What did you buy at the liquor store today? (2013–)

[mkayahara]

Lucky dog! Feel free to pick up a bottle for me and stash it away until my next trip into the city...

[Rafa]

In response to the recent increase in tax and duty onAngostura, I decided to stock up.

So I got some Old Bitters, some new Bitters and some faux-old Bitters

Do you ever have to explain to concerned customers that no, actually, you're not photographing them, you're just photographing the bitters?

No recent purchases of my own, but: my significant other's on vacation in Costa Rica with her family. When she mentioned to her mother that she wanted to try Cuban rum, her mother was all too happy to oblige... and came back from the liquor store with Bacardi Silver, because it says "casa fundada en Cuba" on the label. Ay, mamá.

[devillighter]

I've discovered one advantage of having to spend too much time on the "wrong" side of the Hudson...some of the liquor stores aren't sold out of this:

20130521_134653.jpg

I've discovered this same fact while trawling the seedier liquor stores in my area. The best part is that I've found bottles for very reasonable prices, around $30.

[Hassouni]

Replenished my Campari supply and got a bottle of the new-production Lemon Hart 151 for experimenting with dilution (to see how it compares to the old product).

I also finally broke the "clear spirits should be cheap" ceiling and got a bottle of Bols Genever. This stuff is AWESOME - I had a maybe half ounce tasting and I can't wait to use it in drinks. Suggestions? I'm guessing Jerry Thomas-type stuff.

Speaking of more expensive clear spirits, I also got some Mezcal. Fidencio Clasico Joven. $5 more than Del Maguey Vida, and I prob should've got the Vida. The Fidencio starts out OK, but it has a really gnarly and unpleasant acrid taste on the finish, the second the tongue is dropped off the palate. I hope it redeems itself in cocktails, because I really can't drink it straight.

[Rafa]

Jerry Thomas is right: start with an Improved, or cool down with a John Collins. Enjoy an Ice Pick, or <self promotion> a Tammany Hall </self promotion>. I also like the Bols neat. It tastes like liquid sourdough, and I mean that in a good way.

More cocktail ideas here.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Rafa (log)

[Hassouni]

Yeah I recently discovered the 12 bottle bar site. Thanks for the other recipes!

Anyone want a bottle of Mezcal?

[Rafa]

Hell, I'll take it.

[Hassouni]

Let me try it in a cocktail first...but if that's a failure...

[Adam George]

Aviations with Genever are great.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Adam George (log)

[FrogPrincesse]

I also finally broke the "clear spirits should be cheap" ceiling and got a bottle of Bols Genever. This stuff is AWESOME - I had a maybe half ounce tasting and I can't wait to use it in drinks. Suggestions? I'm guessing Jerry Thomas-type stuff.

In addition to the John Collins and the Ice Pick that have already been mentioned by Rafa, other favorites are Eric Alperin's version of the Holland Razor Blade and David Wondrich's Barbadian Gin Punch Swizzle. There are more ideas in the Genever thread.

Edited May 23, 2013 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[campus five]

From the last month or so:

Elijah Craig - Barrel Strength: It's very Stagg-like, but just not quite as good. Which is to say, it still awesome.

Flor de Cana 4yr White - basically for Daiquiris during the summer. Oh, and it was on sale...for $7.99/750ml. I bought two bottles - it should last the summer.

Campari - because we run out so quickly.

Miracle Mile Candy Cap Bitters - the few times I've had a cocktail with these bitters, they were mind-blowing. I have this feeling, I'll be putting these to work very soon.

St. Vincent Orgeat - http://stvincentsyrups.com/ - Made by a local Los Angeles-area bartender and available only behind the counter at Barkeeper. As I mentioned in the Drinks Thread, it's not shelf-stable, so it stays in the fridge. It's apparently responsible for there being a surge in Orgeat-containing cocktails all over Los Angeles bar menus. Based on the first cocktail I made with it, I'd say that's a fair conclusion.

[Yojimbo]

Pre-Father's Day sale on whiskey at Astor Spirits, so I went in and re-upped on Rittenhouse and WT 101. Had to fight off the urge to try Widow Jane or Smooth Ambler, but this was everyday bottles, not a splurge.

However, since I was almost out of gin as well, I threw a bottle of Beefeater 24 in the basket -- should carry me through at least part of summer.

[blue_dolphin]

From the very, very tasty (sampled a splash of that Angel's Envy Rye and it's a treat) to the completely tastless ($14.99 handle of 100 proof vodka for limoncello making) and a few in between.

[EvergreenDan]

Amaro CioCiaro is a gem. Cheap and a good sub for Amer Picon. Now available in MA (within the last few months, as far as I can tell). Tell us how you used it and how it was!

[tanstaafl2]

I certainly second the AE rum cask finished rye! Just wish I could get it in Georgia rather than have to find alternative ways to get it. Hopefully it will eventually make it here as the bourbon eventually did.

[Mjx]

This is quite lovely stuff, sweet but balanced:

Also got a bottle of The Kraken... I mean, it's got a picture of a squid on the bottle, how could this be a mistake?

[Slimchandi]

Nice to meet you all on eG. Restock of Campari, and babby's first bottle of Tanqueray. I've only used Beefeaters up until now, but the Tanq was actually cheaper for a change. They made a very nice Perfect Negroni yesterday evening.

[FrogPrincesse]

Nice to meet you, Slimchandi. A Negroni is a great way to start!

[Ashen]

it was a twelve pack of golden and technically I bought that a the beer store. I am not really interested in white rum but my wife insisted she needs it for a huricane recipe she wants to try so I picked up the 200 ml bacardi

[Moto]

Went to Mac's in Atlanta as well as Total Wine. Picked up the Plantation 20th, Scarlet Ibis and Lemon Hart 151. So far I've sampled the Plantation. At first the coconut undertones overwhelmed but on subsequent tastings it came off as more balanced. An enjoyable sipper for sure though still exploring to see if I would repeat.

[Czequershuus]

I was out of town the last few days, and my girlfriend was patient enough to indulge my hobby and let me stop off at a couple of liquor stores so I could pick up some things I cannot get in town. I managed to pick up

Ansac VSOP Cognac(Great Bargain)

Dry Fly Gin

Bittercube Bolivar Bitters

Breckenridge Bitters

Now off to sample the haul!

[Broken English]

Bombay Sapphire gin and a large bottle of ginger ale. Looking forward to taking it easy and enjoying my days off.

[Mofassah]

Tequila and Cointreau, which I'm gonna mix with lemon juice, orange juice and frozen strawberries in my blender and serve some decadent strawberry margaritas in the warm summer breeze ... or in front of the fire place more likely.

[Markm]

I don't usually like the sweeter drinks of summer and I don't typically reach for vodka... But living in Texas and seeing this enticing bottle of Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka from Austin got me curious. So I bought a bottle and it is delicious. Here's what I made to sip on the patio...

1.5 oz Deep Eddy Ruby Red

1oz Reposado Tequila

.5 oz Aperol

.25oz agave nectar

Muddle a slice of jalapeño in a mixing tin (optional, but recommended!). Add all ingredients. Fill with ice, shake, strain into glass with fresh ice (or into a cocktail coupe... No ice)

Garnish with a jalapeño slice or grapefruit twist

Cheers!

[Adam George]

I picked up some Cynar and Cherry Heering.