Help! Setting up a bourbon home bar

JBoyette

Well-Known Member
Sponsor
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
4,532
Location
Carthage, NC
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
I want to do old fashions and other bourbon based drinks.

So what do I need to make the wide range of quality bourbon drinks?

Btw i i am a Makers Mark 46 and ice guy. But i would like to stand up a bourbon bar here at the house for others
 
Sugar cubes or simple syrup.
Bitters of whatever flavors you want, I like orange and cherry in my old fashioned, but whichever you like works...
The real key is Amarena cherries.
 
Though possibly expensive, set up 3-5 top shelf bourbons then line up shots to allow your guests to taste side-by-side.

Next, gather your old fashion ingredients: variety of oranges (yes, there is a diference between flavor of navel vs. blood oranges), grocery store cherries vs. proper maraschino cherries and good Vermouths. Don't forget the bitters. There are more options than Angostura.

Yes, spouse and I were bartenders in a past life.
 
A bourbon home bar is a noble idea but I wouldn’t discount expanding it out to be a whiskey bar and not just bourbon. Even if the focus is on bourbon, consider adding a whiskey, scotch, or Irish wiskey to your stash as well.
 
A couple different bourbons. Makers is one of my favorites but it can be a bit spicy. For the times I'd like it a bit smoother, Bullet is my go to at about the same price range and Knobb Creek is kind of in between.

Other items would be:
Maraschino Cherries
Orange Bitters
Candied orange/lemons
sweet vermouth
sugar
 
I want to do old fashions and other bourbon based drinks.

So what do I need to make the wide range of quality bourbon drinks?

Btw i i am a Makers Mark 46 and ice guy. But i would like to stand up a bourbon bar here at the house for others

Not sure what your looking for, PM/call me.
 
Not to sound like a jackass but i honestly do not even know where to buy bitters at or the non- foodlion stuff.

Or even how simple or complex what i am asking is or is not..

So please educate me at the base level here
 
Not to sound like a jackass but i honestly do not even know where to buy bitters at or the non- foodlion stuff.

Or even how simple or complex what i am asking is or is not..

So please educate me at the base level here

PM/call me.
 
Not to sound like a jackass but i honestly do not even know where to buy bitters at or the non- foodlion stuff.

Or even how simple or complex what i am asking is or is not..

So please educate me at the base level here

I’ve found a couple different kinds of bitters in the mixed drink section over by the beer in Walmart. And if they have it in Whiteville then surely they have it where you are.
 
Get a couple handles of Evan Williams 1783 or Ezra Brooks the next time either is on sale. I enjoy both on the rocks and they are both great for cocktails. Amazon is your friend for bitters/cherries/bar set etc. Brandied cherries are a vast imporvement over grocery story marschino cherries.
 
Get a couple handles of Evan Williams 1783 or Ezra Brooks the next time either is on sale. I enjoy both on the rocks and they are both great for cocktails. Amazon is your friend for bitters/cherries/bar set etc. Brandied cherries are a vast imporvement over grocery story marschino cherries.
is your avatar HST?
 
Sorry I can't help with the cocktails, but I'm sure we can help steer you in the direction of some good bourbons, whiskey and scotch.

What do you have so far? - My votes, with reasonable price points are:

Bourbon: Angel's Envy, Basil Hayden
Whiskey: Redbreast, Teeling Single Malt
Scotch: Laphroaig, Ardbeg

Great for cheaper cocktails: Bulleit Rye and Bulleit Bourbon

I discovered I'm not a HUGE scotch guy, but it's a nice flavor change.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom