Fashioned

Stocking a home bar can be daunting, especially when you're faced with rows of gleaming bottles at the liquor store. But you don’t need a sprawling collection to make world-class cocktails at home—just a thoughtful selection of essential spirits and modifiers. With the twelve bottles below, you’ll have the foundation to mix an impressive range of drinks from classics to your own original creations. These are the bottles we recommend as the foundation for a versatile and well-balanced home setup.

1. London Dry Gin

Bright, aromatic, and complex, gin is essential for a range of classics including the Martini, Negroni, and Gimlet. Its botanical profile brings structure and freshness to any drink.

2. White Rum

A light and mild white rum is your go-to for citrus-driven cocktails like the Daiquiri and Mojito. It’s also a key building block for tropical drinks.

3. Blanco Tequila

With its vivid agave flavor and peppery finish, blanco tequila is a must for cocktails like the Margarita and Paloma. It pairs well with citrus, spice, and herbal modifiers.

4. Bourbon

Sweet, round, and full-bodied, bourbon forms the heart of countless classics, including the Old-Fashioned to the Boulevardier. Its richness makes it an excellent base for both stirred and shaken drinks.

5. Blended Scotch

A mellow introduction to the whisky world, blended Scotch adds subtle smoke and malt character to drinks like the Rob Roy or a Scotch Highball.

6. Apple Brandy

Fruit-forward and warming, apple brandy shines in fall and winter cocktails like the Jack Rose or as a unique substitute for whiskey in classic builds.

7. Grape Brandy

An aged grape brandy, such as cognac, offers depth and a slightly floral character. It’s a staple in Prohibition-era drinks like the Sidecar and provides elegance to stirred cocktails.

8. Aperitivi

These bittersweet liqueurs brighten and sharpen drinks like the Negroni, Americano, and Spritz. They’re indispensable for low-proof or pre-dinner cocktails.

9. Amari

Dark, bitter, and complex, amari bring herbal depth and richness to cocktails. Use them in a Black Manhattan, Paper Plane, or as a substitute for sweet vermouth. 

10. Curaçao

A versatile orange liqueur that balances citrusy brightness with subtle bitterness. It’s essential for the Margarita, Mai Tai, and numerous vintage recipes.

11. Sweet Vermouth

A fortified, aromatized wine that lends spice and subtle sweetness to drinks like the Manhattan, Negroni, and Martinez.

12. Dry Vermouth

Lighter and drier than its sweet counterpart, dry vermouth is the co-star of the Martini and a common addition to aperitif-style cocktails.


Other Home Bar Staples

Beyond booze, it’s helpful to have the following ingredients on hand, which will open the door to nearly limitless impromptu imbibing. 

• Bitters: Angostura, Peychaud’s, orange

• Sweeteners: simple syrup, Demerara syrup, honey

• Bubbles: seltzer, dry sparkling wine
Fresh citrus: lime, lemon, grapefruit, orange

• Kitchen staples: eggs, heavy cream, whole spices

With these bottles, your home bar becomes a creative lab. You can build cocktails across all major families—sours, stirred drinks, highballs, and beyond. Plus, with a bit of experimentation, you’ll start to discover your own preferences and perfect your personal style of drinking.