Which spirits to keep at home

Which spirits to keep at home

Six spirits already unlock most of what's on Kooler. Start there and build up from it.

Start with these six

  • Vodka

    the most neutral of the six, which is exactly why it's the most versatile; use whatever's handy, no one's judging

  • Gin

    London dry is the default style for most brands; gets you a Negroni, a Martini, a Gin & Tonic

  • White rum

    base of the Daiquiri, the Mojito, and most tropical drinks

  • Tequila

    blanco (unaged) is the starting point; Margarita, Paloma, and a foothold into Mexican-inspired recipes

  • Bourbon whiskey

    Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, and drinks fine on its own too; rye is its spicier cousin

  • Cachaça

    the Caipirinha and the whole Brazilian catalog depend on it

To branch out

  • Dry vermouth and sweet vermouth

    Martini and Manhattan, and open the door to other fortified-wine classics; refrigerate after opening, it goes off like wine

  • Triple sec or Cointreau

    orange liqueur, goes into Margarita and Cosmopolitan

  • Angostura bitters

    a few dashes change an entire drink, and a bottle lasts for years

  • Sugar syrup

    takes five minutes to make at home

When you want to go further

Amaro, mezcal, cognac, and niche liqueurs open up a whole new range of recipes. Add them one at a time, as a specific recipe calls for them. Each amaro has its own distinct profile, so swapping one for another really does change the drink, it's worth getting to know them one by one.