Aberfeldy 12
Aberlour A’bundah
Aberlour 16
The Balvenie Double Wood 12
The Balvenie Single Barrel 15
Bowmore 12
Bowmore DarkestCragganmore 12
Bowmore Marriner 15
Dalmore Cigar Malt
Glenfarclas 12
Glenfarclas 17
Glenfiddich Special Res 12
Glen Scotia
Highland Park 12
Highland Park 18
The Glenlivet French Oak 15
The Glenlivet 18
Glenmorangie 12 Port Finish
Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig 12
Longmorn 15
MacAllen 12
MacAllen Fine Oak 15
Spring Bank 10
Talisker 18

Scotch Blends:
Johnny Walker Black
Dewars White Label
Dewars Special Reserve 12
Pig’s Nose
White Horse

Bourbon: The Bar’s in Kentucky
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Elijah Craig Single Barrel 18
Elmer T Tyler Single Barrel
Evan Williams Single Barrel
Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10
Knob Creek 9
Makers Mark
Old Fitzgerald Very Special 12
Old Rip van Winkle 107 10
Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey Rare breed
W L Weller 12

Other Whiskey:
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey
Crown Royal
Jack Daniels

Irish:
Bushmill’s Original
Black Bush
Bush Malt 10
Michael Collins Single Malt
Redbreast 12

Rum:
Mt Gay Rum Extra Old
Rhum Barbancourt Estate Reserve
Santa Teresa 1796

Tequila:
Clase Azul
Centanario Anejo
Don Julio Reposado
Herradura Reposado
Mayorazgo Reposado

Vodka:
Rain

The good folks at Trump sent me a sample case of minis a few weeks ago and I’ve been playing with it both at home and at work. It’s a very unique vodka in that it truly has no discernible flavor or mouthfeel.

I’ve sampled it neat, on the rocks, in a vermouth-less Martini, half-and-half Vya Martini, with tonic, and with orange juice. While the five-times distilled Trump vodka is certainly without a hint of impurities, it also provides a completely neutral palate on which to work.

I’m not sure how I felt about the neat, rocks, or vermouth-less Martinis made with Trump (I at least like my vodka to have a pronounced, creamy mouthfeel) but it was unparalleled when mixed with other ingredients. So I started playing around and came up with this:

The Bitter Billionaire

2.5 oz Trump vodka
.5 oz Fernet Branca

Stir ingredients over cracked ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a piece of crystallized ginger candy belted with a lemon twist.

Anyway, the question that comes to my mind is this, should vodka really taste like nothing at all? Because, if so, then Trump could be a contender for the best vodka in the world.

However, if a more texture-driven experience is a crucial component to vodka, then Trump is clearly missing the boat with an over-purified product.

I’d be interesting in hearing your thoughts.

Cheers!

also, if you haven’t had it, Miller’s Gin is fantastic as well (the only contender for Junipero’s spot as my number one).

I plan to just create a page that I’ll update versus creating the spreadsheet or database. And yeah, Andy, that top shelf (and the Maker’s Mark especially) looks to be thinking of comitting hara-kiri in my photo, you’re right.

Gin:
Bombay Sapphire
Tanqueray London Dry Gin

Rum:
Myers’s Platinum White
Myers’s Original Dark
Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos
Bacardi Superior
Bacardi Oro

Tequila:
Sauza Blanco
Herradura Silver (100% de Agave)

Cachaca:
Gabriela Cachaca Silver
Gabriela Cachaca Gold
Pitu
Cachaca 51

Whisk(e)y:
MacCallan Elegancia 1991
MacCallan 1851 Inspiration
Jim Beam Bourbon
Glen Mhor 1976 (28 years) single malt
Glencraig 1975 (29 years) single malt

Brandy/Calvados:
Christian Drouin Calvados
Martell Noblige Cognac

Vermouth & fortified wine:
Martini Extra Dry
Martini Rosso
Cinzano Bianco
Dubonnet (red)
Lillet Blanc

Bitters:
Angostura Bitters
Angostura Orange Bitters
Campari

Wine/Port/Sparkling:
Laboure-Roi Bourgogne Aligote 2003
Corte Giara Amarone 2004
Tawny Port
Moet & Chandon
Zonin Prosecco
Cristalino Cava
Merrydown Dry Cider

