That’s a nice list, Dan — Robert Hess,
author of The Essential Bartender’s Guide
We've accumulated recommendations from many sources, including first hand. Taste and personal preferences sway choices heavily, particularly above the economy level. Feel free to add comments with suggestions.
| Product | Economy | Everyday | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absinthe | Herbsaint (not true absinthe) | Lucid | |
| Amari | Luxardo Bitter (Campari knock-off) | Campari, Cynar, Fernet Branca (strong menthol), Averna or Ramazzotti. Other amari recommendations | Sibilia (superb, strongly bitter), dell'Erborista |
| Aquavit | Linie | ||
| Bitters | Angostura, Peychaud's, Regans' Orange #6 | Dr. Adam Elmegirab's Bokers, Bittermens Xocaltl Mole | |
| Bourbon | Old Grand Dad 114, Evan Williams Black, Elijah Craig, Jim Beam, Ezra Brooks | Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, Bulleit (heavy rye), Maker's Mark | George T. Stagg |
| Cachaça | Cachaca 51, Mae de Ouro | Leblon | |
| Calvados | Le Compte, Morin Selection, Laird's Bonded (apple brandy) | Daron | Groult, Domaine L. Dupont |
| Cognac | Paul Masson VSOP (brandy), Foret VSOP (French brandy) Pedro Domecq Fundador Solera Reserva (Spanish brandy), Camus VS, Landy VS, Marie Duffau Bas (Armagnac) | Pierre Ferrand Ambre (10), Landy VSOP | Martell XO and Cordon Blue, Germain Robin Craft Method (not cognac) |
| Gin, London Dry | Gordons | Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay, Bombay Sapphire (soft), Martin Miller's | Hendrick's (cucumber, low juniper) |
| Gin, other | Plymouth, Bols Genever (gin precursor) | Ransom Old Tom (heavy spice) | |
| Irish Whiskey | Clontarf black label | Redbreast | |
| Liqueurs | Marie Brizzard Apry (apricot), Marie Brizzard Crème de Cacao (chocolate) | Benedictine (herbal), Green Chartreuse (herbal), Cointreau (orange), Luxardo Maraschino (funky), Rothman & Winter or Bitter Truth Crème de Violette. Many Giffard liqueurs are excellent, as desired. | Leopold Maraschino (cherry, funky) |
| Mezcal | Del Maguey Vida, Sombra | Del Maguey (other), Illegal Mezcal | |
| Ouzo | Sans Rival | ||
| Pisco | Barsol | Campo de Encanto | |
| Rum, light | Cruzan 2 year (Virgin Islands), Brugal white (Dominican Republic) | Appleton white (Jamaica) | Wray & Nephew Overproof (Jamaica, 63% ABV) |
| Rum, amber | Ron del Barralito 3 star (Puerto Rico), Curzan Dark (Virgin Islands), Brugal Añejo (Dominican Republic) | Appleton V/X (Jamaica), Barbancourt 5 star (Haini), Cruzan Single Barrel (Virgin Islands) | Flor de Cana (Nicaragua), 10 Cane (Trinidad, agricole) |
| Rum, dark | El Dorado 5 (English style), Flor de Cana 7 (Spanish style), Gosling's Black Seal (Bermuda, not so dark), Meyers (Jamaica) | Ron Zacapa Centenario (Guatemala, sweet) | |
| Rum, special | Cruzan Blackstrap (Virgin Islands, heavy molasses), Old Monk (India, dark, funky) | La Favorite Blanc (rhum agricole) | Smith & Cross (Jamaica, 57% ABV, complex), Batavia Arrack van Oosten (Indonesia, funky, not true rum, 50% ABV) |
| Rye | Old Overholt | Rittenhouse 100, Sazerac 6 year, Bulleit, Redemption, Wild Turkey | Whistle Pig, Thomas Handy |
| Scotch, blended | White Horse, William Grant's, Teacher's, Famous Grouse, Ballentine's | ||
| Scotch, Islay | Bowmore Legend | Lagavulin 16, Talisker (Isle of Skye) | |
| Scotch, other single malt | Aberlour 10 (Speyside), Glenfarclas 10 (Speyside), Auchentoshan Select (Lowland), Balvenie Doublewood | Oban 14 (West Highland), Highland Park 12 (Islands, Orkney) | |
| Syrups | Simple (homemade), dark simple (homemade using raw sugar or molasses) | B. G. Reynolds Orgeat, Small Hands Orgeat | |
| Tequila | El Jimador, Lunazul, Milagro, El Grito, Puebo Viejo | Suaza Hornitos, Cazadores, Partida, Siempre Azul, Siete Leguas | El Tesoro, Cinaco, Don Roberto, Ocho |
| Vermouth & friends | Dolin dry, Dolin blanc, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Punt e Mes (bitter), Bonal Gentiane Quina | Carpano Antica | |
| Vodka | Smirnoff, Sobieski, Svedka, Pinnacle | Tito's, Russian Standard Platinum | (We don't recommend high-priced vodkas.) |
Other brand resources:
- Amari and other bitter liqueurs on Kindred Cocktails.
- Orange liqueurs on Oh Gosh.
- Rums on Ministry of Rum.
- American whiskey distillers on Recent Easts.
- Vermouths and the like on Vermouth 101.
1 Comment
Sticking to the traditional
Submitted by Meshgiath on
Sticking to the traditional absinthe definition
and speaking from my 7 year Absinthe habit and decent (and growing) collection, you could add any of these to what you have in the current list: