatfield5826 Mixed with some DOWN UNDAH I think?
Doesn’t hurt that she’s fairly easy on the eyes either. 😉
Trevor Hatfield definitely not Glaswegian, sounds north or east
U play on the Patriots bro
I came for the cocktail tips. I returned for the charming Scottish accent. Subscribed.
I could listen to you read the news. Also, I adore your hand gestures and facial expressions
Chrckmate simp
@@miuyiyuyo Sorry, you're either too young or too old for me to understand. We do have the same first name, though. I'll take a look at your channel. Cheers 🍻
@@miuyiyuyo I thought you were a content creator, so I was going to subscribe. ☹
I don't encounter many people who share my first name. I was briefly excited. Oh well. Have an otherwise good day! 🙂
My tip: if you can only afford a few bottles don’t feel obligated to buy all primary booze types cause ”every good bar needs em” if that means you can’t afford anything else.
Get the ingredients to make your favorite cocktails.
if you love negroni, get campari, even if it’s not the most versatile.
When I built my first home bar I got dark rum and dry vermouth despite not really liking it just cause I figured it was ”necessary”. then I couldn’t afford to get stuff I actually wanted, like mezcal or cointreau.
Definitely, I hope I made it clear that this is an overview of everything you might need to make most classics but to drop anything you don’t like cause what’s the point!
Agreed. I’m not a vodka fan so I don’t stock it (though I did buy a bottle recently to make limoncello).
I couldn't agree more. In my mid-20s, I wanted a full bar with all the base spirits, 6 or 7 different cordials, both vermouths, bitters, syrups, juices, etc. Then I realized how much you can do with just 1 spirit, an orange liqueur, and lemons or limes. Now my bar is gin, cointreau, campari, dry vermouth, tonic, bitters, fresh citrus, and 20 kinds of whisky.
contentioushackery that’s actually very similar to my home bar haha!
contentioushackery 20 kinds of whisky!?!? Wow! 🥃
I could listen to you talk all day about spirits! :) I love how knowledgeable you are. I’m beginning to add on to my home bar and this really helped!
So glad you’re finding it useful Kris!
Behind the Bar :)
Where has your brilliance been hiding? Former bottle slinger in a past life sending a hearty cheers and thank you for a tremendous channel
Thanks so much pal!
I worked 4 years as a barback back in the 90s. This is awesome advice. I learned a lot as well.
Barbacks are the MVPs!
I was very happy to hear your rum choices as I love Plantation & Pussers. What a great and informative video!
I wish I was that calm & cool in my cocktail videos.
Thanks pal!
The new website is LOVELY, as are you! Going NUTS showing friends the Black Manhattan! Thanks for all you share!
You instantly earned my trust by having Knob Creek rye. 🙏🏼👌🏼🥃
I really like your take on categories of spirits, liquors, amaris, etc. It's not often someone has the knowledge and experience to know how to play with cocktails in similar ways that people know how to play with cooking.
Thanks Jay! That’s totally how I look at it- everything is just building blocks of flavour. I hope to give people the confidence to make substitutions and play around 😊
One of the best and most informative videos I’ve seen on the tube, thank you so much.
Thank you!
Here are my go to spirit bases: Vodka: Tito's; Gin: Aviation (I was really skeptical because it was "celebrity" gin, but it's genuinely good); Tequila: Mi Campo Blanco (for an Anejo or Respoda go for something even higher end); Rum: White rum is pretty easy to go with Bacardi for mixing; Dark rum I tend to pay a little bit more and get a nice Plantation rum; American Whiskey: Knob Creek is fine, but I like Bourbon and lately have been using Jefferson small batch as my go to; Blended Scotch: Monkey Shoulder is nice and great for mixing, if I drink something neat, I'm going to pay for it though, this is where my high end booze purchases go.
Strong!
This is easily one the best videos in the category "Spirits to start your Cocktail-Homebar" - thank you!
Thank you!
