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Jess' Home Bar Necessities

Tropical Drink emoji 57 items
During our time stuck at home during COVID, our bar has significantly grown. This is a list of all the things that make the drinks that make us happy right now!
Sections
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Base Spirits

The building blocks for any cocktail
 
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Our preferred Whiskey for mixed drinks
Maker's Mark
 
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The gin that we always keep on hand… does not taste like xmas trees!
Roku Japanese Gin | The House of Suntory
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Plantation 3 stars – White rum
 
Plantation 3 stars – White rum
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Our preferred spiced rum
Sailor Jerry 1.5L Spiced Rum
 
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Makes awesome drinks such as a Jack Rose! And local to NC!
Fair Game Apple Brandy
 
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Not available in USA. Picked up in Mexico Duty Free.
Aha Toro Reposado
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Great for mixing, our go-to margarita tequila.
Jose Cuervo Especial Silver

Whiskey for Sippin’

Whiskey is the most popular spirit to serve on the rocks - and these are our favorites.
 
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Daily sipper, and excellent in bourbon cocktails. Great price point, so I never feel bad about using this as a mixer either.
Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon
 
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Another NC local!
RUA | Great Wagon Road Distilling | Charlotte NC Whiskey
 
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon
 
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My special occasion drink
Christmas spices :D
Angel's Envy Rye Whiskey

Liqueurs

Also considered as "modifiers", these are sweetened spirits with specific flavors like herbs, nuts, and fruits.
 
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We use instead of Campari because it’s sweeter
Aperol
 
Elderflower Liqueur | Elderflower Liqueur ... - St~Germain
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Used in margaritas to give orange flavoring. Technically considered a triple sec.
Cointreau
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A raspberry liqeur.
Chambord
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Made in NC!
Edarhyne
 
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Used in Paper Plane and Aviation, and made from the pits of cherries. Tastes like almonds
Girolamo Luxardo

Ingredients

Syrups, bitters, sodas, and vermouth add complexity and balance sweetness in most drinks
 
Aromatic Bitters - Angostura
 
Orange Bitters - Angostura
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YUM
Amarena cherries
 
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Non alcoholic almond syrup, used in Mai Tais and tiki drinks
Giffard Orgeat Syrup
 
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SO much better that the rose's fake stuff
Real Grenadine
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We used it for a nice spin on an Old Fashioned
Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters 5oz
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Quady Vya Sweet Vermouth

Glassware

We ideally love to serve our cocktails in the glasses they are designed to go in. Did you know: The shape of the cocktail glass dictates how the glass is held in the hand, which affects the temperature of the drink?

 
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Rocks Glass: Old Fashioned, Negroni, Sazerac
Street Map Rocks Glass
 
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Highball Glass/Collins Glass:  Mojito, Paloma, Tom Collins
Strauss Cooler Glasses, Set of 12 + Reviews | Crate and Barrel
 
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Coupe Glass: Manhattan, Boulevardier, Gimlet
Libbey Perception Cocktail & Champagne Coupe Glass - 7.25 oz
 
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For tasting whiskey
Glencairn Whisky Glass Set of 4

Tools

These bar tools help make the process easier and fun, but aren't all necessary to make a great cocktail.

 
Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tin Set
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OXO SteeL Double Jigger: Measuring Jiggers
 
OXO Steel Cocktail Strainer
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OXO Steel Muddler, Non-Scratch Nylon Head, 9-Inch
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OXO SteeL Spinning Bar Spoon,Silver
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Zulay Metal 2-In-1 Lemon Lime Squeezer - Hand Juicer
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For smoked drinks
the Smoking Gun® Smoker • Breville
 
Vacu Vin Wine Saver with 2 Stoppers

Books

 
Alchemy in a Glass: Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails
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Wine. All the Time.: Casual Guide to Drinking
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Recipes

My go-tos - I usually have all ingredients to make any one of these at any given time
 
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Whiskey-based, spirit forward
Old fashioned
 
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Gin-based, light and refreshing for summer nights
Tom Collins
 
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Tequila-based
Margarita
 
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Gin-based, spirit forward, but we make ours sweet with Aperol instead of Campari
Negroni
 
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Rum-based, citrus shaken drink, one of the best ways to show off your rum.
Daiquiri
 
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Apple brandy-based, sweet and tart.
Jack Rose
 
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Rum-based tiki cocktail
Mai Tai
 
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Gin-based, shaken with lime
Gimlet
 
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Gin-based, a gimlet with soda water
Gin Rickey
 
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Whiskey-based
Manhattan
 
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Gin-based
Bee's Knees
 
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Whiskey-based
Whiskey sour
 
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Gin-based
French 75
 
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Whiskey-based, we use Montenegro instead of Nonino
Paper Plane
 
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Gin-based
Aviation