What's Your Favorite Non-Essential Liquor?

We've talked about stocking your liquor cabinet with summer essentials, and other cocktail basics. Now we're curious about the extra sorts of liquor you like to keep around. Besides the big basics of rum, whiskey, vodka, and gin, as well as the standard bar accessories of vermouth and bitters, what non-essential yet delicious liquors do you like to keep around? Read on for a few of ours.

We favor most of these because they make refreshing, easy drinks when splashed into a tall cold glass of soda. Low-calorie and inexpensive, too...

• Campari - That classic bright orange bitter liqueur. We love it with soda and a bit of simple syrup to balance it out.

• St. Germain - We've spotlighted this sweet, fragrant liqueur quite a bit. It's made from flowers and it's perfect with soda and a bit of lemon — what more do you need to know?

• Pama Pomegranate - This is our most recent acquisition; we have been enjoying it quite a lot with soda or mixed into Prosecco. Look for a more in-depth post on this tasty liquor soon.

• Lillet - Lillet is actually a fortified wine, like vermouth, so it's not quite like the others in this list. We've been sipping it straight over ice, with a twist of orange, as it is classically served. It's sweet and strong with just a hint of bitterness at the edges.

• Fernet Branca - This is quite a bottle; Fernet Branca is like something between cough drops and the bitterest bitters you can think of. We don't drink this one straight up or with soda, but it has a wonderful tonic effect in some summer cocktails. We're planning on bringing you a favorite recipe soon.

Related: Recipe Review: Cajun Lemonade

(Images: Nora Maynard; St. Germain)

Comments (36)

I ALWAYS have Disarronno Amaretto on hand. I love the stuff! It's good on the rocks, mixed with sour mix, or ginger ale. There are probably a hundred drinks, but I also use it in baking too. Yum, now I want a drink.

What brand is that bottle of St. Germain in the picture (or is St. Germain the brand?)? I want it just for the bottle!

Creme de cassis. Makes a great kir, tastes good over the rocks, and can be used as a marinade.

I've enjoyed having Aquavit around-- good on the rocks while eating smoked salmon or in a cocktail with cucumber or watermelon juice.

Love Campari! I like it with soda and a twist of lemon, over ice.

I like peach schnapps--I'll mix it with bourbon, a splash of soda on the rocks. Or with just soda over ice for a refreshing drink.

I'm a HUGE fan of eaux-de-vie, and recommend Clear Creek Distillery's brandies. You can have pear or apple in a bottle, but they make a number of other fine brandies, including Douglas fir. Liqueurs are also nice to have on hand; nothing seems to make ice cream more "swell-egant."

Aperol! Mix with Henrdricks Gin (or your choice) a bit of tonic, lime and a splash of grapefuit juice. Such a great drink.

Love having Lillet and St. Germain around as well.

http://www.paintedpeach.blogspot.com

Campari...love it!

Barenjager is really lovely to keep around. We have a bottle of Chartreuse for times when we want something different - and the monster that is Stroh Rum for the sorry souls who have never tried it, and are tempted by it's butterscotchy scent.... [evil laugh].

Absinthe and/or Fernet Branca

Molly, Disaronno Amaretto is actually more of an essential :) Have you ever tried it in eggnog? Absolutely heavenly.

Triple sec, for Long island Ice Teas.
Kahlua for White Russians.
Baileys for Irish Car Bombs.

Somehow my list seems so much less sophisticated than everyone elses. Ah well, we throw a great party.

Cynar (a bitter liqueur made from artichokes), Aquavit, Gammel Dansk, and my own herb and fruit infused vodkas - right now I love my Vanilla Bean-Black Pepper-Bosc Pear and Black Mission Fig-Cardamom varieties, but my favorite is a bitters liqueur I made with 17 ingredients, including persimmon and rhubarb. Yum!

I want them all. Though I don't have a drink that often, I love recipes, barware and the idea of making anything. Can't find Pimms here or Aperol. Remixed my green walnut concoction today. Want some cassis for the superb drink we had at a restaurant. Frangelica or Chambord on ice cream is a treat.

Campari is my absolute fav. Ricard and Pernod also. Loving Cynar lately, along with Punt e Mes (which is amazing when substituted for vermouth!).

St. Germain is a beautiful, both in taste and the bottle. It looks like perfume! The Creme de Violette is shown in the pictures, but not mentioned in the article -- if anyone does want to give it a try in a drink, if you have a good bartender who knows old fashioned drinks, order an Aviation. They are pure magic!

Michigan Cherry Liqueur from Leopold Bros. (formerly based in Ann Arbor, MI; now in Denver, CO). It goes great with gin (I recommend their gin, too) & soda with a lime, and is very versatile in the kitchen in savory dishes and desserts.

For something easier to get your mitts on, I'll add another vote for Cynar. Weather Up in Brooklyn (my local fancy pants cocktail bar) makes a lovely gin & cynar drink with a slice of cucumber floating on top. Herbal, dry, tasty.

I've tried the Leopold Bros. Cherry Liquer and it was fantastic, as was their gin!

Pastis!

@MrsCatbird, I'm totally with you! Triple Sec (for margaritas, in my case), Baileys and Kahlua!

http://www.domainedecanton.com/

Ginger Cognac

I believe in keeping a couple mixers around. Grand Marnier tops the list (think top shelf margaritas...bueno!). Chambord and Midori are solid companions as well. As for straight liquors - Rock and Rye, Irish Mist and Canadian Club are my favs. Skip the flavored vodkas and go for a mash of fresh fruit strained into a shot glass with a touch of the straight stuff...amazing!

There's such a thing as Non-Essential Liquor?

2nding Ginger Congac

Soho Lychee Liqueur

also agreeing with snicklenose, I love my own flavored vodkas (quince is in current rotation)

Ha - pidgeon92 - I am surprised it took 23 comments to get there... :-)

Pimm's. I love it.

Cachaca! Love it. Also, I made cherry brandy, so I am digging that right now.

Thinking of doing a fig brandy for the holidays???

Second Pimms. Absolutely essential.

Aquavit for the boy ("It tastes like sausage") and peach schnapps or Pama for me.

I love having limoncello on hand. A splash over vanilla icecream makes a nice quick dessert when you have unexpected guests over.

The non-essentials are most essential in my bar!

Renee, the nonessentials are most essential for me, too!

Four things that must be in stock at all times
1. Butterscotch schnaaps
2. Bailey's
3. Kahluah
4. Disaranno amaretto

Try mixing Pama Pomegranate Liquor with Fresca soda; delightful! I've also decided recently that Limoncello will be a staple from now on. There's a cranberry liqueur that I'm dying to try but no one at the liquor store has tried it and I don't want to waste the money for a whole bottle and then not like it.

I make my own liqueurs now and then. I've found the amaretto is in heavy rotation -- as is this apricot-cardamom liqueur which takes six months to infuse and is DIVINE.

chartreuse, pimms and cointreau are my additional liquors of choice. i'm getting into the classic cocktail wave, so there appears to be more and more additional liquors i need.

I'm with Alissa D...I love Aperol! and also, never without Pimms!