I love every single thing about this video
I made a small amount (400ml) of grenadine yesterday. I didn't have orange flower water or pomegranate molasses. The only addition I used was the juice from half a lemon. It tastes great! It's much fruitier and bolder than the bottle of Rose's Grenadine that I predict will now gather dust in the back of my cabinet.
It makes such a difference hey?
Thanks for helping make quarantining a bit more joyful.
Thanks pal, that’s so nice to hear!
natural class, educated and sharp minded, interesting, funny, wearing cloths, very charming, and simply wonderfull... in a word feminin in the best way (that's simply my point of view) .... i'm very happy to discover ur work! may ur influence be contagious (sorry for my english, im french.... i know ... nobody is perfect...) spread love and good drinks! cheerz!
Cocktails are great for occasional home drinkers....
Easy to drink and fun to make...... 👍👍
Everybody can appreciate "a big whack of funk and smoke" from time to time.
When it's 4 am but you've just discovered this channel
Lovely recommendation with that Knob Creek. It's become my standby.
Yummy!
I could listen to her all day.
Thanks for having well thought out opinions and explanations about the cocktails you make. You’ve become my “ go to” resource for making quality cocktails.
So nice to hear pal, I always try and question why I do things the way I do- especially now I have the internet watching haha!
I bought all of it.and tasted everything.
now im seeing White elephants.
Bruh are you still in this world
I've watched several of these videos - trying to find a consensus - Very educational, thank you - her accent makes it very pleasant to listen to and pay attention. Appreciate that she takes the time to consider local distilled options even though I'll never make it to AUS - it's nice to see something other than the States
"Single malts always want to be the star of the show..." So true...
Your accent is amazing. Could listen to you all day. Also, love the video. Cheers 👍
Elephant Gin and Conde de Cuba rum are two must haves for me, they Are nothing but brillant
Fabulous, Especially My Beloved Rye!!!
Knob creek rye makes an excellent old fashioned. And monkey shoulder is a great scotch for cocktails, and neat
You stay focused on the important parts as usual! I really enjoy your informative videos, Keep 'em coming!
Thanks pal, I appreciate the feedback!
Helped my out a lot! Without this video i would have probably spent twice the money and gotten half the results. SUBCRIBED
So glad you found it useful!
For someone looking for a go-to tequila that isn't expensive, I would also highly recommend Olmeca Altos (plata). Great, lightly sweet cooked agave flavor that stands up in a cocktail, and I like it neat as well. Not as complex as a more expensive tequila but the price ($22-24-ish), assertive flavor, and smooth quality makes it is exceptional IMO.
Never tried that one. How does that compare to Espolon?
We’ve got a bottle of Rakia, Serbian apricot brandy, from a local distillery here in San Antonio. It’s a versatile spirit. I may be a bit biased though because my wife works there.
Hey, Theodore, I’m in SA too (Off Wurzbach Pkwy) and that sounds like a darn good brandy! What distillery is it?
Prentiss Lashure its Dorćol off of S Flores, just south of downtown. They’re also in Twins, Specs, and Alamo City liquor. They make beer too, under the name Highwheel. You may have seen their Betty Kolsch in bars or in cans at H‑E‑B.
Theodore Skrodzki have not seen it, but I’ll definitely keep an eye out in the stores! Thanks for the info!
Raki is Albanian
Pepsi Man its not just Albanian. Raki, Rakia, Rakija, all names for fruit brandy popular in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. This particular one is Serbian and made with Apricots and the owners spell it as Rakia. I know this because I know the owners, two of whom are Serbian and my wife works there.
I’m so glad you mentioned the Jungle Bird! Great summer drink that is really under appreciated!
We actually include it in our easy to make at home list here:
ruclips.net/video/gNdpuxQJ5KA/видео.html
Man, I wish I was back at a Rooftop pool bar in KL drinking them like I was last year...haha
Great video, thank you for the link!
