The ESSENTIAL Spirits | 15 bottles to build your bar!

Knowing all the essential bottles to build your bar can be overwhelming. In this video, I'll share with you my top go-to's for mixing behind the bar. These are the spirits I use most along with my personal recommendations and alternative options, but if you have a favorite brand or bottle, you should go with that. When building up your backbar, remember there's no need to purchase everything at once. Think of the cocktails you want to be mixing first, and start with just the bottles needed to make those. One by one, your collection will grow!

Grab the bottles I use here! 👉 https://bit.ly/AndersBottleCollection

Patreon:   / anderserickson  

TIME STAMPS
0. Intro 0:00
1. RYE WHISKEY 0:27
My choice: Rittenhouse 100 proof
Lower proof alternative: Old Overholt
2. BOURBON 1:14
My choice: Buffalo Trace
Cheaper alternative: Evan Williams black label
3. SCOTCH 2:02
My choice: Monkey Shoulder
Smokier single malt alternative: Laphroaig 10 year
4. GIN 2:51
My choice: Plymouth
London dry alternative: Broker's
5. LIGHT RUM 3:49
My choice: El Dorado 3 year
Cheaper alternative: Don Q gold
6. DARK RUM 3:49
My choice: Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black
Less assertive alternative: Appleton Estate V/X
7. BRANDY 5:01
My choice: Maison Rouge V.S.O.P.
Lighter, cheaper alternative (for a Wisconsin old fashioned): Korbel
8. TEQUILA/MEZCAL 5:50
My choice for tequila: Siete Leguas Blanco
Mezcal alternative: Vida de San Luis del Rio
9. VODKA 6:56
My choice: Rider vodka from Union Horse Distilling Co.
Traditional alternative: Russian Standard
10. SWEET VERMOUTH 7:53
My choice: Cochi Vermouth di Torino
Adventurous alternative: an amontillado sherry by Alvear or Lustau
11. DRY VERMOUTH 7:53
My choice: Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry
Adventurous alternative: Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano
12. ORANGE LIQUEUR 9:00
My choice: Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
Drier alternative: Luxardo Triplum Triple Sec
Sweeter alternative: Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao
13. APÉRITIF/DIGESTIF 10:09
My choice: Campari
Sweeter alternative: Aperol
14. ABSINTHE/PASTIS 10:59
My choice: La Clandestine
Pastis alternative: Ricard or Pernod
15. BITTERS 12:10
My choice: Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Orange bitters alternative: Regan's Orange Bitters no. 6
New Orleans alternative: Peychaud's Bitters
HONORABLE MENTIONS 13:11
Green Chartreuse
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

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Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