Angostura Bitters are one of the most popular bitters, an essential ingredient in many classic cocktails such as an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. The old cocktail recipes usually called for 4 elements, a spirit, a sweet, a bitter, and water. It adds a very unique flavor to your cocktails, and really helps balance out any drink that uses simple syrup. For your liquor cabinet, your proposed additions are definitely in the right wheelhouse; you need a white rum, a bourbon and a gin. I'm a Bombay Sapphire loyalist for the gin, and if you're looking to get something a bit more exotic, I'd recommend Koloa Kaua'i white rum; this is a rum made from local sugarcane in one of the Hawaiian islands, it's extremely mild, and pairs really well with fruit juices. The bottle is also pretty cool looking, with a map of the islands on the seal. http://www.melandrose.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=91592 As a Bourbon fanatic, I personally don't like anything about Maker's Mark except the bottle. I think it's horribly overpriced and lacks a good finish. I think that if you're looking for a wheated bourbon you can't beat Buffalo Trace for the quality and the price, if you want to go a level up, Eagle Rare has a neat bottle and is slightly smoother. Knob Creek and Wild Turkey will probably a bit better for mixing since they're less sweet, and can be balanced out more easily. I'd definitely recommend a bottle of Vermouth for your fridge for martinis, and a bottle of grenadine for flavoring and color, when simple syrup just isn't enough. If you're having ladies over, or people who don't like to drink, I'd recommend getting a bottle of Firefly, sweet tea vodka is almost always a winner for people who don't like to taste any alcohol in their drinks. I like to mix it with a bit of Wild Turkey American Honey as someone stated before, with a little splash of lemon juice and some rocks it's like the best Arnold Palmer you've ever had, except it's in the neighborhood of 30% abv. A few of these during the spring and you'll be feeling VERY good. http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=29531 Good luck! I definitely envy anyone who is building up a liquor cabinet.
stock with fresh limes, lemons and at least an orange or two when planning events... mixers don't taste as good as the real thing.... also yes to the private stock rum... and the scotch... maybe get a cheap whiskey for people not worthy like a good bottle of jameson...
Throw out the Grey Goose and replace with Shustoff (they sell it at Spec's). Hendrick's Gin is a must. For Tequila my favorite brand is Herradura.
The Maker's Mark would satisfy those interested in Jack Daniels (which would the cheaper option) and Knob Creek (my favorite, a bit cheaper than Maker's Mark, btw).
In addition to the other mixers mentioned I make flavored simple syrups, I keep pineapple juice (or pieces of fresh pineapple to juice and to use for garnishes) and coco loco on hand for emergency Pina Coladas and I like to stock Ruby Red Grapefruit, kumquats, lychees, olives, honey, etc. However, I think cocktail parties work out best when you have a small selection of cocktails in mind, one or two nice sweet cocktails and one or two others. That way you can make a syrup or two that is particular to the drink such as a strong ginger syrup for diablos or prep nice garnishes and really know the drinks you are going to prepare. Our friend has a great blog about this: http://stayathomecocktails.blogspot.com
Wow. Those would never last long in my house. My son loves fruits and those would be gone long before any parties. Hehe. But it sure sounds like I would love to come to your house for a drink.
Skip the Bombay Sapphire Gin. As others have mentioned, go with Hendrick's and also pick up Junipero. Those are both far superior to Bombay. I alternate between the two.
