{"id":119322,"date":"2012-01-25T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=119322"},"modified":"2019-09-08T23:59:54","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T06:59:54","slug":"how-to-stock-your-liquor-cabinet-on-the-cheap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/how-to-stock-your-liquor-cabinet-on-the-cheap\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stock your liquor cabinet on the cheap"},"content":{"rendered":"
It’s Friday night. A few friends and I are debating whether or not to go to the college bars down the street to get a drink when my friend Steve chimes in that his apartment is just up the way, and says, with his chest slightly puffed, \u201cI have a fully stocked liquor cabinet \u2014 something for everyone.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n Steve obviously likes to keep his apartment ready for impromptu entertaining. There’s ample seating, surround sound, and yes, a bar separate from the kitchen that’s almost equal in size. Behind the bar he keeps bottles upon bottles of spirits, all lit from underneath. He puts on some Miles Davis and takes his spot behind the bar.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you having?\u201d he asks me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kinds of whiskey do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMakers Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else?\u201d I ask, expecting somewhere in the umpteen bottles to be a second choice.<\/p>\n \u201cNope. That’s the one. That’s my whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve takes the strategy of stocking his home bar with one of absolutely everything in hopes to appeal to every taste. Just looking over the bottles on the shelf, I don’t doubt that his liquor cabinet (which is less of a cabinet and more of a display rack) must have neared the $1,000 range. I wondered if there wasn’t a more cost-effective way to stock a home liquor cabinet.<\/p>\n Jeremy Coffey, sommelier at Sofia Wine Bar<\/a> in New York City and home mixologist (his fianc\u00e9e gave him that second title, even though he rarely goes much more intricate than a gin martini, an olive if you’re lucky) says the key is to economize and personalize. “No one likes to be a home mixologist, not even mixologists,” he says. “It’s just too much work.\u201d Jeremy says that your liquor cabinet should be a reflection of your taste \u2014 quite simply, what you drink. When company comes over for a cocktail, let them try one of your<\/em> favorite drinks.<\/p>\n To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, we’ll use Jeremy’s liquor cabinet. He lives with his fianc\u00e9e and neither of them like vodka drinks, so why have vodka in the house? He divides his purchasing needs into whiskeys and clear spirits. He’ll have a whiskey on hand, a gin, and his fianc\u00e9e’s favorite tequila. He usually keeps a rye, especially during the winter months and substitutes that out for a more summery liquor when the temperature shifts. He makes his own bitters and likes to sink a drop of port into mixed drinks instead of vermouth. Let’s look at the cost:<\/p>\n Jeremy gets a cheap bottle of port for around $10 and makes his own bitters. Going from an empty cabinet to fully stocked costs Jeremy about $180.<\/em> He doesn’t consider the what-ifs or impromptu hellos essential considerations for his liquor purchases.<\/p>\n What about planned events<\/a>? Instead of putting out a couple of bottles of wine<\/a> and hoping that people bring more, what can you make for a small gathering without your guests drinking away your last paycheck?<\/p>\n Have them sip on one of the following:<\/p>\n With that, 10\u201415 people would be happily in drink for under $50. Have it be your cocktail of the night; let them supply the wine.<\/p>\n Rye Manhattan. <\/strong>Try it with a tawny port. This one is a winter favorite of Jeremy’s and has quickly found its way into my calmer Friday nights.<\/p>\n Garnish it with an orange twist, and warm yourself from the inside. After one of these, I can save money by turning the heat off.<\/p>\n Jeremy also recommends any good old-fashioned party drink. He says that not many people complain with a splash of rum in their punch or a decent, well-made sweet and sour mix for margaritas. You can get the store-bought stuff for cheap, but if you have any inclination, a little bit of time and just slightly more cash can yield a better drink. Here’s the punch I had a recent party (and consumed enough vitamin C to keep me scurvy-free for decades):<\/p>\n As Jeremy advises, remember to stock your liquor cabinet not for breadth of options but for individuality. Try not to fall victim to the thought that you need to please all tastes and get over the marketing<\/a> that tries to make us think we need to buy the top shelf liquor to shake up a decent cocktail.<\/p>\n What are some of your favorite party drinks either from hosting or attending? How do you economize when it comes to entertaining? It’s Friday night. A few friends and I are debating whether or not to go to the college bars down the street to get a drink when my friend Steve chimes in that his apartment is just up the way, and says, with his chest slightly puffed, \u201cI have a fully stocked liquor cabinet \u2014 something for everyone.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n Steve obviously likes to keep his apartment ready for impromptu entertaining. There’s ample seating, surround sound, and yes, a bar separate from the kitchen that’s almost equal in size. Behind the bar he keeps bottles upon bottles of spirits, all lit from underneath. He puts on some Miles Davis and takes his spot behind the bar.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you having?\u201d he asks me.<\/p>\n<\/span>Economize and Personalize<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/span>French 79<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\n1\/3 Gin \u2014 I have a friend who swears by Gordon’s London Dry Gin, which you can pick up for around $12 a bottle.<\/li>\n\n
<\/span>Homemade Fruit Punch<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"