The Cocktail Academy

004 Home Bar Essentials: The Ultimate Guide to Must-Have Booze for Perfect Cocktails


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Featured Cocktail of the Week: The Sunflower

  • Created by Sammy Ross of Milk and Honey fame.
  • Recipe:
  • 20ml (3/4 oz) London Dry Gin
  • 20ml (3/4 oz) Cointreau
  • 20ml (3/4 oz) Elderflower Liqueur (e.g., Saint Germain)
  • 20ml (3/4 oz) Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Optional: Absinthe rinse for added complexity.
  • Shaking and serving tips: Chill your glass, shake ingredients with ice, strain into a coupe glass, garnish with a twist of lemon or orange.

Setting Up Your Home Bar

  • Start with what you like: Choose spirits based on your preferences to avoid unnecessary purchases.
  • Keep it simple: Fewer bottles mean less confusion and cost.

Essential Spirits

  1. Gin
  • Versatile for cocktails like Clover Club, Sunflower, Gin Martini.
  • Start with a gin you already like or try a new one for variety.
  1. Vodka
  • Neutral spirit, good for cocktails like East 8 Hold Up.
  • Choose a decent quality vodka; no need to splurge.
  1. Rum
  • Diverse flavours from different regions (Cuban, Jamaican, etc.).
  • Great for Daiquiris, Mai Tais, Mojitos.
  1. Tequila
  • Growing in popularity, essential for Margaritas, Palomas, and more.
  • Choose a good quality tequila to start.
  1. Whiskey
  • Wide variety (Bourbon, Rye, Irish, Scotch).
  • Perfect for Manhattans, Bee's Knees, Tipperary.
  1. Brandy
  • Commonly used for classic cocktails like the Sidecar and Jack Rose.
  • Start with a good Cognac or apple brandy.

Essential Liqueurs

  • Orange Liqueur: Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Curacao for Margaritas, Sidecars, Cosmopolitans.
  • Elderflower Liqueur: Adds a unique flavour to many cocktails, versatile.
  • Coffee Liqueur: Trending choice like Mr. Black for espresso martinis and other coffee-based drinks.

Vermouth and Amaro

  • Vermouth: Essential for martinis and Manhattans. Keep it in the fridge to extend its life.
  • Amaro: Adds complexity to drinks like Negronis and Aperol Spritz.

Bitters

  • Non-Potable Bitters: Angostura, aromatic bitters for depth and complexity in cocktails.
  • Potable Bitters: Like Campari and Aperol, great for various modern cocktails.

Final Tips

  • Start simple: Begin with a few essential spirits and liqueurs.
  • Gradually expand your collection based on your growing preferences and cocktail experiments.
  • Keep vermouth in the fridge and consider buying smaller bottles to avoid waste.

Closing Remarks

  • Follow the podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review please
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  • Home bar essentials
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  • Best liqueurs for cocktails
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  • How to set up a home bar
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  • Classic cocktail recipes


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The Cocktail AcademyBy Damian Cole

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