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The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- Now that your “local” is your living room and barhopping constitutes carrying a drink from the kitchen to the couch, the best place to look for a good martini is in the mirror. It’s a great time to perfect your bartending skills, and America is thirsty—spirits sales were up 63% year over year for the week ended March 22, according to data from Information Resources Inc.

We asked acclaimed mixologist Jim Meehan to help find your favorite version of beloved classic cocktails. Below, he recommends three terrific brands to try as the base liquor in each drink. You’ll find the top whiskeys for a Manhattan, the best rum for a daiquiri, and even an upgrade for your go-to vodka-soda highball. The goal? Drill down on nuances of flavor and identify your taste preferences. After all, you’re the bartender now.

Alternatively: If you just want to stock up on top-shelf basics, buy the bottles pictured. They’re Meehan’s top picks.

HIGHBALL

Explore: Vodka

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Absolut Elyx showcases the bready character of winter wheat, producing a rich, round taste. Belvedere’s two Single Estate Rye vodkas lend savory, peppery flavors to the mix. Poland’s Zubrowka Bison Grass has a surprisingly sweet taste thanks to its grass base.

You’ll also need … Sparkling mineral water (regular club soda masks vodka’s flavor), lime wedge.

Want a stiffer drink? These all make lovely martinis, too.

MARTINI

Explore: Gin

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Expect a bracing finish with Fords gin, a superb, juniper-forward version of a London dry. Bombay Sapphire vapor-infuses its botanicals for a subtler, smoother taste. Terroir in gin is big; Hepple’s potent wild juniper, Douglas fir, and lovage taste like Northern England.

You’ll also need … Dry vermouth, olives (always three) or a lemon twist.

Like vodka better? The brands under the highball section above also make a mean martini.

NEGRONI

Explore: Sweet vermouth

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Martini & Rossi Rosso’s singular bittersweet flavor has set the standard since 1863. Alessio Vermouth Chinato doubles down on bitterness with extra quinine (which gives tonic its pucker). You’ll notice more fruitiness with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino.

You’ll also need … Campari, gin (London dry is standard), orange peel.

Want a lighter drink? Swap the gin for soda water, and you have an Americano.

DAIQUIRI

Explore: Rum

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Banks 5 Island combines pot still and aged rums for a complex and highly aromatic (Japanese tea, banana) quaff. Bacardi Heritage is made in the original Cuban style: higher proof with nutty notes. Privateer Rum’s Navy Yard has even higher ABV (57-plus) with a strong molasses character to balance a daiquiri’s tartness.

You’ll also need … Fresh lime juice, simple syrup, lime twist.

Feeling something fizzier? Muddle some mint and experiment with mojitos.

MANHATTAN

Explore: Whiskey

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

The assertive grassiness of Ragtime rye is a superb bulwark against the vermouth. Lot No. 40 Canadian rye offers a caramel-smooth middle ground. Old Grand-Dad Bonded bourbon’s baking spice flavors, notably cinnamon and vanilla, taste like liquid dessert.

You’ll also need … Sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, maraschino cherry.

Want something less sweet? Make a Brooklyn with dry vermouth instead.

MARGARITA

Explore: Tequila

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Siete Leguas Blanco combines the volcanic minerality of the Tequila Valley with citrus aromatics and graham cracker sweetness. Fortaleza Blanco is even more minerally, making for a marg with bite. Aged for at least nine months, El Tesoro Reposado has a gentle oakiness that results in a rounder drink.

You’ll also need … Cointreau, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, lime round, salt (optional).

Like smoke with your sweet? Try Del Maguey Vida mezcal instead.

SIDECAR

Explore: Brandy

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Paul Beau VSOP cognac, made with grapes from France’s Grande Champagne region, is especially smooth, elegant, and a little floral. Château du Tariquet Bas-Armagnac is more rustic and in your face, with notes of dry fruit and tobacco. A California spirit on par with those of France, Osocalis Rare Alambic brandy gets fruitiness from pinot noir grapes.

You’ll also need … Cointreau, fresh lemon juice, sugar (optional).

Craving a burst of freshness? Pick up Tempus Fugit Spirits’ crème de menthe and make a Stinger.

SPRITZ

Explore: Bitter apéritifs

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

The quintessential base for the spritz, Aperol brings a sweet, citrusy burst with a gentle bitterness. Select Aperitivo, from Venice, lends a more pronounced edge. The California-made St. George Bruto Americano has an even brighter, more orangey flavor.

You’ll also need … Prosecco, club soda, orange wheel.

Remember that negroni up top? These apéritifs can sub in for Campari, too.

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

The Home Bar Essentials

SHAKER
There are two types. A “cobbler” is the recognizable metal shaker with a strainer beneath the fitted top. A “Boston” consists of a metal cup that covers a pint glass.

BAR SPOON
The long-handled spoon for stirring.

HAWTHORNE STRAINER
A flat semicircular wand with a coil that fits over the shaker.

JULEP STRAINER
A finer-holed tool that keeps the ice out of drinks.

JIGGER
Made to measure precise amounts of booze. Double-sided ones are best.

Y PEELER
A wide blade for zest garnishes.

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Going Pro

ATOMIZER
For misting an accenting spirit inside a glass or on top of a drink.

ICE PICK
A sharp metal spike for chipping ice.

LARGE ICE CUBE MOLD
For crafting specialty ice that melts slowly in a drink.

MUDDLER
Crushes sugar cubes, herbs, chiles, and more in the shaker.

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

Where to Shop Online

Cocktail Kingdom is the gold standard for all drink accessories, including ice trays and shakers, in an array of finishes. There are also special collections from bartending legends such as Dave Wondrich, who is selling a handsome punch bowl. California-based Umami Mart specializes in coveted Japanese brands, with an excellent selection of glassware, as well as bar tools, including the Yarai diamond-cut mixing glass du jour.

The Quickest Way to Master Your Favorite Cocktail

And What About Glassware?

Although it’s all about the cocktail inside, a well-crafted glass enhances the experience immeasurably. Steelite International makes elegant dishwasher-safe vessels, such as tumblers, in a variety of styles. Kimura Glass is exceptionally thin and light, in classic shapes such as the old-fashioned and long-stemmed martini. Wine glass juggernaut Riedel has added drink-specific glasses—Nick & Nora, Sour, Fizz—to its already exquisite line of crystal coupes.

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