Knowing all the essential bottles to build your bar can be overwhelming. In this video, I'll share with you my top go-to's for mixing behind the bar. These are the spirits I use most along with my personal recommendations and alternative options, but if you have a favorite brand or bottle, you should go with that. When building up your backbar, remember there's no need to purchase everything at once. Think of the cocktails you want to be mixing first, and start with just the bottles needed to make those. One by one, your collection will grow!

Grab the bottles I use here! 👉 https://bit.ly/AndersBottleCollection

Patreon:   / anderserickson  

TIME STAMPS
0. Intro 0:00
1. RYE WHISKEY 0:27
- My choice: Rittenhouse 100 proof
- Lower proof alternative: Old Overholt
2. BOURBON 1:14
- My choice: Buffalo Trace
- Cheaper alternative: Evan Williams black label
3. SCOTCH 2:02
- My choice: Monkey Shoulder
- Smokier single malt alternative: Laphroaig 10 year
4. GIN 2:51
- My choice: Plymouth
- London dry alternative: Broker's
5. LIGHT RUM 3:49
- My choice: El Dorado 3 year
- Cheaper alternative: Don Q gold
6. DARK RUM 3:49
- My choice: Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black
- Less assertive alternative: Appleton Estate V/X
7. BRANDY 5:01
- My choice: Maison Rouge V.S.O.P.
- Lighter, cheaper alternative (for a Wisconsin old fashioned): Korbel
8. TEQUILA/MEZCAL 5:50
- My choice for tequila: Siete Lequas Blanco
- Mezcal alternative: Vida de San Luis del Rio
9. VODKA 6:56
- My choice: Rider vodka from Union Horse Distilling Co.
- Traditional alternative: Russian Standard
10. SWEET VERMOUTH 7:53
- My choice: Cochi Vermouth di Torino
- Adventurous alternative: an amontillado sherry by Alvear or Lustau
11. DRY VERMOUTH 7:53
- My choice: Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry
- Adventurous alternative: Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano
12. ORANGE LIQUEUR 9:00
- My choice: Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
- Drier alternative: Luxardo Triplum Triple Sec
- Sweeter alternative: Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao
13. APÉRITIF/DIGESTIF 10:09
- My choice: Campari
- Sweeter alternative: Aperol
14. ABSINTHE/PASTIS 10:59
- My choice: La Clandestine
- Pastis alternative: Ricard or Pernod
15. BITTERS 12:10
- My choice: Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- Orange bitters alternative: Regan's Orange Bitters no. 6
- New Orleans alternative: Peychaud's Bitters
HONORABLE MENTIONS 13:11
- Green Chartreuse
- Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

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Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