Have You Ever Decluttered Your Bar?

Have you ever done a liquor cabinet purge?

Are you laughing right now? 😂

Jay and I originally come from the cocktail world and we had an enormous stockpile of spirits at one point. Like, too much. Never mind the “spring break favorites” like midori, peach schnapps and blue curaçao (oh the stink they made when I poured those down the sink!). There was a time when we tried infusing just about every spirit with some sort of fruit (some worked better than others). And how about all of the aged rums from when my brother worked for Bacardi?  They were fun back in the day but neither of us drink rum anymore (except on vacation).

Covid has gotten in the way of entertaining like I used to (I’m working on getting back to it) but here is my criteria for what stays and what goes:

• Our favorites! I don’t drink cocktails often anymore but when I do it’s a negroni. Jay loves margaritas, so blanco tequila is a must.  We both love vermouths and have a bunch of them (tip - keep them in the fridge once they are open to preserve their flavor).

• Cool/unique bottles like #stelizabethallspicedram and @fernetfrancisco.

• A few for the memories like the aged tequilas from our trip to Tequila.

• Party basics like vodka.  I’m on the fence about this one. We don’t like it and when we make cocktails for a party everyone seems open to what non-vodka drink we are serving. But I do happen to have a bottle around, so it stays. For now.

• Baileys. Period. Bailey’s and coffee is a Christmas tradition, spirit snobs be damned.

What are the must haves in your home bar?  Are there any that you would consider tossing or giving away?

P.S. If you are trying to get rid of some random bottles here are a few of my favorite recipes:

21st Century Cocktail

• 1 ½ ounces gin

• ½ ounce Lillet blanc

• ½ ounce creme de cacao

• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Shake and serve up

The Last Word

• ¾ ounce gin

• ¾ ounce green Chartreuse

• ¾ ounce maraschino liqueur

• ¾ ounce fresh lime

Shake and serve up

Negroni

• 1 ounce Campari

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• 1 ounce gin

Shake and serve up or on the rocks