Spec me a cocktail making set

Flare

Flare

Flare

Soldato
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I've always enjoyed making drinks for me and other people but have never had the equipment to make 'impressive' and different drinks which I would really like to learn to do and now is the time for me to do so! :D The only problem is that I can't decide what kit to get?

I don't really have a budget as such I just want to see what people recommend. After having a quick look I see there are a lot for under £30 which i'm sure the majority of them are good but I would just like to hear what other people would recommend? Also, Boston or Manhattan (Cobbler) cocktail shaker?!

I like the look of this kit:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boston-Cock...77UW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1318256366&sr=8-4

I'm looking at this one because it comes with the highball glasses, a wooden muddler and a ice crusher and is cheap (but I know cheap is not always good).

What do y'all think?

Thanks,

Flare
 
Do you need the glasses?

It would be good to get a strainer in with the set.

Other than that I think you have everything. Shaker, muddler, spoon are about it
 
Awesome, thanks a lot for the help :D
I think i'll go with that set because it seems great value, on top of that i'll get that bar knife, Hawthorne strainer and some pourers.

When I get it and make some decent drinks I will get posting! :D

Oh and I will check out your blog now :)
 
Just to add to this request. What are some home bar cocktail essentials?

I like the idea of being able to make a nice cocktail for the future wife when she fancies it. However obviously some cocktails require things like Cranberry juice which go off after a couple weeks. Often leaving waste.
I made her a G&T the other day with some dried cranberries and a couple glace cherries which she thought was really nice and with these things keeping for a long time it works well.

I have a selection of Vodka, Tequila, Whisky, Rum, Gin and Brandy but what other ingredients should be a staple part? Baileys? Amaretto? Curacao?
I know it'll depend on the cocktail in question but are there any versatile must haves?
 
I'd say that Cointreau, Vermouth, Kahula and Grand Marnier are essential. I'm really considering in investing in a bunch of these things, but ultimately I'd just drink them really quickly and not be able to afford to keep my bar stocked up.
 
Marvt74 said:
Just to add to this request. What are some home bar cocktail essentials?
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A shaker, bar spoon, measures, muddler, waiters friend, peeler, tooth picks, mexican elbow squeezer (google it) and julep and hawthorne strainers. A cloth and knife but these are a given most anywhere. Perhaps a microplane grater.

Rocks, high ball and cocktail glasses (coupe or martini is your choice). Beer, wine and champagne glasses dependent on preference.

Ice, good ice. Large cubes are the best, they can be cracked down if required and are an essential in my book.

Simple/gomme syrup, lemons, limes, oranges, cherries, eggs, soda + tonic water, cola, orange juice, grenadine, lime cordial (who doesn't love a gimlet!), perhaps cranberry. *edit* Gah, how could I forget olives and silver skin onions (for a martini and gibson respectively).

http://12bottlebar.com/bottles/ is a good starter list (read their reasoning about what did and didn't make the cut), I personally would add a bottle of cachaça as I like a caipirinha, campari for a negroni, perhaps a couple of bottles of single malt and a añejo tequila for having neat.

People will argue about the need for vodka, kahula (really? a bar essential? ...help me) and a whole host of other bottle but keep it simple stupid, 12 bottle bar is great and shows a huge range of drinks with a simple list plus mixers.
 
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Most of it has been covered by the above really but having a few other bits around could help:

Bitters (come in a few flavours!)
Chambord (raspberry liqueur, cheaper almost alternatives can be had!)
Creme de Cassis
Pernod
Tabasco

Most of these quite often get used in small amounts to add colour or a touch of flavour and can be very handy to have. Also if you don't want to use a lime or lemon you can always cheat and have the bottled stuff on hand ;)

Also as far as I'm concerned the more bottles the better :)
 
xarr said:
People will argue about the need for vodka, kahula (really? a bar essential? ...help me) and a whole host of other bottle but keep it simple stupid, 12 bottle bar is great and shows a huge range of drinks with a simple list plus mixers.
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Vodka is always required, I can't think why you wouldn't have vodka.

I see your point about Kahula. It depends what you and your guests like I suppose. I know that if I could serve white/black Russians then they'd always go down well. I also like to serve Baby Guinness's (Guinni?). I consider Kahula an important (but not vital, hence why I don't have any (and indeed rarely do - though I'm not a big cocktail fan, I always have Martini ingredients in but that's about it)) part of a cocktail bar though.

I agree with Psymonkee, more bottles the better.
 
Oh if your struggling with fruit juices going off try buying the kid sized 200ml cartons - usually enough for a couple of drinks our even something to sober you up after the fact! :)
 
xarr said:
SNIP I personally would add a bottle of cachaça as I like a caipirinha
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Absolutely awesome list xarr! I will definitely invest in a 12 bottle bar with a few extra bottles, which will include Cachaça! Have you heard of the restaurant called Las Iguanas? They are a South America restaurant who have their own cachaça distillery just outside Rio, they serve a silver and gold label cachaça but also sell the full bottle so you can take home. I am pretty sure a 1 liter bottle of the sliver is a little over £20 and and a 1 liter of the gold is not much more, it is great tasting and insanely good value!
 
That sounds good Flare, i got hooked on Caipirinhas when i was in Rio for a couple of months and definately plan to add a bottle of Cachaca. I was just going to buy some Sagatabia (sp)

I remember it being absolutely foul as a shot though. Although i drink a lot more neat rum these days so not sure how i might find it
 
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