Home Bar Essentials

These are the bottles I keep coming back to, the ones I always like to have on hand. You’ll find my current favorites here, plus a few alternatives.

Rye Whiskey

My current go-to: Rittenhouse 100 Proof Rye
Another favorite: Old Forester 100 Proof Rye
Lower proof alternative: Old Overholt Straight Rye

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Bourbon Whiskey

My current go-to: Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon
Another favorite: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
Smoky alternative: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

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Scotch Whiskey

My current go-to: Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt
Another favorite: Aberfeldy 12 Year Single Malt
Peaty alternative: Laphroaig 10 Year Single Malt

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Gin

My current go-to: Plymouth Gin
Another favorite: Beefeater’s London Dry Gin
Punchy alternative: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

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Lighter Rum

My current go-to: Real McCoy 3 Year Rum
Another favorite: Chairman’s Reserve White Rum
Robust alternative: Foursquare Probitas White Blended Rum

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Darker Rum

My current go-to: Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum
Another favorite: Real McCoy 12 Year Rum
Funky alternative: Hamilton Jamaica Pot Still Black

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Brandy/Cognac

My current go-to: Maison Rouge V.S.O.P. Cognac
Another favorite: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac
Light alternative (for a Wisconsin Old Fashioned): Korbel Brandy

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Agave Spirits

My current go-to: Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila
Another favorite: Milagro Reposado Tequila
Smoky alternative: Del Maguey Vida Mezcal

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Vodka

My current go-to: Hangar 1 Vodka
Another favorite: Chopin Potato Vodka
Inexpensive alternative: Finlandia Vodka

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Sweet Vermouth

My current go-to: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
Another favorite: Dolin Rouge Vermouth de Chambéry
Adventurous alternative: Carpano Punt e Mes Vermouth

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Dry Vermouth

My current go-to: Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry Dry
Another favorite: Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
Richer alternative: Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry Blanc

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Orange Liqueur

My current go-to: Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
Another favorite: Cointreau Triple Sec
Sweeter alternative: Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao

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Apéritif/Amaro

My current go-to: Campari Aperitivo
Another favorite: Ramazzotti Amaro
Softer alternative: Aperol Aperitivo

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Absinthe

My current go-to: La Clandestine Absinthe Superieure
Another favorite: St. George Absinthe Verte
Wormwood-free alternative: Ricard Pastis de Marseille Aperitif

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Bitters

My current go-to: Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Another favorite: Peychaud’s Aromatic Bitters
Fruit flavored alternative: Regans' Orange Bitters

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Honorable Mentions - Liqueurs Worth Mentioning

Green Chartreuse
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur

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