**An initial smattering of good things to have around if you wanna make some cocktails**
I've seen these categorized also as:
1. Base - liquor
2. Modifier - juices & liqueurs
3. Accent - syrups, garnishes, herbs
4. Dilution - ice, tonic, club soda
# Key Drinks
- Vodka - the most common cocktail drink
- Gin - apparently varying widely based on brand
- [[Tequila]] - apparently only really useful for Margs
- Rum -
- clear - lots of cocktails
- aged, dark, or spiced all do different things
- [[Whiskey]]
- Bourbon
- Candian
- Rye
- Irish
# Liqueurs
- Amaretto -
- Coffee Liqueur - white russians
- Vermouth
- Dry
- Sweet
- Irish Cream
- Orange - old fashioned
## Secondary Liqueurs
- Benedictine D.O.M
- Chambord
- Elderflower
# Juices
- Lemon - whiskey sour
- Lime
- Orange
- Cranberry
- Grapefruit
- Pineapple - painkiller
- Tomato? No thanks
# Other Mixers
- Bitters - old fashioned
- Simple syrup -
- equal parts sugar and water, boil it until the sugar is dissolved, let cool.
- Sour mix
- Grenadine
- Milk, Coffee
# Sodas
- Club soda
- Tonic water
- Ginger ale
- Cola
- Sprite
# Garnishes
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Maraschino Cherries
- Mint
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
****
## Source
- [This site](https://www.thespruceeats.com/essential-distilled-spirits-and-mixers-760741)
## Related