Sure, there were some terrific beverage discoveries this year - and we'll get to those in another post - but there was a recurring theme for me this year that's worth sharing, even if it is a cliche: drink what you like.
Thanks to a desire for constant exploration and a marketplace eager to promote the next "it" thing, I'm a sucker for trying just about anything. This is especially true when I read something flattering about a spirit written by someone respectable. More often than not, however, I learn that these pursuits end up being detours and distractions from well-trodden reliables.So, here we pay homage to those dependable drinks that might not get a lot of press, but that just plain deliver. This might also serve as an easy guide to stocking your bar for the new year ahead.
Vodka: For mixed drinks and shaken martinis, Smirnoff No. 21. Your likely as surprised as I, but at $12, you can't beat the clean, straightforward character. For a step up if taken neat or on the rocks, Buffalo Trace's Wheatley Craft Vodka is exceptional and just $18.
Gin: There simply is no substitute for Watershed Four Peel Gin ($30) with its distinctive, fantastic botanical formula, and it's worth every penny. Can't find it in your market? Then you certainly can put your hands on Tanqueray No. TEN at around the same price. And while not as singular as Watershed, it is a high quality juniper-driven example made extremely well.
Tequila: For mixed drinks, Mexico's best-selling El Jimador Resposado is darn good for $24. For sipping neat, look no further than Tres Generaciones AƱejo ($53), which has become more expensive in recent years, but still worth the price tag, and is blessedly not a sugary creamscicle.
Bourbon: Thanks to fanatical demand for Buffalo Trace's bottlings, finding Weller Special Reserve ($25) can be a challenge sometimes, which is why I grab a bottle of this wheated bourbon whenever I see it, needed or not. This is not an otherworldly experience, but a solid drink that never disappoints. Can't seem to put your hands on any? Try another solid wheated: Larceny Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($30.)
Rye: Don't have any rye on your bar cart? Time to change that. Like other bottles from this distillery, Sazerac ($30) can be scarce at times, but less so than the bourbons, as rye is an often overlooked segment. Rittenhouse ($28) is a decent second choice.
- The versatility, availability, and flat-out enjoyable quality of Nonino Amaro ($46) all combine to make this an essential ingredient in your cocktails.
- Vermouth is having a bit of a rennaisance, and there are so many cool, different kinds to explore, but a widely-available staple worth having on hand is Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth ($20/half bottle.) Under no circumstances should you be making cocktails with grocery store vermouth s like Gallo or Martini and Rossi - blech!