Haha, your rooftop, poolside bar sounds like a great place to kick back with a Jungle Bird. Way better than the dive bar in Kingston, Jamaica where I last had one. The place had character, though 😄
That also sounds great!
in brazil we have the caipirinha, and recently many twists on the formula, but one that got my attention was made with passionfruit: you cut the passionfruit in half and put two spoons of brown sugar on top of it. leave it in burning coals in direct contact with the flames until the sugar on top melts. then, you scoop the sugary pulp and mix it with cachaça and ice.
Yum!
For years I’ve wanted a proper and well-stocked home bar. Just need the money, lol. Don’t laugh but I want a globe bar, too. Thanks for the advice! 👍🏻🍹
I love Globe bars!
I've been searching for a guide like this for months, thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Agree! Even if you don't like something you make it sound delicious and that's what customers and guests needs. We need to appeal to their taste buds and give them confidence!
Thumbs up for Belvedere! :) Cheers from Poland!
one more. i went rum crazy during the beginning of lockdown and wanted to make every single tiki cocktail. (i got just about through all of the major ones and probably took a year off my life.)
i usually stick to a good light rum, a good gold rum, and a good dark rum if i'm keeping it simple and not making tiki drinks. cruzan light, cruzan gold, and gosling's dark are great and affordable rums in the spanish/puerto rican style (which is your typical bacardi-type rum).
rum has to be the most complex spirit i've looked into by far, any tiki bar i've walked into has dozens and dozens of bottles lining the shelves. the differences between puerto rican, jamaican, guyanan, and martinique rum are so vast, it almost seems like you're drinking different spirits.
Absolutely, such a range and not as many rules to make it obvious what you’re getting. We’ve got a rum extravaganza coming up where I go in to it in more detail, be sure to tune in if it won’t give you too many lockdown flashbacks 😜
@@BehindtheBar sure thing! it was a pleasant month that i don't remember much of
Ah, Plymouth Gin, my favourite! 👍🏻 Luckily I live in Devon so I get to ‘support local industry’.😉
Just the video I have been looking for. Best in class for how to stock a home bar.
👩🎓
What an excellent, thorough video! Many thanks.
Thanks pal, glad you liked it!
Right on Cara, you are a joy to hear.
I know why I am here, I like to listen to your beautiful voice
If you like the poitin if it's close to shine.
Try if you can get it raw sugar cain juice depending on how sweet you like it from 1/2 oz to 1 3/4 oz.
The juice of a key lime ( I would guess 1/2 a normal lime)
1 to 2 oz shine
With the sugar cain juice if you can't get it maybe a simple syrup made from dark brown sugar or raw sugar maybe close enough.
Definitely considering a home bar to satisfy my curiosity about the classic 60's drinks: Rob Roy, Mai Tai, Gin Martini and the Black Russian.
Do it! The Mai Tai is coming up soon, coincidentally, so stay tuned 😊
@@BehindtheBar Love the Mai Tai but mistakenly bought Blue Curacao instead of the regular. Makes a colorful drink....
I just love your accent! I'm Russian myself so usually people compliment me on my accent so this is awesome haha
Also came here for all the tips! Nice to meet you!
👋
Here’s a tip, don’t buy expensive vodka for cocktails unless it’s flavoured, go mid-range. You’re just paying for the bottle and label. In a cocktail unless you have two drinks next to each other with different vodka you’ll barely taste any difference. And that if you’re trying to taste the difference.
Diplomatico! I worked with a mate who had worked at the distillery in Venezuela so I brought in their line to my store. Excellent products and I push them, always a good feedback.
They’re great! You should have a look at the East India Negroni- I use the Reserva and it’s so indulgent and smooth 😋
Diplomatico Blanco is my go-to for all light rum cocktails
Just found your chanel, I really like it.
The fact that you use and like a venezuelan rum made me suscribe immediately 😁
I love rum and rum cocktails.
I recently bought a bottle of Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva for my birthday, I'm not making any cocktails with that one thou.
I'm going to keep watching more of your videos, they're well edited and you have such a nice smooth voice. Thanks, and keep them coming!
Greetings from Chile.
