It's Cocktail Week at The Kitchn, and we are reaching back into the archives now to bring up some great intelligence from our readers. Last year during Cocktail Week we polled our readers on their favorite brands of gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, and other spirits. Here's a look back at the results and some of the most frequently-mentioned brands.
→ Our Readers' Favorite Gins
Highlights: The cucumber-and-rose specialty gin Hendricks came in for over 40 mentions in this thread! Its faux-apothecary bottle and somewhat unusual taste have won it a serious following. Other stand-outs: Plymouth (one of my own personal favorites), Bluecoat (another gin I love) and the budget-friendly New Amsterdam.
There were nearly fisticuffs, though, over Tanqueray vs. Bombay Sapphire. Tiamat_the_Red started it: "I like Tanqueray but will happily drink any gin that isn't Bombay Sapphire. I loathe Sapphire. It is NOT gin. Sapphire's just way, way, WAY too sweet and doesn't taste like gin."
Then, "Bombay Sapphire...really anything but Tanqueray. If someone gives me a drink with Tanqueray I know instantly. It tastes so sweet. It's awful," countered Tazer.
Gin — it's a polarizing liquor!
→ Our Readers' Favorite Rums
Highlights: The rum discussion really pointed up the diversity of rums available. There was no huge standout the way there was in the gin category, although Sailor Jerry and Goslings got a fair share of mentions.
Rum is also a liquor that people use for baking perhaps more than others; Myer's Dark Rum came in for a mention for that purpose.
→ Our Readers' Favorite Whiskeys
Highlights: Whiskey is obviously a broad category (Scotch? Irish? Bourbon?) and our readers' answered ranged wide. Jameson came up over a dozen times, though, and Maker's Mark for classic bourbon. Harley Mike says, "Makers Mark makes an old-fashioned anything but."
There was also a clear divide between the readers who loved their Scotch (Laphroaig was a common refrain there) and those who find the stuff just too peaty.
→ Our Readers' Favorite Vodkas
Highlights: Ah vodka, the colorless, odorless, nearly tasteless spirit of Cosmos and summer punch. A good vodka is smooth and nearly tasteless, and in this thread, Belvedere came up quite a few times, as did Ketel One. Some readers went out of their way to recommend local, small-batch vodkas.
→ Our Readers' Favorite Specialty Liquors
Highlights: Now, after you've stocked your primary liquor cabinet, what are your favorite non-essential liquors and special sippers? Our readers had all sorts of suggestions, including Campari, St. Germain, and — of course — homemade liqueurs.
Your turn to weigh in! Is there a major category of liquor we should hit next? Any other liquor brands in these categories you really love and want to recommend?
More Budget Liquor Recommendations: Best Bargain Booze: 7 Top Picks From Bar Experts
(Images: Liquor producers; Nora Maynard)
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I love St Germain mixed with Tanqueray and tonic. Great summertime drink altho I drink it all year long. St Germain is good on it's own over ice.
What?! I LOVE Laphroig. Laphroig or bust!
Where's the tequila? And U'Luvka, a Polish vodka, is good -- especially with St. Germain.
Kübler's Absinthe.
CYNAR baby! And yes, Polish Bison grass vodka -- delish!
seriously? Jameson as the best whiskey? how is that possible.
my favorites - Balvenie double wood, Glenrothes, and Glenlivet 12 and french oak
A little bummed not to see much love for Woodford Reserve anywhere in the whiskey category. Boyfriend is a bourbon drinker and that's the only one he's gotten me to attempt enjoying. Maker's Mark? Gross. Don't see the appeal.
And I will gladly drink Tanqueray or Sapphire. I will gladly drink gin. The end.
I mostly like Jameson's - but, also like Jack Daniels Black Label, Wild Turkey, and George Dickel (which I didn't see mentioned). No preference in gin or vodka.
What, no aperitifs or digestifs?
I love me some coganc, especially Hennessey. And I'm with NOSS, Balvenie is delightful.
I am with Ms Happy, let's talk tequila!
Who in the world voted for Ketel One? Just drink rubbing alcohol instead. Green Mark vodka is the best, and doesn't leave you with a hangover. And a nice little bit of Bitter Truth Creme de Violette as an aperetif.
whiskey =/= whisky =/= scotch. should have been different categories.
oh, and bourbon! there are enough bourbons in the US to garner their own category, i'd think...
Can't believe nobody has mentioned Redbreast... it's the Irish Whiskey that taught me how to appreciate other whiskeys and scotch!
It's consistently an award winner... and did I mention it's deeeelicious?
Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's, Knob and St. Germain all the way. Those are in heavily rotation at our house. I'd like to see a post about readers' favorite snacks to have with cocktails ;) As soon as I have a drop of anything I want a little snack.
I am partial to a Buffalo Trace Manhattan with a brandied cherry. Can't beat it!
Tequila: I like Kirkland Signature (the CostCo house brand) silver tequila. Their anejo isn't great, but it's a fun/cheap addition for a blind-tasting party.
