mealplanning

learning git and saving recipes

---

Project maintained by StompyD Hosted on GitHub Pages — Theme by mattgraham

12 Bottle Bar Spirits and Brands

The 12 Bottle Bar by David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson suggests stocking a basic home bar with a limited number of spirits. Written as a response to a cocktail scene that was focusing on niche ingredients and exotic spirits, The 12 Bottle Bar aimed to give readers an affordable way to build a home bar and start experimenting with cocktails at home.

The 12 Bottle Bar’s recommended brands list is especially helpful. Even with inexpensive spirits, a bottle feels like a gamble. (I believe I’ve had a bottle of sloe gin clogging up our liquor cabinet for 5 years with only 6 ounces missing). Having a shortlist brands helps when navigating unfamiliar spirits. (Malibu rum was the first rum I had at 21. I was scared ever since that all rums were slippery, coconutty messes. I’ve since learned this isn’t true.) I have my own preferences, but this is a solid starting point.

The 12 Bottles (And Brand Listings)

1. Gin
   • Budget
     • Gordon’s London Dry Gin
     • Beefeater Dry Gin
   • Artisan / Premium
     • Leopold’s Small Batch Gin
     • Plymouth Gin
2. Genever
   • Artisan / Premium
     • Anchor Distilling Genevieve
     • Bols Genever
     • Bols Barrel-Aged Genever
3. Amber Rum
   • Mid-Range
     • Cockspur Fine Rum
     • Plantation 5 Year Grand Reserve
   • Artisan / Premium
     • Smith and Cross
4. White Rum
   • Budget
     • Flor de Cana 4 Year Rum Extra Seco
     • El Dorado 3 Year Old Fine Cask Aged Rum
   • Mid Range
     • Cana Brava Rum
5. Brandy / Cognac
   • Budget
     • Paul Masson Grande Amber VSOP
   • Artisan / Premium
     • Remy Martin VSOP
6. Rye Whiskey
   • Budget
     • Old Overholt
   • Mid Range
     • Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey
     • Rittenhouse Bottled In Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
   • Artisan / Premium
     • Michter’s US 1 Kentucky Straight Rye
     • High West Rendezvous Rye Barrel Select Whiskey
7. Vodka
   • Budget
     • Absolut Vodka
   • Mid Range
     • Stolichnaya 100 Proof Premium Vodka
8. Sweet Vermouth
   • Budget
     • Martini & Rossi Rosso Sweet Vermouth
   • Mid Range
     • Punt E Mes
   • Aritsan / Premium
     • Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
9. Dry Vermouth
   • Budget
     • Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
   • Mid Range
     • Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambery
10. Orange Liquor
    • Artisan / Premium
      • Cointreau
      • Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge Orange Liqueur
11. Aromatic Bitters
    • Budget
      • Angostura Aromatic Bitters
    • Mid Range
      • Dale’s Pimento Aromatic Bitters (Dale DeGroff)
12. Orange Bitters
    • Budget
      • Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
    • Mid Range
      • Regans Orange Bitters