What I love might not be what you love, and that's part of the fun! Taste is personal. The goal isn't to buy every bottle on this list or spend a fortune chasing the most coveted labels. It's to find spirits that suit your palate, your budget, and the kinds of drinks you actually enjoy making.

If you're just getting started, don't feel like you need to build an entire bar overnight. Start with the spirits you reach for most often, get comfortable using them, and branch out as your curiosity grows. Pay attention to what you like about a bottle. Is it the peppery bite of a rye whiskey? The bright, grassy character of a blanco tequila? The botanical punch of a gin? The more you taste and notice, the easier it becomes to choose bottles intentionally rather than just grabbing whatever has the prettiest label.

And please, don't be afraid to ask questions! Your local liquor store is one of the best resources you have. The people working there often have a wealth of knowledge and can point you toward something new, help you find an alternative within your budget, or introduce you to a bottle you might never have picked up otherwise. Lean on them!

I'll continue updating this list as I discover new favorites, revisit old standbys, and learn more along the way. Consider it a starting point, not a rulebook. Explore, experiment, trust your palate, and remember that the best bottle for your bar is ultimately the one you love drinking.

Now, let's get into the good stuff. Cheers!

LIQUOR:

GIN: My go-to London Dry gin is always going to be Tanqueray, but Ford’s is a little bit more affordable. If you’re steering away from dry gin, Roku is also all around a solid gin with a great price point. I also really like Barr Hill. It’s unique because it’s finished with raw honey. If you really want to ball out on a really nice gin, Monkey 47 is incredible and complex, but only to use on special occasions, in my opinion. 

BOURBON: I always go with Elijah Craig Small Batch as my all around go-to bourbon. It’s a foundational bourbon in my opinion – it’s 94 proof, which sits nicely. Four Roses Small Batch is kind of a comparable option, but it has more rye, making it a bit more spicy. Old Grand Dad is great and more affordable than some of the ‘bigger names’ (it’s the same mash bill as Basil Hayden). If you want to spend some money on a nice bottle, go for Blanton’s (Booker’s if you want something higher proof). 

RYE: Rittenhouse is a great high proof, affordable, foundational rye whiskey. Michter’s is a little bit pricier but an even better option in my opinion.

RUM: I will say, I’m learning a lot about rum, so take these suggestions with a grain of salt. For a white rum, I’d go for Plantation 3 Stars. For an overproof Jamaican rum, I’d go for Smith & Cross (Wray & Nephew is also good). For Blackstrap, Gosling’s is good. I think Cruzan is the most traditionally used. Appleton is also a good go-to mixer. 

TEQUILA: Tanteo, Arette, Tequila Ocho for blanco. La Gritona for reposado. Fortaleza or El Tesoro for any of them, they’re a bit on the pricier side but so so so good. 

MEZCAL: I think Madre is a great foundational mezcal for your home bar. It’s more approachable. If you want something a bit more intense with that smokey punch, go for Vida. If you want something affordable, go for 400 Conejos. If you wanna splurge for something to sip on the rocks, go for Bozal.

SCOTCH: I think if you want a good foundational scotch for cocktails and such, I’d go for Glenlivet 12. I also don’t have a problem with Dewer’s, but that might be a unique opinion. If you want something to sip on the rocks (and a bit of a splurge), I’d go for Talisker 18 or Lagavulin 16.  

VODKA: I’m not a huge vodka drinker, I will say. But I’d say Reyka is a really great, affordable option. Chopin is a great potato vodka. Harridan is where you should ball out. 

LIQUEUR:

TRIPLE SEC: Cointreau is preferred. It’s easily the best, but it’s not extremely affordable. If you want something a bit more affordable, I’d go for Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao. I don’t think this is something you can really go super cheap on (I’d stay away from Bols), because the super cheap ones are just full of sugars and additives. The good stuff should be higher proof!

ELDERFLOWER: St-Germain is truly the best, but it can be pricey. I generally do think that you can get away with using St. Elder. Or really any Giffard product is great.

COFFEE: Mr. Black always! You can’t get any better than Mr. Black, in my opinion. It’s not nearly as sweet and syrup-y as Kahlua. While Mr. Black can be a little pricey, I think it’s worth it. Grind (rum-based) is also a good option but I’ve not been able to find it in PA.

SWEET VERMOUTH: If you’re on a budget, I always go for Dolin Rouge. It’s kind of just a really solid baseline sweet vermouth. If you’re wanting something richer, with more caramel notes, I’d go for Antica Formula. It’s pretty expensive, but if you find yourself really only drinking Negronis and Manhattan’s I’d say it’s worth it. Lo-Fi is also a great option – it’s a lot lighter than your traditional sweet vermouth, which I like having that variety. 

*Remember, always put your vermouth in the refrigerator after opening! It’s a fortified wine, so it has the chance to oxidize and change the flavor more quickly when left at room temperature. Although, there’s still a time and a place for oxidized vermouth, doesn’t mean it’s gone bad! 

DRY VERMOUTH: I wish I could tell everyone to get a bottle of Vermouth by Evie but sadly we are sold out at the moment! Again, I’ll start off with Dolin Dry. It’s affordable, not overpowering, but still good enough that you wouldn’t mind putting three quarters of an ounce of it in a martini. It works well in both savory or citrus forward martinis. Lo-Fi does have a great dry vermouth but I wouldn’t put it in a dirty martini – it’s great for Negroni Biancos, martinis with a twist, or as an aperitif with some soda water. As you can probably imagine, I’ve done a bit of research on dry vermouth, and I’ve tried some out of the box ones – if you want something unique, try anything from Channing Daughters!

AMARI: There are SO many good Amaros out there and I’d say this is one of those categories that you have to explore, because there’s not really a “one size fits all” amaro. Montenegro and Averna are where you should start. Montenegro has a bit of a sweeter and lighter profile. It’s a solid introductory amaro. Averna has a stronger herbal profile with a nice licorice note and a bit of a thicker viscosity to it. Other amaros I recommend: Nonino, Cynar, Sfumato, or Del Capo (I love a good Del Capo nightcap!). I will say I am not a Fernet fan but people love it. 

BITTER RED: I think there’s a time and place for both Campari and Aperol and I don’t think either of them are replaceable. Campari is higher proof and much more bitter, and has a really intense “in your face” flavor that is unique to its name. Aperol is a lot more toned down, gentler, sweeter, and more approachable. While they’re both bitter red aperitifs, they are so different. Luxardo has a pretty good red bitter option too though.  

GENTIAN: Salers or Suze. Salers is a great place to start because it’s more affordable than Suze, and it doesn’t use any artificial coloring. It’s also a lot less bitter than Suze. While Suze is super super bitter, it’s also crisp and clean and really good with stronger flavors like mezcal. Luxardo has a pretty good white bitter option too though.  

Overall bottles I can’t live without: 

• Green Chartreuse

• Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur

• Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

• Ancho Reyes Verde

• Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur

• St George Absinthe

• Galliano