Liqueur and others:
Malibu
Kahlua
Tia Maria
Grand Marnier
Cointreau
Heering Cherry Liqueur
Midori Melon
Frangelico
Chambord
G.E. Massenez Creme de Mure
Marie Brizard Manzanita
Marie Brizard Creme de Menthe
Marie Brizard Creme de Cacao (dark)
Marie Brizard Parfait Amour
Marie Brizard Orange Curacao
Marie Brizard Peche du Verger
Marie Brizard Poire William
Marie Brizard Cherry Brandy
Marie Brizard Framboise
Marie Brizard Fraise de Bois
Marie Brizard Fraise
Bols Triple Sec
Bols Cacao (white)
Bols Lychee
Bols Blue
Bols Apricot
Bols Amaretto
Bols Creme de Cassis
Bols Kirsch
Eau de vie de Poire William
Benedictine DOM
Archers Schnapps
Choya
Bols Advocaat

I think it’s a pretty good start.

Whiskey:
Jim Beam Rye-750mL
Michter’s US1 Straight Rye-750ml
Maker’s Mark-750mL

Gin:
Bombay Saphire-750ml
New Amsterdam-1.75L

Rum/Cachaça:
Bacardi Peach Red-750ml
Bacardi 8-750mL
Boca Loca Cachaça-750mL
P51 Cachaça-1L
Captain Morgan’s-1.75L
Flor de Canta Extra Dry 4yrs-750ml

Vodka:
Stolichnaya-750mL
Stoli Razberi-750mL
Chopin Potato Vodka-750mL
3 Olives Grape-750ml
Svedka-1.75L
Van Gogh-750mL
Van Gogh Vanilla-750ml

Tequilla:
Margaritaville Oro-1.75L
Cabo Wabo Reposado-750mL
Patron Silver-750mL
Jose Cuervo Tropina-1.75L
Patron Anejo-750mL
Jose Cuervo Black Medallion-1.75L

Brandy:
Laird’s 71/2 Year Apple Brandy

Liqueur:
LUCID Absinthe-750mL
Starbucks Coffee Liqueur-1L
DiSaronno Originale-1L
DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps-1L
DeKuyper Peppermint Schnapps-750mL
Southern Comfort 100 proof-1.75L
Jagermeister-750mL
Patron Citronge-750mL
DeKuyper Triple Sec-1L
Bushmills Irish Cream-750mL

Other:
Angosutra Bitters

The Stock is a little milder and less ‘funky’ than the Luxardo, if that makes any sense. I haven’t played around with it very much, I’ve just been using it for Aviation cocktails.

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, so I took some time and did it right. I’m missing a few brands (because this is from memory), so bear with me:

Gin:
Damrak
G’Vine
Plymouth
Tanqueray No. 10

Vodka:
Absolut Kurant
Absolut Vanilia
Prism
Stoli Razberi

Tequila:
Cazadores Reposado
Sauza Hornitos

Whisk(e)y:
Ballantine’s
Bushmill’s Irish
Canadian Club
Famous Grouse
Jim Beam
Macallan 12-Year
Maker’s Mark
Sazerac Rye

Rum:
Bundaberg
Coruba
Cruzan Light
Cruzan Coconut
Lemon Hart Demerara 151
Mount Gay Eclipse
Rhum Barbancourt
Saint James Rhum Vieux Agricole
Stroh 80º
Brandy
Napoleon VSOP
– Calvados

Liqueurs and Others:
Amaretto di Saronno
Benedictine
Bols Blue Curaçao
Bols Créme de Banana
Campari
Chambord
Chartreuse (green)
Cherry Heering
Cinzano Dry Vermouth
Cinzano Rosso Vermouth
Cointreau
DeKuyper Root Beer Schnapps
DeKuyper Sloe Gin
Drambuie
Frangelico
Galliano
Grand Marnier
Hiram Walker Peach Schnapps
Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps
Kahlua
La Muse Verte Pastis
Lillet Blanc
Luxardo Maraschino
Mandarine Napoleon
Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao
Marie Brizard Parfait Amour
Massenez Creme de Framboise
Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
Potter’s Apricot Brandy
Potter’s Blackberry Brandy
Potter’s Créme de Cassis
Potter’s Créme de Cacao (white)
Potter’s Créme de Menthe (green)
Potter’s Créme de Menthe (white)
Potter’s Triple Sec
Southern Comfort
Torani Amer
Trader Vic’s Macadamia Nut Liqueur
Velvet Falernum
Villa Massa Limoncello