I'm so surprised after looking at a few of these different cocktail and liquor posts at the amount of people that love Jack Daniels. granted their single barrel was pretty good stuff but the basic JD is pretty much awful. bethsteelz had it right with woodford reserve. thats the best. I also agree with people above that the whiskey category was much to broad and should have been broken down into seperate categories. a scotch drinker and a bourbon drinker are two completely different kinds of people
Redbreast is my favorite Irish whiskey. I've been meaning to find a good Scotch to keep in the liquor cabinet.
Vodka - I stay local. Tito's is tasty but I usually grab Dripping Springs if I see it. Something about the local water is good for vodka here.
Gin - Hendrick's. I'm not allowed to buy anymore gin until I finish one of the two bottles I have.
Rum & Tequila - Not that much of a fan.
As for mixers, I love St. Germain and limoncello.
Scotch- Lagavulin
Bourbon- Knob Creek
Whiskey- eh... I'd rather Scotch or Bourbon
Bourbon: W.L. Weller. Affordable and really good.
My fav is Wiser's Special Blend Rye Whisky.
Made in Canada!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiser's_whisky
Bulleit Bourbon
Tito's vodka and Four Roses bourbon.
My friend makes a St. Germain and lemon poppyseed cookie dough ice cream that is possibly the most amazing thing I've ever eaten in my life. Just saying.
If you like Hendricks or New Amsterdam gin, definitely try Leopold's Gin- they are an amazing small-batch distillery in Denver that makes many different liquors, but their gin is FANTASTIC!
So glad to see Tito's Vodka listed. One of my favorites. What am I saying it is my favorite. I will use Absolute only when I absolutely have to(i.e. super hot day and I need something to mix in my Fresca)!
Germain Robin Brandy! Seriously, go find some.
I haven't been around for a little while, and I missed the original poll, but I have to jump in here with my favorites which were left out. I'm a gin-in-the-summer, whiskey-in-the-winter drinker.
Gin: Citadelle. This is a French gin, really complex, floral and spicy. It has the juniper berries, and the citrus and cinnamon, but it also has cardamom and anise, and it's aged in cognac barrels! Not too pricy, for all that. I like it in a gimlet or a martini.
Bourbon: Woodford Reserve. I'll join with those above and say this is just a really great buy. Smooth, caramel-y, delicious.
If you want pricey, Jefferson's Reserve is tasty and firey.
You rum and vodka drinkers can discuss amongst yourselves.
@Jenny A -- Girl after my own heart! Four Roses is my absolute favorite. Found it last year after an extensive bourbon distillery tour through Kentucky and am obsessed. Not the easiest to find in bars, but it's a good night when you can!
Cinzano Rosso! (+ soda + an orange twist = great summertime beverage)
Rum? Anyone from Barbados, i.e., Mount Gay or Cockspur (V.S.O.R.), since that island is the sole one in the Caribbean that has trade winds all year around and that's heavens for the sugar cane. Cheers!
I drink very, very little nowadays, but Stolichnaya was my favourite vodka. When it came to rum, Arehucas it was. I was never a big fan of gin, but I liked Bulldog much better than others brands.
there is a drink at a bistro in my city called a St. Catherine's: grapefruit juice, tonic, St. germaine + Tanqueray. it's amazing!
I'd love to see a quick/easy/cheap cocktail post with basic liquors that everyone could use.
My favorites:
Tito's Vodka
Woodford Reserve bourbon
Espolon tequila
Citadelle gin
Watershed bourbon-barrel gin
Knob Creek with ginger ale and a wedge of lemon. And I love Pim's. It's such a strange flavor, and if I don't have cucumber for a Pim's Cup I can still be happy with Pim's and diet Sprite.
Jameson has always been a favorite, but I've recently discovered 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey. Very good!
I've grown quite (too?) fond of Death's Door Gin, which I find nicely aromatic and not very sweet. I understand they offer a vodka, as well, but I've never tried it. I enjoy Hendrick's but my husband hates it--to each their own, indeed!
My all-time favourite liquor is Mirto, which comes from Sardinia, Italy. It's very hard to find in North America, if not, impossible! Too bad!
Sailor Jerry mixed with real-sugar faux Dr Pepper (like Maine Root's fantastic "Dopplegänger" or my local grocery chain's DP knock-off's cane sugar variety) is AMAZING. I love that drink so much. Otherwise, I will often go with Sweet Tea Vodka (Deep Eddy is my brand, because multi-time distillation and local goodness) mixed with a bit more sweet tea and some real sugar lemonade. Deeeee-licious.
Why does the Special Liquors link go to gins? Boo! ;)
I've really come to love bourbon over the last year, thanks to my brother-in-law. My top pick so far was the Eagle Rare 17 year old ($$) that was so good I wanted to cry.
I'm a gin girl, though, and Plymouth is my personal favorite. Hendrick's is a little...blah...for my taste. I also love Ransom Old Tom for a change of pace, and can swear by Edinburg Raspberry Gin, which I cannot seem to find in the US but love when I can bribe friends into bringing it over. I'm going to DIY this one this summer.
No surprise, I also love making my own infusions. My best is a cranberry liqueur, and this spring I will be experimenting with a rhubarb/gin/armagnac concoction that's been lurking at the back of my head.