Booze 101: Stock A Liquor Cabinet Like A Big Girl

Humble Bee
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:47 am: [report]

where’s the wine at???
I like wine, its cheaper. lol.

wawmama
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:50 am: [report]

Cool, but I also am mainly a wine girl. My latest obsession is Bitch wine. (It had a great name, pretty label, and was some what cheap.)

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:51 am: [report]

#1 you need whiskey too.
#2 a martini is always gin, and you are kidding yourself when you ask for a vodka martini.
#3 you need roses lime juice as a mixer.
#4 rum is very different. You may need 1 bottle of both light and dark rum, dark being aged in a cask.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:52 am: [report]

Thank you for doing the actual classic/old skool recipes, and not the liquor+glugs of sugary syrupy mix crap!!  Add to that the classic daquari, which I believe is the same as the Marg recipe, but sub rum for tequila.

@humblebee - I’m a wine girl as well.

Arty
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:53 am: [report]

I had friends who kept this amazingly stocked liquor cabinet but made the most disgusting drinks. They put pepsi, orange soda, and bicardi 151 together and saved it for me in the fridge because it was so good I had to try.

Ew.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:54 am: [report]

@cheese - just squeeze some limes!  beats store-bought bottled crap every time.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 09:57 am: [report]

@joyy: Limes don’t keep as well, and you need Roses for kamikazes!

writergirl
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]

Vodka martinis, shaken not stirred.  Sorry cheese….gotta disagree with you on that one.

Having said that…..I’m a wine girl and just about everyone I know is a wino now-a-days, men included.  Nothing beats a well-stocked wine bar.  Perfect for a night at home or when you are heading to someone’s house for dinner and you forget to go to the liquor store.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:04 am: [report]

@writergirl: NOPE! http://www.thatsthespirit.com/en/mixology/articles/vodka_martini.asp

writergirl
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:08 am: [report]

@Cheese….Yes, gin martinis are traditional….I wasn’t disputing that.  I was just stating my preference.  Sorry.  I’m trying to avoid mixing myself a martini at this exact moment, so I’m not making my opinions clear.  HAHA.

I knew about the bruising thing, too—you aren’t supposed to swirl brandy for the same reason.  But I can’t drink vodka unless it is ice cold.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:10 am: [report]

@cheese - that’s like arguing that you should buy prepared garlic in jars!  blasphemy!  I’m also a little snobbish about cocktails the way I am with food - I prefer the fresh ingredients (in this case, juice is about the best you can do) over shelf-stable stuff any day.  Plus the taste, it’s just so much better.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:11 am: [report]

Also, I have informed my boyfriend that since he wants to put a garden in the backyard, he needs to build me planter boxes for mint so I can make proper, fresh mojitos (and tabbouleh, and everything else, lol).

writergirl
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:14 am: [report]

@joyy…becareful with the mint!  We planted it a few years ago in an herb garden.  Damn plant took over that particular box we had it in, then spread to around my basement window.  I now have mint growing INTO my basement window every spring, and I clear it, but the damn thing keeps coming back!  Last summer I finally tried weed killer….here’s hoping.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:16 am: [report]

@writergirl: One of the citations in that link is a quote used later in the movie. Gordon’s (Gin) and vodka, wierd combo, but I guess it’s just a big martini because he gets it in a goblet. I actually had 2 sapphire martinis last week, mmmm delish.
@joyy: I love tabbouleh!

writergirl
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:23 am: [report]

@Cheese….my husband decided to make all sorts of martinis one night.  I was pregnant so couldn’t partake, but he made a gin and vodka mixed one.  He said it was awesome.

Sounded gross to me.

Saphhire gin I LOVE.  But only with a tonic.  Actually, it isn’t half bad when it is the only thing in the house and you need a shot of something.  But with a tonic is preferable.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:28 am: [report]

@writergirl: I absolutely loath tonic drinks, maybe I am so anti-establishment, or maybe I am channeling a sodden englishman from the 1720’s and 30’s, but I like my gin straight or with a little vermouth….or if ye has a rag.

The lack of a taste besides the ethanol leaves me lacking any sort of appreciation for vodka, it’s just boring.

PinkRanger
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:34 am: [report]

heh, mixed drinks are fun, and I do love liquor, but I still love beer. haha, maybe its my inner college student that hasn’t quite gone away yet. Nothin is better to me than a nice dark, full-bodied, foamy, imported beer.

Or maybe its just because I’m half irish half german. its my grandparents fault….lol.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:34 am: [report]

@writergirl - that’s why I want brick boxes!  I’m aware that it grows like the weed that it is ... and I’m actually really excited about that because I have the black thumb of d00m and will need all the help I can get

retro chic
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:40 am: [report]

Nice post, Leonore. One of the many reasons I like to watch Mad Men and similar shows. It makes a good adult impression to see the investment made in the whole ensemble…separates the grownups from the nots! And, whatever happened to those office martinis, anyway?

