| Brand | Cost | Why We Chose It | Use to Make |
| Vodka | Stolichnaya | $18 for 750 ml | Forget the trends; if you want a solid vodka, this Russian mainstay is it. | Vodka "martini," Cosmopolitan, Moscow Mule |
| Bourbon | Maker's Mark | $22 for 750 ml | It's good enough to satisfy even insufferable whiskey snobs. | Manhattan, mint julep, old-fashioned; or sip alone |
| Rum | Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4-Year-Old | $15 for 750 m | Flor de Caña's 7-year-old Grand Reserve is a favorite, but this younger light rum mixes well, too. | Mojito, piña colada, Cuba Libre, daiquiri |
| Tequila | Sauza Hornitos | $30 for 750 ml | This lightly aged, or reposado, tequila is made from 100 percent blue agave, unlike many in its price range. | Margarita, tequila sunrise; or serve with limes and salt |
| Gin | Tanqueray | $16 for 750 ml | Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg did not steer you wrong; this balanced gin is the nation's most popular for good reason. | Martini, Negroni, Tom Collins, French 75 |
| Brandy | Laird's Applejack | $15 for 750 ml | Rather than blow the budget on a fine cognac or Armagnac, substitute this classic blend of apple brandy and neutral spirits. | Applecar, Jack Rose |
| Cost | Why We Chose It | Use to Make |
| Benedictine | $17 for 375 ml | One of the world's oldest liqueurs, dating to 1510, it has a mysteriously earthy and honeyed flavor. | Antibes, Queen Elizabeth (1½ ounces dry vermouth, ¾ ounce Benedictine, ¾ ounce lime juice); or sip as a digestif |
| Martini & Rossi Rosso | $7 for 750 ml | This Italian import is the gold standard for red sweet vermouths. | Manhattan, Negroni; or drink by itself on the rocks with a twist |
| Angostura Bitters | $6 for 4 oz | This mix of herbs and spices from Trinidad pulls together the flavors in other spirits. Never substitute. | Manhattan, dozens of other cocktails |
| Regan's Orange Bitters | $3 for 10 oz | Another great option, it's often called for in 19th- and early 20th-century cocktail books. | Champagne cocktail, Fifty-Fifty; or add a dash or two to a glass of vermouth on the rocks |
| Cointreau | $30 for 750 ml | It's far superior to triple sec, with a smooth, natural orange taste. | Margarita, Cosmopolitan, sidecar, hundreds of others |
| Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth | $8 for 750 ml | This French dry vermouth is the other piece of the essential pair of home-bar mixers. | Martini, Fifty-Fifty |
| Cost | Why We Chose It | Use to Make |
| Lillet Blanc | $14 for 750 ml | Its mix of white wine, citrus and botanicals evokes a summertime cafe table in Paris. | Odd McIntosh, James Bond's Vesper martini; or drink on the rocks |
| Pernod | $21 for 750 ml | Developed as a substitute for absinthe when the French banned it in 1915, Pernod adds a striking anise-flavored complexity to cocktails. | Monkey Gland; or mix with fresh grapefruit juice; or serve with water, a sugar cube and a few dashes of Angostura bitters |
| Campari | $22 for 750 ml | The famous, versatile Italian aperitif has a bitter, semisweet flavor and a bright red hue perfect for summer. | Negroni, Milano-Torino (equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth); or drink on the rocks with club soda |
| Gosling's Black Seal | $17 for 750 ml | This is the classic dark rum from Bermuda. | Dark & Stormy, planter's punch |
| Martini & Rossi Bianco | $7 for 750 ml | The third, and too often ignored, style of vermouth available in the United States, with exquisite scents of thyme and oregano and flavors of cloves and vanilla. | Manhattan Bianco; or drink on the rocks with a lemon twist |
For a fully stocked summer home bar, always have these on hand:
- Lots of ice
- Fresh limes, lemons, grapefruits, oranges
- Sparkling wine, such as a prosecco or spumante
- Club soda
- Tonic water
- Grenadine
- Cranberry juice
- Pineapple juice
- Ginger beer
- Simple syrup
- Olives
- Maraschino cherries
NOTE: Prices are approximate, based on MacArthur Beverages, Calvert Woodley, Total Wine & More and Ace Beverage; REPORTED BY: Jason Wilson - The Washington Post; PHOTOS: Julia Ewan - The Washington Post, Spirts courtesy of Ace Beverage and MacArthur Beverages
© 2007 The Washington Post Company