Bitters:
Angostura
Fee Brothers’ Mint Bitters
Fee Brothers’ Peach Bitters
Fee Brothers’ West Indian Orange Bitters
Peychaud’s Bitters
Underberg

Syrups and Mixers:
Coco Real Coconut Cream
Finest Call Grenadine
– Raspberry Syrup
Rose’s Lime Cordial
simple syrup (homemade)
Trader Vic’s Orgeat
Trader Vic’s Passion Fruit
Trader Vic’s Rock Candy Syrup
Fever Tree Club Soda
Fever Tree Tonic Water
Reed’s Ginger Beer
Stirrings Tonic Water

Gin:
Bulldog (3 bottles, since it’s only available in NY and NJ)
Tanquery Ten

Tequila:
1800 Reposado
Patron Silver

Single Malt Scotch:
Aberlour A’bunadh
Auchentoshan Select
Dalmore 12
Glenlivet 12
Glenlivet 15 (french oak)
Glenlivet 18
Glenlivet 21 (archive)
Glenlivet Nadurra
Oban 14
Old Pulteney 12
Old Pulteney Signatory 1989
Tomatin 12

Other Whisk(e)y:
Bruichladdich 3D Peat Proposal
Connemara
Cutty Sark
Jim Beam
Maker’s Mark
Redbreast 12
Suntory Yamakazi 12

Vodka:
3
Armadale
Belvedere
Ciroc
Citadelle
Crater Lake
Down Under
Effen
Fris
Grey Goose
Hangar 1
Ketel One
Level
Olifant
Roth
Six
Vermont White
Vox
Xellent
Youri Dologoruki

Rum:
Bacardi Blanco
Bacardi Gold
Malibu
St James XO

Other:
Angostura Bitters
Chambord
Courvouisier
Creme de Cacao
Disaranno Amaretto
E&J Brandy
Kahlua
Grand Marnier
Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth
Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
Mezzaluna Limoncello
Perppermint Schnapps
Sambuca
Sour Apple Pucker
Triple Sec

No, not bad at all, there, kiddo. I’m eyeballing that Stock Maraschino of yours, I haven’t had the pleasure yet (it was hard enough to find Luxardo here in Oregon)

Cheers!

Gin

Citadelle (750ml)
Hendricks (750ml)
Tanqueray 10 (750ml)

Whiskey/Whisky/Rye

Wild Turkey 101 (750ml)
Baker’s (750ml)
Sazerac 6 (750ml)
Macallan 12 (750ml)
Cragganmore 15 (750ml)

Vodka

Level (750ml)
Vanilla (500ml - homemade)
Lemon (500ml - homemade)
Apple (500ml - homemade)

Rum

Bacardi Light (750ml)
Appleton V/X (750ml)
Goslings Black (750ml)

Tequila

1800 Reposado
1800 Silver

Other

Peachtree (750ml)
Campari (750ml)
Applejack (750ml)
Dry/Sweet Vermouth - M&R (750ml)
Angostura/Peychaud’s
Triple Sec (750ml)
Cointreau (1L)
Stock Maraschino (750ml)
Starbucks Coffee Liqueur (750ml)

I think that’s about it…

Not bad for a 21 year old, eh?

I just thought it was cool and kitsch-y, so I picked up the bottle. It’s still unopened. If you look at the Trader Vic’s site, you’ll see this beautiful degradation of the recipe all the way down to Mai Tai mix. Sad. But still better than half the Mai Tais out there, I guess…

But, please, Scott, please do know that I’ve done my research.

Things move quickly in and out of my cabinet. Rum and Scotch are two of my favorite things to have after work, so they’re what I have the least of. Oh, and they’re also the easiest to consume straight (I don’t like doing a lot of work after doing a lot of work).

If you must know, Scott and Jimmy, I just polished off the last of the Laphroaig and the Pampero a few weeks ago. Ahem. Now I must commence with the restocking!

Oh, and Andy S: HOLY CRAP. Nice work!