I just have a stocked cart now, but want to p/u this gorgeous multitasking “Voyage Bar Cabinet” from ZGallerie (space is scarce):
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-1349-voyage-bar-cabinet.aspx
See it opened up (click on ‘view collection”)
And, I can belly-up to it as a tall portable desk for light work on my laptop when not entertaining/imbibing. Summer = margaritas for me, no “mommy” ones, either.

40yrolddad
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:52 am: [report]

humble:  wine’s cheaper?  you’re either at the low end for your grape or ultra high end for liquor…  we have a wine storage unit w/~$2,500 worth in it now & 2-cases (~$1,200 @ $35-$95/btl) from our fav winery due any day now.

on the other side I bought a frozen drink maker (basically a home-size version of the Island Oasis things bars have) at costco last yr for ~$150 (forget exact price) and that thing’s been a huge hit at neighborhood parties!  I’ve mastered the mudslide, various flavor margaritas (mango’s the best), lynchburg lemonade but am still working on my lavaflow…

finally, crossing over to the “how to find/meet good guys” thing if you want to impress men (or at least the kind you profess to want) bone up on your microbrews (/styles/etc)!  no, Sam Adams doesn’t count!  (nor does Red Hook, Pete’s or numerous other mega-micros).  having anything from North Coast Brewing (Ft Bragg, CA) in your fridge makes a good impression on a beer-savvy man!  you can’t go wrong w/Red Seal Ale (think of it as the Stuart Weitzman neutral pump of beer).  once summer’s here stock the Blue Star wheat (& a fresh lemon to squeeze) & you’ll really look like a pro!  you might even LIKE beer once you get to know the variety that’s out there (& can tell the quality from crap)...

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 11:00 am: [report]

@40yrolddad: I am partial to the uber-hoppy Dogfish Head offerings.

mikeyellenlee
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 11:09 am: [report]

No whiskey or scotch? No sweet vermouth? What about manhattans and rob roys?

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 11:19 am: [report]

@mikeyellenlee: Where have you been all my life?

Lynn
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 12:42 pm: [report]

I was pretty surprised to see whiskey left off to…it’s the only thing that I always make sure to have on hand. Everything else is on an as-needed basis…but then, I don’t have many huge parties

abbylyn
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 12:47 pm: [report]

@cheese: i believe in other posts you said you were from the Philly area - check out Victory’s HopDevil, or Iron Hill Brewery’s Ironbound Ale.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 12:56 pm: [report]

@abbylyn: I am 1:45 minutes east of Philly in Central New Jersey. My Phillies are there, that’s about it.

laura
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 01:07 pm: [report]

@ cheese - 90 minute ipa = an almost perfect beer.
and also, what about delicious bourbon?

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 01:16 pm: [report]

@Laura: Smaller packages=better, no seriously it is awesome beer. 1 is enough, more will #&@$% you up.

40yrolddad
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 01:54 pm: [report]

I’m partial to Booker’s (bourbon) & Highland Park (scotch) myself though the later will set you back more than a good bottle of wine (@ least $75 for the 25 yr old in GA - taxes vary by state)...

what’s REALLY fashionable now is ABSINTHE!  it’s legal (again - a rare win for science/facts over “think of the children!”) and you can make some killer drinks w/it!

life’s too short to drink cheap crap…

slip
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 01:59 pm: [report]

Nice list, but you missed the underlying principles.

1. Good booze tastes better than bad booze. If you drink to get drunk, cheap booze is fine. Yes, good booze costs good money but it tastes a hell of a lot better. It also renders a milder hangover, and that’s a meaningful return on investment. $100 is a high-schooler’s budget. Double or triple it if you’re old enough to drink.

2. Gin & vodka are interchangeable in many mixed drinks. Vodka is more versatile because it lacks the juniper berry flavor, but nothing can touch a proper Gin & Tonic in the heat of August. Take your gin cue from the Queen Mum. She was a Bombay Sapphire girl, and she could afford anything.

3. Cheap tequila = nightmare. If you decide to up your budget, start here. Patron, Cazadores or anything that says Añejo is a good bet. And for God’s sake, sip it neat from a tiny glass and chase it with a crisp, green-bottle beer like Stella Artois or Becks chilled to the temperature of liquid oxygen. Leave the salt-and-citrus kabuki for tourists and frat boys.

4. Scotch is a science. Good books have been written on single-malts. Read them. Dalwhinnie, Oban or the Balvenie are mild and well-balanced, and are a great entrée into this world. Learn to drink Scotch neat or on the rocks. Only pollute it with mixers if you’re forced to drink a blend.

5. Bourbon is an art. Maker’s Mark tastes like kerosene compared to Basil Hayden, which is sweet and light with a lemony finish. Woodford Reserve is a bit heavier. Bulleit is light and spicy. Serious drinkers respect anyone who drinks bourbon straight, as it’s understood that you’re deferring serious fallout until tomorrow morning.

6. Bacardi tastes like brake fluid. For the same money, try a smoky Barbados like Mount Gay. With tonic and lime it’s a hot-weather classic.

