Stocking your bar
Choosing the spirits, liqueurs, mixers, vermouth, and bitters to adorn your back bar can be a daunting exercise; you’ve got the tools to make great drinks, now you need the ingredients. Here are some of drinks you can start to collect and use behind your home bar, organised by category. We’ve highlighted the products that have made this project possible and have supported the bartenders through the lockdown year. All quality products.
Brandy + Cognac
Brandy is the English translation of ‘brandewijn’ – the Dutch word for burnt wine, referring to the grape based distillation before aging. Cognac is specifically from the Cognac region on France and adheres to the national laws controlling production, much as Champagne is to sparkling wine. Brandy is a must-have behind the bar as it forms the base of many famous cocktails: the Sidecar for example. Calvados is similar in style but comes from apples rather than grapes, giving it a unique flavour.
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Monnet VSOP cognac
Rich, mellow and balanced, with deep notes of fruits, honey, nougat and a very long smooth finish.
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St-Rémy Signature Brandy
Subtle and round palate. Virgin woody notes are enriched with honey, nut and butter flavours. Fruity aromas start fresh and then become candied. Sweet spices bring strong roundness and balance.
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Hennessy Cognac
Hennessy Very Special (V.S) is one of the most popular cognacs in the world. Matured in new oak barrels, Hennessy V.S is bold and fragrant. Its beguiling character is uniquely Hennessy, a timeless choice with an intensity all its own.
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Eau de Vie
“Eau De Vie” (known as “water of life” in France) dates back centuries. France is revered as its birthplace, but Eau De Vie also stems from Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. It’s the base spirit that comes from the process of distilling grapes to create alcohol, similar to the first stages of brandy and/or cocgnac. Known for its velvety mouthfeel and exceptional blending qualities.
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Feels Botanical
Feels are the newest and spirited kids to hit the space. This eau de vie drinks like a good tequila – only much smoother and made from grapes. Less filtration for a natural, cloudy outlook.
Gin
Gin seems like a simple spirit at its most basic, taking its flavour from juniper berries. There are several ways to produce the spirit, several ways to use the spirit, and several origins of the spirit. However, as simple as it may seem, it is one of the most complex spirits you can buy and is used in a lot of classic based cocktails.
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The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Rich and mellow, cool on entry then warming across the palate, stimulating the taste buds with a round mouthfeel and citrus freshness. The balance and complexity are distinctive. Sweet and earthy notes combine with the delicate floral and herbal notes of the Islay 22.
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Fords Gin
The gin, a mix of 9 botanicals, starts with a traditional base of juniper and coriander seed and is balanced by citrus (bitter orange, lemon & grapefruit peel), florals (jasmine flower & orris) and spices (angelica & cassia).
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Roku Gin
Roku Gin is a journey through the four seasons with six unique Japanese botanicals. Sakura Flower, Sakura Leaf, Yuzu Peel, Sencha Tea (Green Tea), Gyokuro Tea (Refined Green Tea), and Sansho Pepper. Each harvested at their peak of season to extract the best flavour to fully embody The Blessings of Nature.
Liqueur
The magical category of the drinks cabinet, with secret recipes dating back centuries to monks and herbal medicines. Blends of oils, extracts, creams, fruits and herbs: liqueurs are usually lower in alcohol but full of flavour.
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De Kuyper Liqueur
Our Essentials are must-haves for authentic cocktail making. We think these are bar basics — bottles any bar should have. Make classic cocktails with Marasquin, Amaretto and Triple Sec. Oh, and be sure to you get your hands on a bottle of Blue Curaçao. These bottles are called Essentials for a reason.
Rum
At the end of the 15th century, sugar cane made its way to the Caribbean – the world’s prime rum-producing region. Widely planted around the European travels, sugar cane flourished best in the warm climes of the Caribbean. Mill workers discovered that when mixed with water and left in the sun, cane-extracted molasses would ferment. And the rest is history…as they say.
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Diplomatico Rum
A refined and elegant blend of exclusive rum reserves masterfully crafted. It boast aromas of orange peel, toffee and licorice, giving this refined rum a signature smooth taste.
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Nusa Cana Rum
Nusa Cana Tropical Island rum is a versatile blended rum with an Indonesian heart. Distilled on Java, the original home of Indonesian rum, the heart of Nusa Cana is a rich and vibrant sugarcane spirit that stays true to the traditions of Indonesian rum.
Non-Alcoholic
The growing trend towards non-alcoholic options in bars caters to both the temperance movement and a general shift towards health and wellness. Offering a selection of non-alcoholic beverages is now essential for any establishment. These options allow everyone, regardless of their drinking preferences, to enjoy a well-crafted, sophisticated drink experience.
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ALTD Spirits
Introducing ALTD Spirits, Sydney's pioneering and globally acclaimed alcohol-free spirits brand. We carefully and ethically obtain Australian native botanicals, which are then expertly distilled and crafted to produce all-natural spirit alternatives. Our creations are alcohol-free, sugar-free, calorie-free, and vegan-friendly, embodying the essence of wildcrafted Australian spirits.
Tequila + Mezcal
The hottest of spirits right now with a resurgence in popularity of drinks such as the margarita. Lockdown saw ‘walking margaritas’ secreted in sport drinks bottles and a new appreciation of the different styles of Tequila that contribute to the cocktail experience. Well made, not overly extracted, Tequila can be appreciated like a fine whisky.
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Espolòn Tequila
Prepare your senses for the aroma of sweet agave, tropical fruit and lemon zest. Now add a hint of pepper to discover a soft, light-to-medium bodied palate.