I keep an inventory of all of my bottles on an Excel file, not including any of my homemade liqueurs (falernum and soon-to-be pimento dram) or any non-alcoholic syrups. I guess it’s my OCD tendencies coming through, but I like to have a quick reference for my slowly growing stockpile, especially now that I’ve overgrown my 2 cabinets in the kitchen. It’s also nice because I keep a log of my spent bottles so I can keep an eye on how fast I’m going through them!

My classification system is a little screwy, but here’s a cut-and-paste from my log of what I have on hand right now (the flavored rums are my wife’s…razz me if you must!):

Applejack - Laird’s (750 ml)
Amaro - Campari (750 ml)
Bitters - Aromatic - Angostura (5 oz)
Bitters - Aromatic - Forest Floor (5 oz)
Bitters - Aromatic - Peychaud’s (5 oz)
Bitters - Lemon - Fee’s (5 oz)
Bitters - Orange - Fee’s (5 oz)
Bitters - Orange - Regan’s No. 6 (5 oz)
Bitters - Peach - Fee’s (5 oz)
Brandy - Paul Masson Grande Amber VSOP (750 ml)
Cachaça - Pitu (L)
Gin - Boodles (L)
Gin - Broker’s (L)
Gin - Gordon’s (L)
Liqueur - Amaretto - Disaronno (750 ml)
Liqueur - Apricot Brandy - Bols (1 L)
Liqueur - Coffee - Kapali (750 ml)
Liqueur - Crème de Cacao - Bols (1 L)
Liqueur - Crème de Cassis - Milady (750 ml)
Liqueur - Crème de Menthe (Green) - Hiram Walker (750 ml)
Liqueur - Irish Cream - Bailey’s (750 ml)
Liqueur - Maraschino - Maraska (750 ml)
Liqueur - Melon - Midori (750 ml)
Liqueur - Orange Curaçao - Hiram Walker (750 ml)
Liqueur - Passion Fruit - Alizé (750 ml)
Liqueur - Peach - Southern Comfort (1 L)
Liqueur - Pomegranate - PAMA (L)
Liqueur - Raspberry - Chambord (500 ml)
Liqueur - Raspberry - di Amore (750 ml)
Liqueur - Triple Sec - Cointreau (750 ml)
Liqueur - Triple Sec - Patron Citronge (L)
Liqueur - Vanilla - McGillicuddy’s (750 ml)
Pisco - Don César (750 ml)
Rum - Aged - Appleton Estate V/X (750 ml)
Rum - Aged - Bacardi 8 (750 ml)
Rum - Aged - Rhum Barbancourt Five Star Réserve Spéciale (750 ml)
Rum - Dark - Gosling’s Black Seal (1.75 L)
Rum - Dark - Gosling’s Black Seal (750 ml)
Rum - Flavored - Bacardi Island Breeze (Wild Berry-flavored Lite Spirit) (L)
Rum - Flavored - Bacardi Limon ( 1.75 L)
Rum - Flavored - Bacardi Limon (L)
Rum - Flavored - Bacardi O (L)
Rum - Flavored - Malibu Mango (750 ml)
Rum - Flavored - Malibu Passion Fruit (750 ml)
Rum - Overproof - Wray & Nephew White (750 ml)
Rum - White - Appleton White (L)
Tequila - Blanco - Roundy’s (L)
Tequila - Reposado - Jose Cuervo Tradicional (750 ml)
Vodka - Flavored - Absolut Peppar (750 ml)
Vodka - Flavored - Ketel One Citroen (L)
Vodka - Flavored - Smirnoff Raspberry Twist (L)
Vodka - Fleischmann’s (1.75 L)
Vodka - Ketel One (L)
Whiskey - Bourbon - Maker’s Mark (750 ml)
Whiskey - Canadian - Seagram’s VO Gold (L)
Whiskey - Rye - Sazerac (750 ml)
Whiskey - Tenessee - Jack Daniels (750 ml)

And please do yourself a favor and ditch the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai mix, and bounce over to the Beachbum’s site for the recipe to his $100 Mai Tai.

(Note to self: Make Jeffrey a proper Mai Tai…)

Among the many things I should never say around my wife, “I really should buy more gin” is near the top of the list. Though, that’s what I’m thinking — damn, I need to lay in some Old Raj and Junipero.