With the recent upswing of cocktail lounges and city bars now taking pride in delivering a real drink - we’re starting to see the welcome return of classics such as the Rusty Nail , the Manhattan , and the Sazerac .

Whether you’re a party animal, a decadent dinner party host or simply enjoy the opportunity to get your friends around for a drink the ability to cater with a home bar can place you in a class of your own.

Below follows Frank’s essentials for a home bar, this collection will allow you to serve the most common known cocktails and lays the foundation to begin catering for specific recipes by just adding a bottle or two as you grow.

Right, to kick the collection off there are a few different whiskeys you’ll want in your line up, these are;

Scotch Whisky

Barley-based, and dried over peat firestone Scotch is one of the more complex spirits distilled today and if you’re looking for a brand there’s no better choice than Chivas Regal. To truly appreciate its intricate composition serve it on the rocks, combine with sweet vermouth in a Manhattan , or with Lochan Ora / Drambuie for your Rusty Nail.

An American Whiskey, such as a Bourbon

Bourbon's unique character and high mixability position it as a must have for your home bar and when considering which brand Jim Beam who have held the same recipe since 1795, and as the world’s #1 selling Bourbon is a no-brainer setting you up perfectly to deliver a range of quality drinks like the Mint Julep, or the Sazerac.
 

Canadian whisky

Being lighter than scotch and smoother than bourbon, Canadian Whisky is blended for a more balanced flavour with CC being aged for 6 years unlike bourbon that by law may be aged for only two. A bottle of Canadian Club should always sit high on the order list for the standard CC & Dry through to the classic Sidecar you’ll be moving through this bottle at pace.

Irish Whiskey

Overseen by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 most Irish whiskey’s are distilled three times and peat is rarely used in the malting process, providing Irish Whiskey a much smoother finish as opposed to the smokey, earthy overtones common in Scotches. Jameson is renowned for being triple distilled and twice as smooth, making it the go-to brand for a beautiful Jameson Sour, Mint Julep, or the staple – Jameson & Dry.

 

A Single Malt

Is a sophisticated Whisky that is enjoyed worldwide and is steeped in tradition. Enjoying a single-malt whisky is a complex experience of scent, taste and feel for the true connoisseur stepping away from blended recipes. Glenmorangie is our pick to start your collection, the original ten-year-old single malt opens with detection of vanilla and almond flavors before it ripples along the palate for a burst of flowery fruitiness. The delicate, velvety texture offers a touch of the smokiness, synonymous with single malts.

Having nailed the Whisk(e)y’s we now look towards the remaining spirits, click through to read on...