Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Best Liqueurs And Mixers For Your Bar Cart

Nov 03, 2024

Adding less common mixers to your bar cart can elevate your cocktail options and cater to a wider range of tastes.

Adding less common mixers to your bar cart can elevate your cocktail options and cater to a wider range of tastes.

When preparing a bar cart for home entertaining or casual gatherings, it's easy to focus on the essential spirits like vodka, gin and whiskey. For those looking to elevate their cocktail game, there are a number of less common mixers and garnishes that can add complexity and depth to drinks. Stocking your bar with a variety of ingredients beyond the basic spirits allows for a broader range of options, appealing to diverse tastes and preferences.

Liqueurs such as amaro, known for its herbal and bitter notes, can serve as a versatile addition, providing balance to cocktails that lean towards sweetness. Similarly, elderflower liqueur brings a floral quality that pairs well with light, citrus-based drinks.

For mixers, tonic water infused with botanicals like rosemary or thyme can add an unexpected layer of flavor to gin-based cocktails. Another option is ginger beer, which offers a sharp, spicy kick that works well with dark spirits like rum or whiskey.

In terms of garnishes, consider using edible flowers for a subtle visual appeal without overpowering the drink's flavor. Fresh herbs, such as basil or mint, can be muddled to release their natural oils, adding a fresh aromatic element to cocktails.

Finally, specialty syrups, such as lavender or honey, offer a simple way to incorporate unique flavors into classic cocktails.

By stocking up on these seven types of ingredients, home bartenders can create a more diverse and interesting selection of cocktails for any occasion.

Mine Hill Distillery Amaro

A bitter Italian liqueur, amaro is a versatile ingredient for those looking to add complexity to their cocktails. With its herbal but especially citrus notes, it pairs well with whiskey, gin or even soda water for a balanced and refreshing drink. Amaro’s unique flavor profile makes it an excellent choice for creating more sophisticated cocktails. And the liqueur is in the midst of a comeback: Google searches for amaro have surged by 143% in the U.S. over the past five years.

Example: Mine Hill Distillery Amaro: Mine Hill Distillery, located in Connecticut, produces an amaro that utilizes local ingredients, including wine and grains from nearby farms, along with their own spring water. The Amaro is steeped with a blend of 16 botanicals for five to six months, then fortified with local wine and sweetened with maple syrup. The aging process takes place near a waterfall, which is believed to enhance its flavor. It has an alcohol content of 20% ABV and can be consumed neat or used in cocktails like Negronis and Manhattans.

Fontbonne Herbal Liqueur

Although there’s a shortage going on, chartreuse is still an excellent liqueur to keep in mind, especially for mixing with champagne or sparkling wine for a pre-dinner drink. Or you can sip it neat or on the rocks as a digestif after dinner. Chartreuse, available in green and yellow varieties, has a much more complex and intense flavor than elderflower (see below). Green chartreuse, in particular, is strong, herbaceous and slightly bitter, with spicy, minty and vegetal notes. Yellow chartreuse is milder and sweeter, with a more honeyed flavor but still contains the herbal complexity characteristic of the liqueur.

Example: Fontbonne Herbal Liqueur: While it’s not exactly chartreuse, it’s pretty darn close and a new alternative that just became available in the United States. Made in France, Fontbonne Herbal Liqueur is made using 26 botanicals sourced from various locations, which are macerated and distilled in small batches to preserve the original recipe and maintain quality. These processes ensure that Fontbonne retains its historic identity while offering a consistent and balanced flavor. Mixologists can use Fontbonne in cocktails like the Last Word, or experiment with it in drinks incorporating lighter ABV spirits.

Mr Black Coffee Liqueur

It would be too simple to say that 2024 is the year of the espresso martini. If anything, the 2020s is already the decade of the espresso martini. With that in mind, you should keep a coffee liqueur on hand for making one, either for yourself or a guest. A standard espresso martini is a vodka-based cocktail made with espresso, coffee liqueur and simple syrup, typically served chilled in a martini glass. And for that coffee liqueur, you don’t want to settle for something too heavy or overly sweet, like Bailey’s or Kahlua.

Example: Mr Black Coffee Liqueur: Mr Black is a coffee liqueur from Australia, made using a cold extraction process and certified as vegan, kosher and gluten-free. It combines Arabica coffee beans and Australian vodka, using a slow-drip method to create a bold, balanced flavor profile with a focus on coffee. Now owned by Diageo, Mr Black has become the top super-premium coffee liqueur in the United States, popular among bartenders for its dark chocolate and caramel notes.

Paramour's trip of liqueurs, including elderflower.

Known for its light, floral flavor, elderflower liqueur is ideal for cocktails that require a touch of sweetness without overpowering the other ingredients. It works especially well in gin- or champagne-based cocktails, offering a delicate balance that enhances rather than overwhelms the drink.

Example: Paramour Elderflower Liqueur: With 60 calories per serving and an alcohol content of 14% ABV, this particular elderflower liqueur is small-batch distilled and free from artificial colors, flavors, sugars, preservatives and additives. It is also gluten-free and vegan. It can be enjoyed in a glass of prosecco or added to cocktails for a subtle, floral enhancement to various occasions.

Giffard Non-Alcoholic Ginger Liqueur

If you can do the math right, swap ginger beer for ginger liqueur. (Just remember ginger liqueur is going to have a higher ABV.) Ginger liqueur is a sweet and spicy spirit made from fresh or dried ginger root, often combined with other ingredients like vanilla, citrus, or honey to balance its strong, zesty flavor. It typically has a warming, slightly fiery profile, making it an excellent addition to cocktails that need a kick of spice or depth. Having ginger liqueur on your bar cart provides versatility, as it pairs well with a wide range of spirits, from whiskey and rum to gin and vodka. Its unique flavor can elevate classic cocktails like a Moscow Mule or Dark and Stormy.

Example: Giffard Non-Alcoholic Ginger Liqueur: The ginger root forms the foundation of this expression, offering a balance of pepper, rose, herbs and lemon aromas. It can be mixed with lemonade and seltzer water for a simple highball or with soda water for a non-alcoholic mule.

Empirical Cilantro

More earthy than aforementioned amaro, herbal liqueurs are infused with more and stronger herbs and botanicals, usually resulting in more gritty, bitter flavors on their own but are quite savory and delectable when mixed with tequila or mezcal.

Example: Empirical Cilantro: Empirical Cilantro is a spirit with a fresh citrus aroma and herbal notes, followed by a dry mineral finish with hints of fennel and green tomato. It has a 38% ABV and is made from French wheat, offering a unique but approachable option for both cocktail enthusiasts and beginners. This spirit works well in margaritas and with club soda. Launched in October, it is the first release from Empirical's new headquarters and R&D lab in Bushwick, New York, where it is produced and bottled.

Ancient Olive Trees Dirty Martini Juice

At a party, everyone loves a full bar cart. But these bottles can serve multiple purposes, including being conversation starters. It’s always nice to have a unique bottle on hand that gets people talking, especially early in the evening when your guests might be shy.

Example: Ancient Olive Trees Dirty Martini Juice: This mixer is made from California-grown olives, aged in barrels and triple-filtered for a clean and crisp taste, making it a high-quality option for dirty martinis. It pairs well with both premium and casual spirits, enhancing the flavor of any cocktail. The bottle is designed to protect the juice from light, preserving its freshness and adds a touch of sophistication. It serves as a practical and thoughtful gift for both amateur and professional mixologists, offering a unique alternative to gifting a standard bottle of spirits.

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