> Hi - I'm starting from scratch here. I'd like to stock a mini bar as
> well as I can. I have about $150 I can put into it. I'd like to be
> able to make as many drinks that guys and girls as possible.
If you're going to make mixed drinks, you can get away with buying slightly
cheaper bottles than for people who want to drink straight. It sounds like
this is for a younger crowd, so I'll tell you what I would buy (I'm a college
student myself, this is the most important $150 of what I keep in stock) in no
particular order:
E&J Brandy ($10-12)
Smirnoff Vodka ($10-12)
Bicardi Light Rum ($10-12)
Hiram Walker Triple Sec ($10-12)
Jim Beam ($14-16)
Gordon's Gin ($10-12) or Seagrams Extra Dry Gin ($10-12)
Sauza Blanco Tequila ($18-20, do NOT buy cheap tequila)
Baileys Irish Cream ($18-20)
Kahlua ($16-18)
Grand Marnier ($30-35)
Rose's Lime Juice ($5, essential)
Sweet & Sour mix ($5, also called Sour Mix or Bar Mix or a wide array of
different things)
Orange Juice
cranberry juice
coke
7 up
Lemons
Limes
Straws
Keep in mind, these are cheap college drinks. I like to drink Knob Creek, or
Tangueray Gin & Tonic but I can rarely afford it. If you want to get fewer,
better bottles, just move up a shelf at the liquor store. If the price of
Grand Marnier scares you, just know that you won't go through a lot of it but
it's essential for B52's and some other good drinks. If you're getting ready
for a big party, buy more vodka because that's in a lot of mixed drinks.
As far as the pucker goes, they're very sweet liquers that are good for
sweetening many mixed drinks. Unfortunately, having any more than a few
straight drinks of this stuff leads to gut rot. You'll probably get sick
before you get drunk.