Bartending For Dummies
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A basic bar setup for a limited budget
One 750 ml bottle of gin | One 750 ml bottle of whiskey (bourbon, rye, Irish, or Canadian) |
One 750 ml bottle of light or dark rum | One 750 ml bottle of blended scotch |
One 750 ml bottle of blanco tequila | One 750 ml bottle of white domestic wine |
One 750 ml bottle of vodka | One 750 ml bottle of red domestic wine |
One 750 ml bottle of brandy or cognac | Twelve 12-oz. bottles of beer (domestic or imported) and 12 cans of hard seltzer |
Three 750 ml bottles of the liqueurs and cordials of your choice (suggestions include Irish cream or coffee liqueur, an orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier, a sweet or dry vermouth, amaretto, Chambord, Frangelico, and St-Germain) | One 750 ml bottle of nonalcoholic spirit or twelve 12-oz. bottles of nonalcoholic beer |
Supplies for any contingency
Cola or diet cola | Lime juice |
Cranberry juice | No-alcohol spirit Orange juice |
Energy drinks Ginger ale | Pineapple juice Pomegranate juice |
Grapefruit juice | Seltzer water or club soda |
Grenadine | Tomato juice |
Ginger Beer | Tonic water |
Lemon-lime soda | |
Lemon juice | |
Aromatic bitters Lemon and orange twists | Salt and pepper |
Lime and lemon wedges | Simple syrup or superfine sugar |
Maraschino cherries | Tabasco sauce |
Olives | Worcestershire sauce |
Orange slices |
One cocktail shaker | One Hawthorne strainer |
One mixing glass | One Julep strainer |
One bar spoon | One jigger |
One corkscrew | One handled citrus juicer |
Six 16 oz. pint glasses | Six 12 oz. Collins glasses |
Four rocks glasses | Four white wine glasses |
Four coupe glasses | Four red wine glasses |
Six shot glasses | Four Champagne flutes |
Classic cocktail recipes that are great for all occasions
Bloody Mary
This cocktail is probably the most famous of the “hair of the dog” morning-after concoctions. Ingredients:- 2 oz. vodka
- 4 oz. tomato juice
- Dash Worcestershire sauce
- Dash Tabasco sauce
- Dash salt and pepper
- Dash lemon juice
- Celery stalk for garnish
Cosmopolitan
The most popular drink of the new millennium. Ingredients:- 2 oz. citron vodka
- ¾ oz. Cointreau
- ¾ oz. lime juice
- ½ oz. cranberry juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Daiquiri
While this drink is often thought of frozen, the classic shaken version is delicious and offers a lot of fun variations. Ingredients:- 2 oz. light rum
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- Lime twist for garnish
Espresso Martini
This modern classic is one of the most popular cocktails and has a lot of dessert-like variations. Ingredients:- 2 oz. vodka
- 1/2 oz. coffee liqueur
- 1 oz. espresso
- 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- Coffee beans for garnish
Manhattan
A popular classic cocktail that was created at the Manhattan club in New York City. Ingredients:- 2 oz. rye whiskey
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Cherry for garnish
Margarita
A great drink for a hot summer day. Ingredients:- 1 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 oz. sweet and sour mix or lime juice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Martini
A simple and elegant classic. Ingredients:- 2 oz. gin
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive for garnish
Mojito
This classic muddled cocktail is a great summer sip! Ingredients:- 2 oz. rum
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- 1/2 lime to make 3/4 oz. lime juice
- 8–10 mint leaves
- 1/4 oz. club soda
- Lime wedge and fresh mint for garnish
Negroni
This classic cocktail is from Italy. It has been said that it was originally a stronger riff on the Americano, which replaces the soda water with gin. Ingredients:- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- Orange peel for garnish
Old Fashioned
You will have a warm summer glow after this one! Ingredients:- 2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1/4 oz. simple syrup
- 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel or maraschino cherry for garnish
White Russian
If you’re watching calories, you can use whole milk or half-and-half rather than cream. Skim and 2 percent milk produce unsatisfactory results. The Dude in The Big Lebowski settled for nondairy creamer powder in one scene; that option is for emergencies only.
Ingredients:- 1-1/2 oz. vodka
- 1/2 oz. Kahlúa
- 1/2 oz. cream