Essential Spirits

Think of it as a rite of passage. Most guys will simply pour whatever they have gathering frost in the freezer, but a gentleman mixes legitimate cocktails from his bar. This doesn't require a fancy piece of furniture (a simple tray will suffice) or even an immense amount of bottles. Build your bar by starting with the base spirits. Add your favorite mixers and you'll churn out a surprising number of classic cocktails and create a few new concoctions of your own. Herewith, the five bottles every man should have on hand.

	What to Know	Found In	Ones to Consider
Vodka	A definite crowd pleaser, vodka has relatively little flavor compared to other liquors, which is why it blends so well with mixers. It doesn't require any aging, but it does benefit from multiple distillations and filtrations.	Martinis, vespers and vodka tonics, of course.	Good Stolichnaya Better Tito's Best Grey Goose
Gin	Gin derives much of its flavor from such botanicals as coriander seed, licorice root, cassia bark and its predominant ingredient, the piney-flavored juniper berry. Dry gin is aromatic and light in flavor and body.	Martinis, negronis and gimlets.	Good Tanqueray Better St. George Best Hendricks
Bourbon	Declared by Congress as the national spirit, bourbon is a corn-based whiskey that must be aged in new, charred oak barrels for at least two years, a process that gives it much of its distinctive flavor.	Old fashioneds, Manhattans and whiskey smashes.	Good Maker's Mark Better Woodford Reserve Best Booker's
Tequila	Look for 100 percent agave—the cactus-like plant from which the spirit is made—if it doesn't say so on the label, it's mixto (agave cut with sugar) and you don't want it. Keep a silver tequila on hand for margaritas or an aged reposado or anejo for sipping.	Margaritas, palomas and sunrises.	Good Jose Cuervo Tradicional Better Patron Silver Best Don Julio Anejo
Rum	Often associated with the Caribbean, rum is made from distilled, fermented sugarcane juice. The flavor and color depend largely on how long it has been aged, and you definitely want your rum to be aged.	Daiquiris, mojitos and Cuba Libres.	Good Mount Gay Better 10 Cane Best Appleton Estate

What to Know

Found In

Ones to Consider

Vodka

A definite crowd pleaser, vodka has relatively little flavor compared to other liquors, which is why it blends so well with mixers. It doesn't require any aging, but it does benefit from multiple distillations and filtrations.

Martinis, vespers and vodka tonics, of course.

Good

Stolichnaya

Better

Tito's

Best

Grey Goose

Gin

Gin derives much of its flavor from such botanicals as coriander seed, licorice root, cassia bark and its predominant ingredient, the piney-flavored juniper berry. Dry gin is aromatic and light in flavor and body.

Martinis, negronis and gimlets.

Good

Tanqueray

Better

St. George

Best

Hendricks

Bourbon

Declared by Congress as the national spirit, bourbon is a corn-based whiskey that must be aged in new, charred oak barrels for at least two years, a process that gives it much of its distinctive flavor.

Old fashioneds, Manhattans and whiskey smashes.

Good

Maker's Mark

Better

Woodford Reserve

Best

Booker's

Tequila

Look for 100 percent agave—the cactus-like plant from which the spirit is made—if it doesn't say so on the label, it's mixto (agave cut with sugar) and you don't want it. Keep a silver tequila on hand for margaritas or an aged reposado or anejo for sipping.

Margaritas, palomas and sunrises.

Good

Jose Cuervo Tradicional

Better

Patron Silver

Best

Don Julio Anejo

Rum

Often associated with the Caribbean, rum is made from distilled, fermented sugarcane juice. The flavor and color depend largely on how long it has been aged, and you definitely want your rum to be aged.

Daiquiris, mojitos and Cuba Libres.

Good

Mount Gay

Better

10 Cane

Best

Appleton Estate

Essential Spirits

What to Know

Found In

Ones to Consider

Vodka

Gin

Bourbon

Tequila

Rum

Further Reading