So glad you like it Jose! The Reserva Exclusiva is such a delicious sipper, like a spiced and rich hot chocolate 😋. I have actually used it in one cocktail (I was feeling very indulgent that day haha), the East India Negroni in a video on cocktails using sherry:
ruclips.net/video/6KK5CiNCIAI/видео.html
That's my favorite rum!
I also add a bottle of Cachaca (Novo Fogo Chameleon) to make Caipirinhas.
I've been watchings these videos while under lockdown only to now discover that Cara's also from Melbourne. I now know a bar I'll be going to after all of this insanity ends.
Look forward to having you!
I started out learning recipes one by one on a whim mostly, buying every new bottle I needed. Ended up with pretty much all the booze you mentioned in here. Will for sure try the brands rum and gin you suggested. Thanks!
Great info !👏👏👏👏👏 I learn so much watching your videos 👍👍
So far my home bar consist of:
Blanco Tequila - G4, Fortaleza, Espolon, Solorzano
Reposado Tequila - El Padrino, Corralejo
Añejo Tequila - Riazul, Don Julio
Vodka - Belvedere, Choppin (Potato)
Silver Rum - Bacardi Superior
Dark Rum - Brugal 1888, Plantation 20yr, Ron Zaccapa Centenario
Gin - St. George Botanivore
Bourbon - Rebel Yell (cheap and decent)
Others: Crown Royal Apple, Rumchata, Campari, Mr. Black, Malibu, Chambord, Cointreau, Blue Curacao
That is a strong line up pal! I haven’t heard of the gin, do you rate it?
@@BehindtheBar That's actually the first gin I've ever bought so I don't know how it compares to others. I like it tho except I haven't used a lot. It's very smooth and very flavorful. For $30 bucks, I don't think you can go wrong. I'll probably make a Bramble tonight. Gin, whiskeys, and wines are areas I've yet too explore much so if you have any recommendations that'd be great! 😊
Thank you giving such information and I have seen this much brand in first time
The divine Ms. Cara!
personality, knows how to deliver information, beautiful and she also knows about drinks... That is it, I am subscribing
greetings from Poland, love the channel your voice is mesmerising and relaxing after a busy day. Thank you😘
Hello there! I'm glad that you're liking the videos!
Well done! Happy to have found this channel. And, god, I love Campari. Cheers!
Definitely a bottle that doesn't get enough love. I always use a Jungle Bird or Enzoni to ease people into it that swear they don't like it
This was a really nice one! THANK YOU! During Quarantäne this turned out to be my favorite drinking channel
That’s so good to hear, thanks pal!
Yes. Finally someone who also recommends rye over bourbon. I recommend George Dickel.
Good call!
You really gave me an opening here: About 1990, I became enamored of the MIATAI (or somesuch), as made in Trader Vic's, in Oakland, Ca, US. I was immediately disabused of that passion upon learning that the ingredients totaled $50, about 75-pounds.
It’s not the cheapest hobby but I do think good booze is worth paying for!
Hmm lots of projects hear for the weekend. One of your best vids yet!
Thanks Steve, was proud of this one 😊
Great and super informative video! I like how you provided examples and didn't seem biased. Definitely liked and subscribed!
Thank you so much for the support Roberto!
Oh wow, no one ever mentions sherry, 3 drops of px with a cheap malt is sooo good.
Oh my goodness. I think I fell in love with her!
Knob Creek, now that just makes me giggle
🤭
I recently subscribed and I've watched a number of your videos. These are great - I am learning a ton. Thanks so much Cara!
Glad you’re learning pal
For my home bar I have
Gin:Beefeater
Vodka:New Amsterdam Vodka
Rum:Don Q
Aged Rum:Cruzan
Jamaican Rum:Meyers
Tequila:Espolon silver
Reposado Tequila:Don Julio
Bourbon:Four Roses
Rye:Michters
Scotch:The famous Grouse
Liqueurs:
Cointreau
Grand Marnier
Luxardo Maraschino
Campari
Aperol
Bitters:
Angostura aromatic
Peychauds
Regans Orange Bitters
Chocolate Bitters Fee brothers
Vermouth:
Dolin dry vermouth
Dolin Blanco vermouth
Cochi Torino sweet vermouth
I have a large Gin collection and a ton more liqueurs but that’s my basic list
Strong!
