Comments on: How to Stock a Bar

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:51:03 +0000

I have a friend who went on a tour of Kentucky whiskey factories. Her favorite is Bulleit. I must admit it has changed my drinking life. Absolutely delicious and complex flavor.

By: Muscat Boy

Muscat Boy — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:11:14 +0000

My Bar is not complete without 4 Things
A Johnnie Walker Black Label, Smirnoff Vodka, Talisker & Guinness.

These are a must for my different Moods.

By: AmandaLP

AmandaLP — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:13:35 +0000

“Stocking” a bar is something that I rarely do. Instead, when I throw parties, I tend to have a theme. For example, at my Mexican food parties I will buy Tequila (And Jose Sucks in almost any capacity), triple sec, and limeade. Then, I have tequila in my bar for the next time. And, the next party, I will choose another type of liquor.

The mixers tend to be the place where my variety happens.

By: Impersonal Finance

Impersonal Finance — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:19:04 +0000

As the person who I believe introduced you to Tito’s, I am happy to see your endorsement. I use Grey Goose for mixing because I don’t find it good enough to drink straight (Not really frugal, but I had the bottle anyway). Tito’s is my definite straight drink.

I am a huge fan of Single Barrel Jack as a medium to high end whiskey (probably 35-40 a bottle). Obviously you can spend much more in which case an 18 or 21 year old Glenlivit is the way to go. Can’t think of a low end that I like, but a regular Jack Daniels usually does the trick.

I don’t drink rum or tequilla so can’t help you there.

By: Money Beagle

Money Beagle — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:56:59 +0000

Great post! My uncle has a bar that has a little bit of everything. I often wonder how he got there, but it looks like he’s probably got a system such as yours that he uses to keep a well stocked bar!

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:18:16 +0000

i think having something esoteric is good too, because it’s interesting. i probably have a larger stocked bar than most, although I don’t drink at home and I don’t drink very much in general. i like red wine, scotch, and Armagnac or brandy. so my bar consists of (the number means different types):

8-10 single malt scotches
2 blended whiskeys
6 vodkas in the freezer
10 red wines
4 white wines
3 champagnes/sparkling/spumante
1 rose
4 gins
3 rums
4 brandies
2 cognacs
1 armagnac
1 port
2 sherries
2 vermouths
1 bourbon
6 grappas and the like
4 schnapps
2 tequila
8 beers
2 sake
rice whiskey
rice wine
2-4 various slivovic and the like
jaegermeister
malibu
ponche caballero
various cremes
pernod
bitters
various liqueurs
absinthe
baileys
amaretto
campari
cointreau
southern comfort
triple sec
i have odds and ends crap from various places, too.

you also forgot snacks: nuts, olives, etc. can’t have a bar without some kind of tapas.

since i’m not much of a drinker, i couldn’t say what is really the best frugal booze in each class. but, the only booze i drink regularily, if you can call that, is red wine..give me a chianti or cab any day.

By: 1MansMoney

1MansMoney — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:58:25 +0000

Awesome post! This is one of the most interesting and helpful posts I have read all week (what does that say about me?).

-1MansMoney

By: Doctor S

Doctor S — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:52:58 +0000

Great post LM! Crown Royal is the best bang for you buck when it comes to whiskey, its a great value buy for an extremely well blended Canadian Whiskey! A nice little guide for what to get when having college buddies vs coworkers over!

By: Early Retirement Extreme

Early Retirement Extreme — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:27:19 +0000

@guinness416 – Ice is not simply a no-no. It is pure evil! As for the newfies … it’s because they’re all pirates, at least more than they are ninjas.

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:57:04 +0000

If I’m drinking with my boss you’d better believe he’s buying. Or it’s going on expenses, in which case whatever you want boss!

We drink whiskey occasionally and like everyone else have Johnny Black on hand right now too. You should check out Cardhu if you like it. We have stocked up on Midleton and of course bog standard Jemmie in the past too. Even protestant Black Bush when my uncle brings us gifts :) I worked selling Oban whiskey for a while too and have drank more of that stuff than I care to imagine …. it’s very drinkable for a single malt. (PS, some of the most knowledgeable and experienced old Irish whiskey drinkers mix it with red lemonade when the fancy takes them and would call you a pretentious whippersnapper for saying ice is a no-no).

You should email Million Dollar Journey about the rum, I saw something on the news the other night that said Newfoundlanders drink more rum than almost any state in north america!

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:28:07 +0000

How could I include a picture of something that I didn’t suggest? A big question mark ;-)?

I think it generally fits at the end of the mainstream liquors that I mentioned.

By: DK

DK — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:23:02 +0000

Just want to point out to Eric that Jack isn’t a bourbon…it’s a Tennessee whiskey. By law, it must be distilled in Kentucky to be a bourbon.

Now, as for choices…I like Woodford, but the best bang for the buck is Bullitt Bourbon. A smooth smoky flavor for a great price.

Great post!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:01:30 +0000

Well, you didn’t completely ignore, but you put it at the bottom of the list and didn’t include a picture :(

By: Vintage Antique Collectible

Vintage Antique Collectible — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:13:10 +0000

Thanks for the mention… btw, for those interested in liquor collectibles… specifically high-end tequila, check out…
Teqilla Bottles For Sale

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:59:38 +0000

Ignored? I mentioned it, but couldn’t make any recommendations.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:22:48 +0000

I can’t believe Lazy Man ignored whisky, one of the greatest drinks ever :(

I like Early Retirement Extreme, he thinks right up my alley. For a standard “house” whisky, I stick to Johnnie Walker. Not the cheapest, but it’s very drinkable without being so expensive you don’t want to share.

On the little bit cheaper side, Chivas Regal is pretty good too. Of course, this is the whisky that’s flowing through Ted Kennedy’s veins, so that might change your opinion on it ;)

Of course if you are more of an Irish Whiskey person instead of Scotch, I find either Jameson or Bushmills to be of good value. Around here you can pick up a bottle of either for 20-22 bucks.

Beyond that if you’re looking for something even cheaper, you’re probably headed to the Canadian whisky where the 1.75L bottles are plentiful for cheap. You got your Canadian Club, Black Velvet, Seagram VO, etc. Of course, not much for drinking straight, but perfect for mixing.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:54:04 +0000

Cool post. I wouldn’t suggest putting cheap liquor into expensive bottles, most people wouldn’t call you out on it. But definitely not worth the risk. Always have wine ready, and you can get good bottles for $10-$20. I think having one solid bottle is key, the rest doesn’t matter. Just get whatever.

By: Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:33:09 +0000

I am a big fan of Glenfiddich Scotch. Don’t know if I am unrefined, but $35 a bottle or so isn’t too bad and it tastes good on the rocks.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:17:16 +0000

Money Magazine did a recent post like this (though I had mine in the works far in advance) and had mentioned Flor de Cana 7 year. I wanted to steer clear of ones that they mentioned because I didn't want to be seen as ~~borrowing~~ stealing from that article. Luckily we naturally differed on most opinions - except for the Flor de Cana, which we got as a gift and is truly good.

By: Plantdetective

Plantdetective — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:05:50 +0000

Check out Flor de Cana 4 year for a value rum. It is really good and can be found for about 15-18$ for 1.75L. They also have 12 and 18 yr rums that are good, but more expensive.

If you can find it Gran Centenaria makes a great tequila ($19 a liter across the border) more like $40-50 in the States. Corralejo Tequila Reposado is also good and comes in a tall blue bottle.

I just tried Sobieski Vodka from Costco it is good for a cheap vodka (even though it is in a plastic bottle) about $17 for 1.75L