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Lost Explorer Mezcal
The most herbaceous expression of all, offering a sweet and spicy profile with hints of green chili, grapefruit and fresh agave.
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Mijenta Tequila
Aromatic, elegant and complex, with unfolding notes of cantaloupe, honey and cinnamon. An outstanding, generous and round finish.
Whisk(e)y + Bourbon
The hero of so many well-known cocktails, it’s important to know your Bourbon’s from your Rye and your Scotch from your Irish. The flavour profile and mouthfeel, spice and wood finish all contribute to the overall drink and in the end, contribute a lot more to the character of our cocktail than you may think. Consider if the whisky is blended and the base grain to determine the flavour profile fit for your cocktail.
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Four Roses Bourbon
For a new or casual bourbon drinker who wants an elevated yet everyday whiskey, Four Roses Bourbon is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that can easily open you up to the world of bourbon.
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Michters
This American rye is made with select American rye, and flavours of spice with peppery notes, citrus, butterscotch and oak. At 42.4% each bottle comes from a single barrel and is excellent for cocktails.
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Maker's Mark
Maker's Mark is a unique and full-flavoured, hand-made bourbon, made using the old-style sour-mash method and sealed with the iconic red wax.
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Basil Hayden Bourbon
Charred oak flavour that is complemented with sweet brown sugar, a touch of black pepper, and dried fruit to round it out.
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The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey
The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey is our answer to a bold and rich American style whiskey, made in Australia using single-sourced grain and aged in Melbourne’s dynamic climate to produce a uniquely local rye whiskey that’s distinct and honest for all occasions.
Bar Ware
A poor worker blames their tools but a great bartender is prepared - with the right tools for the job. Key tools like shakers, jiggers, strainers and bar spoons can elevate drink mixing into an art form, blending precision and flair into every cocktail.
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Bar Geek
BG Barware offers premium barware products that are designed with the expertise of professional bartenders. Our products are made from high-quality materials and are built to last. Each item is crafted with attention to detail and designed to make bartending easier and more efficient. This is why barGEEK is the bartenders choice!
Bitters
A potent infusion of herbs, fruit and spices, steeped in alcohol, this infusion is critical in mixology imparting a distinctive flavour to some of the world’s most popular cocktails. With just a few dashes, bitters bring complexity and balance, elevating drinks like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned from ordinary to exceptional. Their role in cocktail crafting is both an art and a science, embodying the subtlety and power of well-chosen ingredients.
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Campari Bitters
An unmistakable, vibrantly red Italian bitter, Campari’s iconicity could only be born of true Red Passion. It is a contemporary classic, lying at the heart of some of the world’s most famous and well-loved cocktails, stimulating the senses through a captivating visual and flavor experience.
Vermouth
This aromatized fortified wine, is essential in the cocktail world for its unique blend of botanicals and offers a distinctive flavor profile. It comes in both sweet and dry varieties, lending its complex character to classics like the Martini and Negroni. Equally enjoyable on its own, often over ice with a citrus twist, vermouth adds depth and nuance to cocktails, making it a staple for both mixologists and enthusiasts.
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Regal Rogue
Regal Rogue Bold Red is one of the world’s first dry Red vermouths, led by aromatic spice and rich dried fruit. Marrying a deep, rich naturally spiced Organic Shiraz with Orange, NSW, Organic un-wooded Chardonnay and native pepper berry, wattle seed and native thyme followed by cinnamon, clove, star anise, nutmeg, ginger, bitter orange, dried fig and dried cherry.
Vodka
This clear, distilled spirit is traditionally made from Poland, Russia and Sweden - from cereal grains or potato, however some brands are using grapes, corn, fruits honey and maple sap as the base. The water source is prized when creating the world’s best vodkas and the purity is often traced back to a combination of the distillation methods and the source of the water.
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Haku Vodka
Made with 100% Japanese white rice, the name Haku® means “white” in Japanese. The word can also be read as “brilliant” – a tribute to the craft of mastering a clear, clean tasting, and luminous vodka. Filtered through bamboo charcoal, Haku Vodka has an unparalleled soft, round, and subtly sweet taste.
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Pavlova Vodka
With a meringue base and summer fruit infusion, Pavlova is a fitting tribute to the classic dessert that’s as Australian as Phar Lap and Crowded House. Pavlova is sweet, but it’s a sophisticated sweetness. Try it with sparkling cranberry juice.
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Reyka Vodka
Reyka is made in Iceland's first vodka distillery. This handcrafted small batch vodka is filtered through ancient lava rocks and made from the purest Icelandic spring water. Beautifully textured and perfectly balanced with a long and clean finish.
Syrup
Syrups, from basic sugar and agave to rich Canadian Maple, are crucial in the art of cocktail balancing. Each brings its own flair: sugar syrup adds neutral sweetness, agave lends earthy notes to tequila drinks, and Canadian Maple Syrup introduces a luxurious, deep sweetness. The right syrup choice can transform a cocktail, finely tuning its sweetness and enhancing its overall flavor profile.
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Canadian Maple Syrup
Made solely from the sap of maple trees, pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener known for its wonderfully rich taste and versatile range of use. The product has become synonymous with Canada and Quebec in particular, the province that produces around 72% of the world’s supply of maple syrup. During spring, the sap from maple trees is collected and then boiled to form a thick, deliciously sweet syrup, ready for export all around the world. Unlike some other sweeteners and blended syrups with maple flavouring, no chemicals, preservatives or additives are used to produce pure maple syrup.