Behind the Bar I have to get some Sherry now because of your recommendation haha
Sobeiski is a great alternate to Belvedere if you are looking for something a bit more cost efficient.
I think someone else recommended this too, I’ll have to scope it out
It's actually made in the same distillery as Belvedere, I'm assuming it's essentially the b grade or something along those lines. Excellent vodka that's dirt cheap. Reyka is also one of my absolute favorites!
Absolutely amazing video, thank you
Really like her breakdown, often gave similar advice
It’s your bar. Buy the spirits and liquors for the cocktails that you like to drink. Your guest will drink them also :)my favorite cocktails are the Rhett Buttler and the Manhattan so I bought first Southern Confort and Grand Marnier, a bottle of Rittenhouse and Dolin Vermouth with a bottle of angustura liquor. That’s all I bought at the beginning. I learn the technics to do them. Then I had more bottles in my bar for other cocktails one at a time. I have now more than 40 bottles but don’t have a single bottle of mezcal/ tequila or scotch whisky because i don’t like it
love it! must watch again and again!
Thank you.
First minute and we already see a Polish vodka!! Good on ya!
Good video great tips I will watch it again and take notes
So glad you found it useful!
This is the first time alcoholism doesn't sound like a bad idea. This woman. She's got that Medusa thing going.
Ms. Cara,
Again this was very informative. You have helped me to include somethings that I would have not thought of in my bar at home, while excluding somethings that I might have been wasting my time on. Seriously, you should think about teaching a Master's Class.
Thank you,
John H. Parker
Very happy to have discovered your channel 🇨🇦🥃
Thanks pal, glad to have you!
I love gin, and I live in Northern VT. There are some great distilleries here, but one of my favorites is Ungava from Quebec. They make a fantastic gin. Also check out Barr Hill gin, my local distillery if you can find some way to get it! Ungava is better but Barr hill has a strong pine note that makes it great for lightly mixed drinks
Subscribing for the accent. The excellent content is an added bonus 👌
American whiskey “could” be controversial?! As a Yank, this is absolutely true.
And don’t get me started on the merits of Islay vs rye.
Great episode!
🤣
second video I am watching..low key hooked to your accent.
This was super helpful! I have my own home bar and never know what is necessary and what isn't. GREAT VIDEO!
So glad to hear that pal!
This lass has great taste! Diplomatico are so good! Now I want to try out the other ones :D
Did you say "Now that you have your 'speed rail' sorted?" "Speed Rail?" Very cool!
Haha yeah it’s what we call it in the bar. The easy to reach rail where you have all your most used bottles!
@@BehindtheBar Thank you! That makes perfect sense... :-)
Yeah, the term “speed rail” has totally different meaning where I come from, but OK. Cool.
Excellent - THANKS!
I have just started building my home bar and I am lucky to have found your channel this morning :)
Ooh perfect! Good luck and let me know if you need any help along the way 😊
Buy local spirits if you can!! I love supporting my local distilleries though they can be a bit more expensive. Great gin near me
I must admit I got a bit excited when I saw the bottle of Diplomatico! My personal favourite that no one around here seems to have heard of.
BEAUTY WITH BRAIN. MOST BEAUTIFUL LADY OF THE WORLD. GOOD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MIXOLOGY.
the Scottish bartending teacher I never knew I needed XD
I wish I saw this video when it came out before I haphazardly just walked around my big liquor store and grabbing whatever looked good haha.
Well now you can have fun figuring out what to make with the random stuff!
just for announcing (two times) the most underrated ScoffLaw this video deserves more thumbs up than my hands provide!
I hope you’ve watched this one too!
ruclips.net/video/aokoqlHunpY/видео.html
Empress 1908 Gin is an amazing option but it’s got a strong flavor. It’s purple too. But very hard to hide the flavor. It’s super dark and nutty kinda woody but lemme tell ya. It’s amazing!
Thank you! 🥃