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Lock, Stock and A Few Full Bottles
The essential liquors you’ll need to build your own home bar

"Do not allow children to mix drinks. It is unseemly and they use too much vermouth."
–Steve Allen

Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack made it look so cool, simply effortless. Hanging out behind the bar and around the pool table at a hip pad, always with drink-in-hand. You could tell they were truly enjoying themselves—on camera and off.

And really, if you have the bar space to store your booze, looking like a gifted bartender (think Tom Cruise in Cocktail, back when he was still cool) isn’t that hard. You just have to start with the basics: getting to know the liquor that you’ll stock your bar with.

Liquor License
Christen your home bar with the Essential Liquor Trifecta: vodka, rum and whiskey.

VODKA Not only is it one of the world’s most popular distilled beverages, the word Vodka is a form of the word “water” in various Slavic languages. It is a clear liquid made from water and ethanol that’s been distilled and fermented.

• Origins: While it can’t be traced back to one particular country Vodka’s roots are primarily in Russia and Poland, where it was once used as a medicine.
• Made from: Vodkas today are made with grain; primarily corn, wheat or rye.
• Used in: Vodka Martinis! Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers also require vodka. Flavored vodkas have gained popularity in recent years as well.
• Useless Trivia: 10 percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.

RUM Whether blended hot or cold—in food or drink—or served on the rocks, rum is a wonderfully sweet beverage made through a process of fermentation and distillation. It is then typically aged in oak.

• Origins: While its initial development is believed to have occurred in India or China, rum was first distilled in 17th century Caribbean sugarcane plantations.
• Made from: This sweetness of rum comes naturally, as it’s made from the byproducts of sugarcane, including molasses and cane juice.
• Used in: Rum is used often in tropical concoctions like Piña Coladas, Daquiris and Mai Tais. Light rums are favored for mixed drinks (where two or more ingredients are mixed to form a drink) while darks are favored for cooking and “true” cocktails (one or more distilled spirits combined with mixers).
• Useless Trivia: In the 1800s, rum was used to clean hair. Lather, rinse, repeat as needed. Indeed!

WHISKEY While it comes from fermented grain mash aged in wooden casks, whiskey is defined by where this process takes place: Bourbon in the U.S., Scotch in Scotland, Irish whiskey and so on.

• Origins: Whiskey is thought to have first been produced between the eighth and ninth centuries; possibly in the Middle East, with Christian monks bringing distillation to Ireland and Britain. Both of the aforementioned countries are quick to lay claim to its discovery yet its precise origin is unknown.
• Made from: Different grains are used for different whiskey varieties, from regular and malted barley to rye, wheat and corn.
• Used in: The Boilermaker, the Mint Julep and the Old Fashioned are popular whiskey cocktails. It’s also commonly served with soda water and/or on the rocks.
• Useless Trivia: Two for the price of one: 1) Scotch is always whisky with no "E." 2) American whiskey was first distilled by Scotch-Irish settlers. Because there was plenty of corn on hand but not barley, they made corn whiskey—or what we referred to now as bourbon.

Once you’ve got these three basics covered, you can move on to the next shelf: Tequila, gin and assorted liqueurs.

TEQUILA You’ve undoubtedly heard of the five stages of tequila, everyone’s favorite south-of-the-border beverage. Here are its five lesser-known classifications: oro (unaged); blanco (white); reposado (rested; aged at least two months but less than a year); añejo (aged; for at least a year but less than three); or extra añejo (extra aged; for at least three years).

• Origins: Ironically enough, tequila comes from Tequila, a small town in the western state of Jalisco, in Mexico, back in the 16th century.
• Made from: Tequila is made from the blue agave, a botanical plant related to the lily and amaryllis family, not cactus as is widely believed.
• Used in: While the shot may be one of tequila’s most famous incarnations, it’s also found in margaritas and it’s namesake, the Tequila Sunrise, and plays a supporting role in Long Island Iced Teas.
• Useless Trivia: There is no worm in tequila. Sometimes worms are placed in mezcal, another type of agave-based distilled liquor.

GIN Gin, besides being something you yell during a card game, is a spirit made by redistilling white grain alcohol flavored with juniper berries. While some—who shall remain nameless—have remarked that its taste is akin to furniture polish, many appreciate its strong, dry flavor.

• Origins: Originating in 17th century Netherlands, it spread to England shortly thereafter where its popularity increased. It should be noted that Dutch gin is very different from English-style gin; it is distilled with barley and sometimes aged inwood, creating a slight resemblance to whiskey.
• Made from: In addition to juniper berries, gin may also be flavored with citrus—lemon and bitter orange peel. Other ingredients may include anise, licorice root, cinnamon, coriander and cassia bark.
• Used in: The classic Gin and Tonic and the Martini may be the most famous gin combinations; gin also makes prominentappearances in the Tom Collins and the Singapore Sling.
• Useless Trivia: While filming The African Queen, it seems that nearly everyone was stricken with malaria—except for ginguzzlers Humphrey Bogart and John Huston. Coincidence?

LIQUEURS Also known as cordials, liqueurs are alcoholic beverages with a highly-concentrated sweetness. Triple Sec, Coffee Liqueur, Vermouth and Schnapps may be counted among them.

• Origins: Liqueurs date back as far as 13th century Italy, as the offspring of herbal remedies often prepared by monks.
• Made from: Liqueurs are made by redistilling spirits with aromatic flavorings such as fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, roots, plants, barks and even cream.
• Used in: The sweetness of many liqueurs makes them a perfect contrast to the bitterness of coffee, and the two are often combined. Other common permutations include the Fuzzy Navel (orange juice and peach Schnapps) and the ever-popular Martini (gin and vermouth). Triple sec is also a primary ingredient in margaritas.
• Useless Trivia: How bartenders impress us: They “float” liqueur in a glass by slowly pouring it over an inverted spoon or down a glass rod on top of previous layers. The liquids of different densities don’t mix, creating a rainbow effect in a glass.
  

That should give you some drink for thought.

While this isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of every type of alcohol you should have on hand, it will help you build the foundation for a home bar that’s open for business pleasure. Because you want to be able to make a variety of drinks without outgrowing your budget or available space, choose ingredients that enable you to maximize your cocktail selection. To learn more about complementary mixers and garnishes, click here.