7. There’s little reason to ever venture above 90 proof unless you’re drinking to get drunk.

Slip

writergirl
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 02:02 pm: [report]

I was thinking about this while in Chuck E Cheese with my kid because that’s the kind of place Chuck E Cheese is.

The basics are good.  But a good brandy, whiskey and bourbon are a necessity, as is after dinner liquors.  Plus you can add the liquors to your coffee.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 02:07 pm: [report]

@Slip: You know some #&@$%. Good post. Except for #7, Everclear is legal in New Jersey, and works out as the absolute cheapest liquor. 190 proof in 1 bottle = 2.5 bottles, but the cost is still 1….DO NOT drink straight, it will give you ulcers/internal bleeding.

joyy
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 02:16 pm: [report]

@cheese - everclear is the piss of satan.  DO NOT drink it period.  if everclear is the absolute only thing you can afford to drink ... save your money and drink less often.

rsonnack
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 03:27 pm: [report]

Now can we talk about how to have a good stocked bar for a college student? BESIDES beer. Beer is gross to me. And I love having my friends over to my apartment and we’re all about rum and coke because it’s the cheapest and simplest “cocktail” we know how to make. I guess it’s probably not possible to have a decent bar on a college budget.

retro chic
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 03:39 pm: [report]

I’m impressed by the experts here (I’m not technically one), but know what I like and can tolerate (only 105 lbs), with little or no hangover, by buying only the best. That’s part of the buzz of it—the elevator must go straight to the top, then let me down gently.

Vodka—has anyone also heard that women metabolize Vodka best? Basically, anything citrus and Vodka is great—lots of citrus and sun in LA. My basic rule of thumb is to avoid the flammable or antifreeze taste of over-dry martinis, etc.

@40yrolddad, have you had homemade classic lemon-lime Margaritas during summer? Takes 2 days of squeezing and curing to get the right essence—rocks or up, not blended. Jimmy Buffet had it right, and they’re cheap ‘n’ strong in Mexico. I always come back to LA with the best/multicured tequilas, and 1st cure (sweeter) tequila for my pancakes when the shared *mood* allows. Otherwise, straight ultra-chilled is best.

Salude, Cheers, A Sante…

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 04:01 pm: [report]

@joyy: No, Everclear was once in college, standing on a rooftop with a buddy and throwing spare change on his girlfriends car.

kl_savage
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 05:16 pm: [report]

kudos, Slip.

missduplicity
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 07:36 am: [report]

Whaaat, no whiskey? *Sigh* That was the problem at the last shindig I went to, as well, and I ended up sippy some froufy cranberry thing all night. I’d much prefer to just chug a bottle of Southern Comfort, but then, I am a country girl. We cut our teeth on whiskey down South.

Aside from the whiskey oversight, that’s a great list. I’ll take note of it when I finally fill up the empty liquor carousel on my bar at home.

Humble Bee
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 08:36 am: [report]

40yrolddad.
I agree about the cheap liquor, I wouldn’y be caught dead drinking cheap liquor, its cheap wine that I can tolerate. Cheap liquor ends up costing more in the long run, mean hangover, bad buzz, its not even worth it!
I always spend 60 plus on bottles, that used to be my weakness. I’m on a college student budget BTW, so none of that 1,200 wine bottles for me just yet. BUt thanks for the advice anyway.

40yrolddad
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 01:12 pm: [report]

“I’m on a college student budget BTW, so none of that 1,200 wine bottles for me just yet.”

been there/done that (bought/drank my share of $10 cases of Busch Light in the late 80s)...  that’ll change w/time - the problem is most people are no longer young & fabulous by the time they’re in a position to buy $100 bottles… 

enjoy this phase of your life (you’re among my favorite posters)!  trust me - it doesn’t last… one of life’s little surprises (at least for us) is that a lot of the jobs that pay enough for you to have expensive toys leave you w/o enough free time to play w/them…

aries3_04
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 05:12 pm: [report]

I forget who posted about college and beer? I don’t totally know - A few suggestions of good beer without breaking the bank: Oberon (with an orange slice) and Blue Moon; you’re golden.

Sofjna
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 11:52 pm: [report]

@slip- I recently tried Oban.  I never even heard of it until a few days ago when I saw the liquor order at work.  Oohhh, no good.  It was fine at first, but left a wierd aftertaste in my mouth.  I’ll stick with Jameson as my drink of choice.  Although I would like to try some of Bourbons you recommended.

@Joyy & Cheese- Ha! I remember drinking all the Everclear in my mom’s liquor cabinet when I was about 13/14 years old.  Not sure how I never got messed up from that.

40yrolddad
wrote on April 16 2009 @ 01:43 pm: [report]

IT’S HERE!!!  IT’S HERE!!!  UPS guy just pulled out of the driveway 5 min ago…  two cases of nirvana in a bottle!  (AKA annual shipment from A. Rafanelli…)  <music>IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME, OF THE YEAR!!!</music> :D

“no thing more excellent nor more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God.” — Plato

“may cause health problems” - US govt

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 16 2009 @ 02:02 pm: [report]

@40yrolddad: My dad bought 2 cases of Turley (sp) recently, that’s his favorite.